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Turning Point Academy

Q: Is Turning Point Academy a good school?

Turning Point Academy ranks in the bottom 0.0% of North Carolina high schools.

Q: How many students attend Turning Point Academy?

In the 2024-25 school year, 142 students attended Turning Point Academy.

Q: What is the racial makeup of Turning Point Academy?

Students at Turning Point Academy are 46% White, 42% African American, 8% Two or more races, 5% Hispanic.

Public Grades 6-12

662^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 662 North Carolina High Schools

Better than 0% of North Carolina high schools

Summary

Turning Point Academy is a small public school in Shelby, North Carolina, that serves 142 students in grades 6 through 12 as part of Cleveland County Schools. Based on the most recent state data, it ranks last among North Carolina high schools—662 out of 662—placing it at the 0th percentile with zero stars. This is not a recent dip; the school has ranked in the bottom 1 to 8 percent of the state for more than a decade.

Academic proficiency is far below district and state averages in every tested subject. In 7th grade math, only 10 percent of students scored proficient, compared with a district rate of 55.2 percent. In 8th grade reading, 15.4 percent were proficient versus 60.8 percent districtwide. End-of-course results tell a similar story: English II proficiency was 10.3 percent and Math III was 5.4 percent, roughly 60 to 70 percentage points behind district averages. The school's graduation rate stands at 40.5 percent, less than half of the district rate of 85.5 percent. Chronic absenteeism, though still high at 39.8 percent, has improved considerably from 77.3 percent in 2021-2022.

The student body is almost entirely economically disadvantaged—97.9 percent qualify for free or reduced-price lunch—but nearby schools in Cleveland County Schools serve families with similar income profiles and produce much stronger outcomes. Cleveland ECHS, another small school in the same district, ranks in the 92nd percentile and graduates more than 93 percent of its students. Turning Point Academy also spends more per student—about $21,288—than nearby Crest High, Burns High, Shelby High, and Kings Mountain High, and maintains a lower student-teacher ratio. The school's small size, wide grade span, and significant per-student resources point to a mission as an alternative or intervention program for students who have not succeeded in traditional classrooms. In that context, test scores and four-year graduation rates may not tell the whole story, but the data make clear that most students are not currently reaching grade-level proficiency or graduating on time.

142

Students ?

11.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$21,288

Per pupil spending ?

97.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

409 West Sumter Street
Shelby, NC 28150

(704) 476-8399

District: Cleveland County Schools

Racial breakdown:

White:

45.8%

African American:

41.5%

Two or more races:

7.7%

See top rated North Carolina high schools

Compare Turning Point Academy to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 10th percentile in 2011 → <1st in 2026

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 12 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the North Carolina average (10% vs 59% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (<1st percentile)

!Graduation rate below the North Carolina average (40% vs 89%)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school10%

District avg61%

North Carolina avg59%

Middle school

770^th of 778

North Carolina public middle schools ?

Bottom 1%▼ down 2 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

High school

662^nd of 662

North Carolina public high schools ?

Bottom 1%▼ down 5 pts since 2016

From bottom 5% (2016) to bottom 1% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

5^th of 5High Schools in the Cleveland County Schools

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)

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	1.2	770 of 778	1.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	5.4	748 of 773	3.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	1.2	779 of 784	0.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	1.5	782 of 786	0.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	1.7	723 of 737	1.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	0.9	685 of 691	0.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	1.0	690 of 694	0.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	2.5	672 of 692	2.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2015	2.1	696 of 705	1.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2014	1.8	623 of 627	0.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	8.1	630 of 673	6.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2012	1.1	647 of 662	2.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	3.2	617 of 648	4.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	2.1	618 of 640	3.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2009	1.7	610 of 630	3.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	2.0	607 of 620	2.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	1.4	598 of 606	1.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	1.1	593 of 598	0.8%	☆☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	2.4	720 of 725	0.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	11.0	696 of 729	4.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	2.9	728 of 735	1.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	2.8	626 of 639	2.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	1.9	600 of 604	0.7%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	26.6	546 of 733	25.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	1.9	742 of 747	0.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	2.2	742 of 748	0.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	2.5	685 of 697	1.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	1.8	657 of 665	1.2%	☆☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2023	0.3	656 of 656	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

