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Township Three Elementary

Public Grades PK, KG-5

1137^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 24% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Township Three Elementary is a PK-5 school in Shelby, NC, serving 540 students as part of Cleveland County Schools, a district rated in the upper two-thirds of North Carolina school systems. Nearly every student at the school (99.4%) comes from an economically disadvantaged household, and the school's overall state ranking sits at the 24th percentile — 1,137th of 1,492 elementary schools — earning it one star. That ranking is a modest improvement from the 15th percentile in 2023-24 and the 20th percentile in 2024-25. Chronic absenteeism has also been heading in the right direction, falling from 35.0% in 2021-22 to 23.1% in 2024-25, which now matches the district average (23.2%) and state average (24.2%).

Academically, Township Three Elementary trails both its district and the state in every tested subject and grade, and the gaps widen in the upper grades. In 3rd-grade math, 58.1% of students are proficient compared with 72.0% districtwide, but by 5th-grade math only 40.6% are proficient versus 67.8% across the district — a 27-point gap. Reading follows a similar pattern, and 5th-grade science lags the district by 18 points. There are encouraging signs, though: 3rd-grade math proficiency has climbed from 33.8% in 2023-24 to 58.1% in 2025-26, and 3rd-grade reading improved from 33.8% to 45.9% over the same period. School effectiveness for African American students now sits at the 54th percentile and for Special Education students at the 27th percentile, both up sharply from recent years.

The most revealing comparison for parents is to nearby schools serving nearly identical populations. Springmore Elementary and Boiling Springs Elementary, both within about seven miles, have the same 99.5% poverty rate yet rank in the 83rd and 85th percentiles statewide. On 5th-grade math, those schools post proficiency rates of 86.1% and 84.4% — more than double Township Three's 40.6%. Likewise, Grover Elementary, Jefferson Elementary, and West Elementary all serve similar demographics and rank far above Township Three. Because poverty clearly is not the difference, the gap points to school-level practices that can improve. Township Three is making tangible progress, and the neighboring schools in the district are proof of what is possible.

540

Students ?

15.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

Community Eligibility

All students receive free meals (2024-25) ?

96.6%

Kindergartners up to date on all required vaccines (2025-26)

Exemptions: 1.1% (any vaccine)

526 Davis Road
Shelby, NC 28152-0720

(704) 476-8245

District: Cleveland County Schools

Students who attend Township Three Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Crest Middle
High:	Cleveland ECHS
	Crest High

Racial breakdown:

White:

40.4%

African American:

35.4%

Two or more races:

12.2%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

Compare Township Three Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 15th percentile in 2024 → 24th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 24th (2026) from a 15th-percentile low (2024)

Worth a look

!Test scores below the North Carolina average (49% vs 61% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (24th percentile)

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school49%

District avg65%

North Carolina avg61%

1,137^th of 1,492

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Bottom 24%▼ down 5 pts since 2016

From bottom 29% (2016) to bottom 24% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

