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Bethware Elementary

Q: Is Bethware Elementary a good school?

Bethware Elementary ranks 428 th of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-4

428^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 71% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Bethware Elementary is a PK–4 elementary school in Kings Mountain, NC, serving 548 students within Cleveland County Schools. The school carries a 4-star rating and currently ranks 428th out of 1,492 North Carolina elementary schools, placing it in the 71st percentile statewide. That achievement is particularly striking given that 99.45% of its students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Despite that level of economic need, Bethware consistently exceeds district and state averages: in 2025–2026, 3rd grade math proficiency was 75.5% (vs. 66.4% statewide) and 4th grade math was 70.7% (vs. 61.4% statewide); reading scores also came in above both the district and state in grades 3 and 4.

Bethware's results stand out even more when compared with nearby schools serving similar demographics. Township Three Elementary and Elizabeth Elementary, where nearly all students also qualify for free lunch, rank in the 24th and 30th percentiles, respectively. Bethware's low-income students, meanwhile, ranked in the 89th percentile of low-SES students statewide in 2025–2026 and reached the 96th percentile the prior year. Among nearby PK–4 schools, Bethware's 4th grade math scores top those at East Elementary and North Elementary; only Grover Elementary has consistently ranked higher overall in recent years.

Attendance is another clear strength. Bethware's chronic absenteeism rate was just 14.5% in 2024–2025, well below the district rate of 23.2% and the state rate of 24.2% — and far better than Grover Elementary's 26.0% despite Grover's strong academic showing. The school's main concern is special education performance, which fell to the 17th percentile statewide in 2025–2026 after sitting at the 36th percentile the year before. Overall, Bethware has moved from near the middle of the state rankings to the upper quartile in the last several years, making it one of the more effective high-poverty elementary schools in the region.

548

Students ?

14.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

Community Eligibility

All students receive free meals (2024-25) ?

96.4%

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

Exemptions: 1.2% (any vaccine)

115 Bethware Drive
Kings Mountain, NC 28086-1487

(704) 476-8346

District: Cleveland County Schools

Students who attend Bethware Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Kings Mountain Intermediate
	Kings Mountain Middle
High:	Cleveland ECHS
	Kings Mountain High

Racial breakdown:

White:

61.5%

African American:

20.1%

Hispanic:

10.6%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

Compare Bethware Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 57th percentile in 2023 → 71st in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the North Carolina average (67% vs 60% meeting standards)

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 71st (2026) from a 57th-percentile low (2023)

✓Above the North Carolina median (71st percentile)

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school67%

District avg64%

North Carolina avg60%

428^th of 1,492

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Top 29%▼ down 4 pts since 2016

From top 24% (2016) to top 29% (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	69.4	428 of 1492	71.3%	★★★★☆
2025	79.5	252 of 1490	83.1%	★★★★☆
2024	73.0	356 of 1505	76.3%	★★★★☆
2023	56.5	649 of 1502	56.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	55.2	654 of 1514	56.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	65.9	465 of 1489	68.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	62.8	521 of 1473	64.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	67.4	453 of 1434	68.4%	★★★☆☆
2017	72.0	371 of 1429	74.0%	★★★★☆
2016	73.1	349 of 1425	75.5%	★★★★☆
2015	81.8	207 of 1440	85.6%	★★★★☆
2014	77.4	281 of 1390	79.8%	★★★★☆
2013	83.3	179 of 1403	87.2%	★★★★☆
2012	85.0	111 of 1388	92.0%	★★★★★
2011	49.7	798 of 1381	42.2%	★★☆☆☆
2010	59.4	624 of 1363	54.2%	★★★☆☆
2009	70.9	377 of 1354	72.2%	★★★★☆
2008	77.4	232 of 1324	82.5%	★★★★☆
2007	81.7	144 of 1293	88.9%	★★★★☆
2006	77.2	212 of 1276	83.4%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	61.8	284 of 903	68.5%	★★★☆☆
2025	79.5	111 of 918	87.9%	★★★★☆
2024	85.4	70 of 924	92.4%	★★★★★
2023	55.6	356 of 933	61.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	41.0	534 of 927	42.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	73.5	129 of 896	85.6%	★★★★☆
2019	51.8	416 of 949	56.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	28.9	731 of 927	21.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2022	32.1	433 of 634	31.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	30.2	485 of 646	24.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	34.8	606 of 878	31.0%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	72.4	330 of 1447	77.2%	★★★★☆
2025	74.2	298 of 1451	79.5%	★★★★☆
2024	67.0	413 of 1455	71.6%	★★★★☆
2023	52.4	691 of 1459	52.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	58.2	586 of 1458	59.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	59.5	536 of 1440	62.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	70.0	388 of 1424	72.8%	★★★★☆
2018	59.5	597 of 1405	57.5%	★★★☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	70.5	120 of 710	83.1%	★★★★☆
2024	51.0	461 of 669	31.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	43.5	408 of 500	18.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	49.8	455 of 612	25.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	61.2	310 of 981	68.4%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	80.0	161 of 1434	88.8%	★★★★☆
2025	90.5	53 of 1437	96.3%	★★★★★
2024	75.9	217 of 1450	85.0%	★★★★☆
2023	59.0	514 of 1437	64.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	62.3	399 of 1366	70.8%	★★★★☆
2021	77.9	171 of 1329	87.1%	★★★★☆
2019	54.1	597 of 1361	56.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	73.8	243 of 1332	81.8%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	62.1	537 of 1451	63.0%	★★★☆☆
2025	81.3	216 of 1450	85.1%	★★★★☆
2024	77.4	271 of 1464	81.5%	★★★★☆
2023	59.8	567 of 1461	61.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	51.7	697 of 1464	52.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	69.5	392 of 1444	72.9%	★★★★☆
2019	51.9	706 of 1430	50.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	72.8	346 of 1413	75.5%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	25.5	674 of 815	17.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	35.6	524 of 821	36.2%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	56.4	499 of 1146	56.5%	★★★☆☆
2025	68.3	339 of 1172	71.1%	★★★★☆
2024	55.4	521 of 1166	55.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	40.2	757 of 1183	36.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	45.2	680 of 1194	43.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	55.1	504 of 1172	57.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	47.9	646 of 1183	45.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	48.1	663 of 1178	43.7%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)89th percentile+17 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2025)83rd percentile~ school