High school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	0.4	662 of 662	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	10.2	591 of 640	7.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	3.9	608 of 626	2.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	8.8	584 of 621	6.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	1.2	511 of 514	0.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	1.9	483 of 507	4.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2015	2.1	516 of 531	2.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	5.1	494 of 505	2.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2012	0.5	485 of 502	3.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	8.1	457 of 506	9.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	4.0	471 of 499	5.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2009	2.7	467 of 490	4.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	1.7	461 of 477	3.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	5.9	426 of 453	6.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	7.1	404 of 431	6.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	6.8	440 of 450	2.2%	☆☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	0.9	620 of 620	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	12.5	577 of 613	5.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	9.1	579 of 597	3.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	6.0	435 of 446	2.5%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	0.9	623 of 624	0.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	15.9	529 of 607	12.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	5.3	584 of 602	3.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	2.0	484 of 488	0.8%	☆☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	0.3	539 of 542	0.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	4.1	539 of 553	2.5%	☆☆☆☆☆

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)

Middle school

Male (2025)26th percentile+22 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)1st percentile~ school

White (2023)<1st percentile~ school

High school

African American (2026)2nd percentile~ school

White (2025)1st percentile

Male (2026)<1st percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)<1st percentile~ school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Reading17%-39 vs state

Science15%-53 vs state

English II10%-54 vs state

Mathematics9%-46 vs state

Math III5%-64 vs state

★

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Schools Near Turning Point Academy