82^nd of 246Cleveland County Schools among North Carolina districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	28.0	1137 of 1492	23.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	25.0	1186 of 1490	20.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	20.6	1276 of 1505	15.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	22.0	1231 of 1502	18.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	41.4	892 of 1514	41.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	43.3	816 of 1489	45.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	37.7	977 of 1473	33.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	25.8	1141 of 1434	20.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	34.9	1003 of 1429	29.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	33.7	1017 of 1425	28.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	43.1	855 of 1440	40.6%	★★☆☆☆
2014	48.1	735 of 1390	47.1%	★★☆☆☆
2013	47.0	706 of 1403	49.7%	★★☆☆☆
2012	52.4	734 of 1388	47.1%	★★☆☆☆
2011	60.3	604 of 1381	56.3%	★★★☆☆
2010	66.2	486 of 1363	64.3%	★★★☆☆
2009	60.1	605 of 1354	55.3%	★★★☆☆
2008	48.8	740 of 1324	44.1%	★★☆☆☆
2007	70.0	341 of 1293	73.6%	★★★★☆
2006	64.8	443 of 1276	65.3%	★★★☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	50.6	414 of 903	54.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	36.0	622 of 918	32.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	29.8	714 of 924	22.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	37.0	608 of 933	34.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	54.7	343 of 927	63.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	57.3	270 of 896	69.9%	★★★★☆
2019	53.4	395 of 949	58.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	43.2	533 of 927	42.5%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2022	37.7	366 of 634	42.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	21.0	590 of 646	8.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	23.8	770 of 878	12.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	33.7	631 of 897	29.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	24.0	1186 of 1447	18.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	29.8	1086 of 1451	25.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	29.2	1102 of 1455	24.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	31.8	1039 of 1459	28.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	40.5	880 of 1458	39.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	46.2	731 of 1440	49.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	43.1	859 of 1424	39.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	35.4	1001 of 1405	28.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2023	42.7	487 of 582	16.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	47.3	384 of 500	23.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	45.9	491 of 612	19.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	63.1	285 of 961	70.3%	★★★★☆
2019	22.0	767 of 865	11.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	15.7	804 of 851	5.5%	☆☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	42.1	859 of 1434	40.1%	★★☆☆☆
2025	36.8	975 of 1437	32.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	28.9	1149 of 1450	20.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	30.6	1076 of 1437	25.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	56.0	544 of 1366	60.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	59.6	427 of 1329	67.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	51.8	641 of 1361	52.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	41.2	819 of 1332	38.5%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	34.1	997 of 1451	31.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	24.6	1172 of 1450	19.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	17.7	1288 of 1464	12.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	15.2	1319 of 1461	9.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	43.1	841 of 1464	42.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	40.3	847 of 1444	41.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	33.4	1051 of 1430	26.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	20.3	1214 of 1413	14.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	39.9	126 of 181	30.4%	★★☆☆☆
2025	24.3	143 of 175	18.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	29.0	80 of 97	17.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	31.4	597 of 815	26.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	16.2	800 of 821	2.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	18.9	745 of 801	7.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	15.8	1051 of 1146	8.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	17.0	1056 of 1172	9.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	13.8	1107 of 1166	5.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	9.6	1138 of 1183	3.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	29.0	928 of 1194	22.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	34.0	811 of 1172	30.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	25.9	988 of 1183	16.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	17.9	1085 of 1178	7.9%	☆☆☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Hispanic (2025)70th percentile+50 vs school

African American (2026)54th percentile+30 vs school

Disabled (2022)42nd percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)40th percentile+16 vs school

Male (2026)31st percentile+7 vs school

Multi-racial (2026)30th percentile+7 vs school

Special Education (2026)27th percentile+3 vs school

Female (2026)18th percentile-6 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2023)16th percentile~ school

White (2026)8th percentile-16 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Science55%-13 vs state

Mathematics50%-13 vs state

Reading45%-11 vs state

★

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Schools Near Township Three Elementary