Female (2026)77th percentile+6 vs school

African American (2026)69th percentile-3 vs school

Hispanic (2026)68th percentile-3 vs school

Male (2026)63rd percentile-8 vs school

White (2026)56th percentile-15 vs school

Disabled (2022)32nd percentile-25 vs school

Special Education (2026)17th percentile-54 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Mathematics73%+9 vs state

Reading61%+5 vs state

★

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Schools Near Bethware 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
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
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
North Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	900 N Ramseur Street	Kings Mountain	28086	Cleveland County	Cleveland County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 476-8225	272	23	12.0	—	143 (52.6%)	84 (30.9%)	23 (8.5%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (7.7%)	63.7	523^rd of 1492 public elementary schools	64.9%		72.1	363^rd of 1490 public elementary schools	75.6%	160	83.3	63.6		53.7	60.0			100%	0%	$10,709	$1,428	$9,282
East Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	600 N Cleveland Avenue	Kings Mountain	28086	Cleveland County	Cleveland County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 476-8356	199	18	10.8	97.5%	83 (41.7%)	84 (42.2%)	24 (12.1%)	1 (0.5%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (3.0%)	51.4	707^th of 1492 public elementary schools	52.6%		56.4	626^th of 1490 public elementary schools	58.0%	81	55.9	69.4		52.9	58.3			92.1%	7.9%	$11,443	$1,678	$9,765
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
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
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
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
Tryon Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2620 Tryon Courthouse Road	Bessemer City	28016	Gaston County	Gaston County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 836-9107	336	26	12.7	97.6%	229 (68.2%)	29 (8.6%)	49 (14.6%)	2 (0.6%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (7.4%)	22.3	1239^th of 1492 public elementary schools	17.0%		25.7	1163^rd of 1490 public elementary schools	21.9%	76	43.9	43.8	54.1	34.1	47.9	43.2	54.1	93%	2.3%	$11,346	$1,912	$9,434

Frequently Asked Questions about Bethware Elementary

What schools do graduates of Bethware Elementary attend?

Students who attend Bethware Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Kings Mountain Intermediate
Middle : Kings Mountain Middle
High : Cleveland ECHS
High : Kings Mountain High

What district is Bethware Elementary in?

Cleveland County Schools

What is the racial makeup of Bethware Elementary?

Students at Bethware Elementary are 61% White, 20% African American, 11% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races.

How many students attend Bethware Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 548 students attended Bethware Elementary.

Is Bethware Elementary a good school?

Bethware Elementary ranks 428^th of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Rate Bethware Elementary!

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Schools in Kings Mountain, NC

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Latest North Carolina data All new data »

2025–26 graduation rates (updated)NewNov 2, 2026

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

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

2017–18 through 2024–25 attendance dataSep 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.