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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 Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				EOC Biology (2026)	EOC English II (2026)	EOC Math I (2026)	EOC Math III (2026)	EOG Mathematics (2026)		EOG Reading (2026)		EOG Science (2026)	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/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2025)	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	EOC Biology End of Course	EOC English II End of Course	EOC Math I End of Course	EOC Math III End of Course	EOG Mathematics 7th Grade	EOG Mathematics 8th Grade	EOG Reading 7th Grade	EOG Reading 8th Grade	EOG Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Turning Point Academy	Public	6-12	409 West Sumter Street	Shelby	28150	Cleveland County	Cleveland County Schools	No	No	No	No	(704) 476-8399	142	12	11.8	97.9%	65 (45.8%)	59 (41.5%)	7 (4.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (7.7%)	0.4	662^nd of 662 public high schools	0.0%					(n/a)	339.0	10.3	537.0	5.4	10.0	7.7	20.0	15.4	15.4	$21,288	$1,682	$19,606
Shelby High	Public	9-12	230 E Dixon Boulevard	Shelby	28152	Cleveland County	Cleveland County Schools	No	No	No	No	(704) 476-8325	792	51	15.4	99.6%	231 (29.2%)	417 (52.7%)	79 (10.0%)	10 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	54 (6.8%)	31.7	467^th of 662 public high schools	29.5%		15.5	557^th of 641 public high schools	13.1%	90	52.4	54.0	31.0	57.9						$9,492	$690	$8,802
Cleveland ECHS	Public	9-12	1800 E Marion St	Shelby	28152	Cleveland County	Cleveland County Schools	No	No	No	No	(704) 476-8232	225	11	20.2	98.7%	128 (56.9%)	35 (15.6%)	45 (20.0%)	5 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (5.3%)	91.9	55^th of 662 public high schools	91.7%		90.8	69^th of 641 public high schools	89.2%	14	94.3	96.2	91.4	94.9						$7,781	$522	$7,258
Crest High	Public	9-12	800 Old Boiling Springs Road	Shelby	28152	Cleveland County	Cleveland County Schools	No	No	No	No	(704) 476-8331	1,098	58	18.8	99.7%	671 (61.1%)	254 (23.1%)	91 (8.3%)	4 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	76 (6.9%)	64.2	226^th of 662 public high schools	65.9%		42.2	361^st of 641 public high schools	43.7%	135	70.9	62.3	64.5	80.5						$8,650	$808	$7,842
Burns High	Public	9-12	307 E Stagecoach Trail	Lawndale	28090	Cleveland County	Cleveland County Schools	No	No	No	No	(704) 476-8335	928	58	15.9	99.5%	626 (67.5%)	156 (16.8%)	95 (10.2%)	4 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	46 (5.0%)	62.3	239^th of 662 public high schools	63.9%		38.3	390^th of 641 public high schools	39.2%	151	91.1	64.1	58.3	75.7						$9,886	$976	$8,911
Kings Mountain High	Public	9-12	500 Phifer Road	Kings Mountain	28086	Cleveland County	Cleveland County Schools	No	No	No	No	(704) 476-8330	1,305	72	18.1	98.8%	771 (59.1%)	297 (22.8%)	119 (9.1%)	17 (1.3%)	2 (0.2%)	1 (0.1%)	98 (7.5%)	60.4	251^st of 662 public high schools	62.1%		52.3	278^th of 641 public high schools	56.6%	27	60.5	61.3	63.8	82.3						$9,036	$654	$8,382
Cherryville High	Public	9-12	313 Ridge Avenue	Cherryville	28021	Gaston County	Gaston County Schools	No	No	No	No	(704) 836-9605	484	33	14.6	99.4%	349 (72.1%)	56 (11.6%)	60 (12.4%)	3 (0.6%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (3.1%)	52.2	318^th of 662 public high schools	52.0%		46	330^th of 641 public high schools	48.5%	12	56.2	59.3	65.7	67.3						$10,928	$967	$9,961
Bessemer City High	Public	9-12	119 Yellow Jacket Lane	Bessemer City	28016	Gaston County	Gaston County Schools	No	No	No	No	(704) 836-9601	590	32	18.5	99.5%	259 (43.9%)	148 (25.1%)	144 (24.4%)	2 (0.3%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (5.9%)	15.7	580^th of 662 public high schools	12.4%		15.9	554^th of 641 public high schools	13.6%	26	33.7	41.8	26.6	45.6						$9,616	$754	$8,862
East Rutherford High School	Public	9-12	331 East High Rd	Bostic	28043	Rutherford County	Rutherford County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 245-6424	623	33	18.9	98.4%	411 (66.0%)	89 (14.3%)	74 (11.9%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	46 (7.4%)	28.3	490^th of 662 public high schools	26.0%		44.8	341^st of 641 public high schools	46.8%	149	42.4	52.0	21.3	65.7						$10,163	$1,106	$9,057
West Lincoln High	Public	9-12	172 Shoal Rd	Lincolnton	28092	Lincoln County	Lincoln County Schools	No	No	No	No	(704) 736-9453	731	45	16.1	99.3%	612 (83.7%)	9 (1.2%)	78 (10.7%)	5 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (3.7%)	53	306^th of 662 public high schools	53.8%		58.1	242^nd of 641 public high schools	62.2%	64	62.3	60.2	48.1	77.8						$8,213	$515	$7,699

Frequently Asked Questions about Turning Point Academy

What is the racial makeup of Turning Point Academy?

Students at Turning Point Academy are 46% White, 42% African American, 8% Two or more races, 5% Hispanic.

Is Turning Point Academy a good school?

Turning Point Academy ranks in the bottom 0.0% of North Carolina high schools.

How many students attend Turning Point Academy?

In the 2024-25 school year, 142 students attended Turning Point Academy.

What district is Turning Point Academy in?

Cleveland County Schools

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Latest North Carolina data All new data »

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

2025–26 EOC & EOG test scoresSep 2, 2026

2016–17 through 2024–25 graduation ratesSep 3, 2025

2024–25 EOC & EOG test scoresSep 3, 2025

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.