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Vaccination Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				EOG Mathematics (2026)			EOG Reading (2026)			EOG Science (2026)	Vaccination (2025-26)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/reduced lunch (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	EOG Mathematics 3rd Grade	EOG Mathematics 4th Grade	EOG Mathematics 5th Grade	EOG Reading 3rd Grade	EOG Reading 4th Grade	EOG Reading 5th Grade	EOG Science 5th Grade	Vaccination: Kindergartners up to date on all required vaccines	Vaccination: Exemption rate	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Township Three Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	526 Davis Road	Shelby	28152	Cleveland County	Cleveland County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 476-8245	540	35	15.2	—	218 (40.4%)	191 (35.4%)	65 (12.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	66 (12.2%)	28	1137^th of 1492 public elementary schools	23.8%		25	1186^th of 1490 public elementary schools	20.4%	49	58.1	51.9	40.6	45.9	50.6	39.1	55.1	96.6%	1.1%	$9,675	$1,374	$8,301
James Love Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	309 James Love Road	Shelby	28152	Cleveland County	Cleveland County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 476-8385	376	30	12.3	—	92 (24.5%)	198 (52.7%)	56 (14.9%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (7.4%)	35.3	996^th of 1492 public elementary schools	33.2%		20.3	1276^th of 1490 public elementary schools	14.4%	280	49.2	61.1	54.9	36.5	48.1	52.9	66.7	96.3%	0%	$12,191	$1,637	$10,553
Elizabeth Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	220 S Post Road	Shelby	28152	Cleveland County	Cleveland County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 476-8371	649	37	17.7	—	154 (23.7%)	315 (48.5%)	115 (17.7%)	5 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	60 (9.2%)	32.4	1050^th of 1492 public elementary schools	29.6%		35.8	985^th of 1490 public elementary schools	33.9%	65	52.9	62.5	55.6	31.8	55.0	42.0	56.8	92.3%	2.9%	$9,413	$1,457	$7,956
Grover Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	206 Carolina Avenue	Grover	28073	Cleveland County	Cleveland County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 476-8351	323	21	15.2	—	226 (70.0%)	46 (14.2%)	15 (4.6%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (10.8%)	74	339^th of 1492 public elementary schools	77.3%		75	313^th of 1490 public elementary schools	79.0%	26	68.0	80.0		58.0	73.3			100%	0%	$10,632	$1,366	$9,266
Jefferson Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1166 Wyke Road	Shelby	28150	Cleveland County	Cleveland County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 476-8390	439	30	14.6	—	166 (37.8%)	196 (44.6%)	32 (7.3%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	42 (9.6%)	75	323^rd of 1492 public elementary schools	78.4%		68.6	412^th of 1490 public elementary schools	72.3%	89	84.7	71.4	70.5	68.2	61.0	60.7	77.0	93.9%	4.5%	$10,297	$1,501	$8,795
Bethware Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	115 Bethware Drive	Kings Mountain	28086	Cleveland County	Cleveland County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 476-8346	548	38	14.4	—	337 (61.5%)	110 (20.1%)	58 (10.6%)	4 (0.7%)	2 (0.4%)	2 (0.4%)	35 (6.4%)	69.4	428^th of 1492 public elementary schools	71.3%		79.5	252^nd of 1490 public elementary schools	83.1%	176	75.5	70.7		59.4	62.9			96.4%	1.2%	$9,644	$1,089	$8,555
Boiling Springs Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1522 Patrick Avenue	Shelby	28152	Cleveland County	Cleveland County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 476-8361	558	38	14.8	—	389 (69.7%)	82 (14.7%)	42 (7.5%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	43 (7.7%)	79.1	252^nd of 1492 public elementary schools	83.1%		85.1	172^nd of 1490 public elementary schools	88.5%	80	80.0	80.2	84.4	55.8	71.9	60.0	85.6	92.1%	5.3%	$9,229	$1,162	$8,067
Springmore Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	616 McBrayer Homestead Road	Shelby	28152	Cleveland County	Cleveland County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 476-8235	618	41	15.1	—	445 (72.0%)	77 (12.5%)	63 (10.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (5.2%)	81.4	224^th of 1492 public elementary schools	85.0%		82.2	212^th of 1490 public elementary schools	85.8%	12	80.2	76.6	86.1	62.0	66.0	65.2	88.7	94.1%	2.9%	$9,568	$1,145	$8,422
Washington Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1907 Stony Point Road	Shelby	28150	Cleveland County	Cleveland County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 476-8260	376	26	14.3	97.9%	206 (54.8%)	62 (16.5%)	70 (18.6%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	36 (9.6%)	48	767^th of 1492 public elementary schools	48.6%		39.7	923^rd of 1490 public elementary schools	38.1%	156	73.2	61.3	55.4	60.7	56.5	41.5	61.5	98%	0%	$9,971	$1,530	$8,441
West Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	500 W Mountain Street	Kings Mountain	28086	Cleveland County	Cleveland County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 476-8345	289	21	13.9	—	182 (63.0%)	61 (21.1%)	24 (8.3%)	3 (1.0%)	3 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (5.5%)	71.4	391^st of 1492 public elementary schools	73.8%		57.7	600^th of 1490 public elementary schools	59.7%	209	85.4	58.1		66.7	67.7			94.1%	2%	$9,202	$1,108	$8,094

Frequently Asked Questions about Township Three Elementary

What district is Township Three Elementary in?

Cleveland County Schools

What is the racial makeup of Township Three Elementary?

Students at Township Three Elementary are 40% White, 35% African American, 12% Two or more races, 12% Hispanic.

How many students attend Township Three Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 540 students attended Township Three Elementary.

What schools do graduates of Township Three Elementary attend?

Students who attend Township Three Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Crest Middle
High : Cleveland ECHS
High : Crest High

Is Township Three Elementary a good school?

Township Three Elementary ranks in the bottom 23.8% of North Carolina elementary schools.

Rate Township Three Elementary!

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Latest North Carolina data All new data »

2020–21 through 2025–26 immunization ratesNewOct 19, 2026

2022–23 immunization rates (updated)NewOct 19, 2026

2017–18 through 2025–26 attendance data & graduation ratesSep 2, 2026

2025–26 EOC & EOG test scoresSep 2, 2026

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.