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James Love Elementary

Q: Is James Love Elementary a good school?

James Love Elementary ranks 996 th of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

996^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 33% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

James Love Elementary is a PK–5 public school serving about 376 students in Shelby, a small city in western North Carolina within the Cleveland County Schools district. The school currently holds a 2-star rating, placing it at the 33rd percentile of North Carolina elementary schools — a solid recovery from last year's 1-star, 14th-percentile result, though still well below several nearby schools with very similar student populations. Springmore Elementary, Boiling Springs Elementary, Jefferson Elementary, and Grover Elementary all rank in the 77th–85th percentile while serving nearly identical rates of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch.

The most encouraging academic news comes from upper-grade gains: 4th grade math proficiency jumped from 36.8% to 61.1%, 5th grade math rose from 37.0% to 54.9%, and 5th grade science climbed to 66.7%, close to the state average. Reading remains the biggest concern, especially in 3rd grade, where just 36.5% of students are proficient compared with 55.6% statewide. What makes James Love especially interesting is its resource level: it spends $12,191 per student and has a 12.3:1 student-teacher ratio — the most generous of all nearby elementary schools — yet higher-performing neighbors like Springmore and Boiling Springs spend roughly $9,500–$9,600 per pupil. Extra funding and smaller classes have not yet produced comparable results.

On the positive side, chronic absenteeism has fallen from 27.9% to 21.7% over four years and now sits below both district and state averages. State effectiveness data shows a mixed picture for student subgroups: African American and low-income students perform near the statewide median for their groups, while White students, male students, and special education students rank in the lower percentiles relative to their statewide peers. Given the school's volatile history — it ranked at the 60th percentile in 2021-2022 before dropping to the 14th percentile in 2024-2025 — the key question for families is whether this year's improvement reflects a lasting turnaround or a single strong cohort.

376

Students ?

12.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

98.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

309 James Love Road
Shelby, NC 28152-7041

(704) 476-8385

District: Cleveland County Schools

Students who attend James Love Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Shelby Middle
High:	Cleveland ECHS
	Shelby High

Racial breakdown:

African American:

52.7%

White:

24.5%

Hispanic:

14.9%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

Compare James Love Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Recently slipping — 60th percentile in 2022 → 33rd in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the North Carolina average (52% vs 61% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped from its 60th-percentile peak (2022) to 33rd (2026)

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school52%

District avg65%

North Carolina avg61%

996^th of 1,492

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Bottom 33%▲ up 15 pts since 2016

From bottom 18% (2016) to bottom 33% (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	35.3	996 of 1492	33.2%	★★☆☆☆
2025	20.3	1276 of 1490	14.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	31.1	1080 of 1505	28.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	46.5	823 of 1502	45.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	59.2	607 of 1514	59.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	41.1	860 of 1489	42.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	23.0	1223 of 1473	17.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	45.1	840 of 1434	41.4%	★★☆☆☆
2017	22.5	1183 of 1429	17.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	23.9	1164 of 1425	18.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	24.2	1161 of 1440	19.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	28.2	1034 of 1390	25.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	40.2	842 of 1403	40.0%	★★☆☆☆
2012	59.0	622 of 1388	55.2%	★★★☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	54.7	366 of 903	59.5%	★★★☆☆
2025	38.2	587 of 918	36.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	52.7	391 of 924	57.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	72.3	182 of 933	80.5%	★★★★☆
2022	85.5	66 of 927	92.9%	★★★★★
2021	70.2	146 of 896	83.7%	★★★★☆
2019	44.9	525 of 949	44.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	73.7	150 of 927	83.8%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2022	42.3	314 of 634	50.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	59.6	173 of 646	73.2%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	43.4	844 of 1447	41.7%	★★☆☆☆
2025	26.1	1155 of 1451	20.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	34.1	1018 of 1455	30.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	55.0	637 of 1459	56.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	68.1	409 of 1458	71.9%	★★★★☆
2021	40.1	835 of 1440	42.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	12.4	1325 of 1424	7.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	42.6	882 of 1405	37.2%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	45.4	774 of 1434	46.0%	★★☆☆☆
2025	31.8	1085 of 1437	24.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	43.0	868 of 1450	40.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	62.0	457 of 1437	68.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	75.3	203 of 1366	85.1%	★★★★☆
2021	54.9	498 of 1329	62.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	38.2	908 of 1361	33.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	72.9	259 of 1332	80.6%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	27.4	1116 of 1451	23.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	20.1	1255 of 1450	13.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	29.4	1088 of 1464	25.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	40.2	913 of 1461	37.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	48.5	745 of 1464	49.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	42.6	808 of 1444	44.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	36.9	990 of 1430	30.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	48.0	789 of 1413	44.2%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	28.2	640 of 815	21.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	27.2	666 of 821	18.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	28.5	626 of 801	21.8%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	9.6	1108 of 1146	3.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	9.2	1142 of 1172	2.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	31.0	877 of 1166	24.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	30.4	907 of 1183	23.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	14.3	1101 of 1172	6.1%	☆☆☆☆☆

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)

African American (2026)59th percentile+26 vs school

Disabled (2022)50th percentile-9 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)46th percentile+13 vs school

Female (2026)42nd percentile+8 vs school

Male (2026)23rd percentile-10 vs school

Special Education (2026)21st percentile-12 vs school

White (2026)3rd percentile-30 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Science67%~ state avg

Mathematics55%-9 vs state

Reading45%-11 vs state

★

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Schools Near James Love 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 Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				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	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	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
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	98.7%	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	$12,191	$1,637	$10,553
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	99.4%	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	$9,675	$1,374	$8,301
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	99.3%	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	$10,297	$1,501	$8,795
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	99.5%	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	$9,413	$1,457	$7,956
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	99.5%	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	$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	99.5%	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	$9,568	$1,145	$8,422
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	99.5%	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			$9,644	$1,089	$8,555
Union Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1440 Union Church Road	Shelby	28150	Cleveland County	Cleveland County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 476-8250	413	30	13.6	99.3%	248 (60.0%)	95 (23.0%)	27 (6.5%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	40 (9.7%)	48.5	760^th of 1492 public elementary schools	49.1%		56.9	613^th of 1490 public elementary schools	58.9%	147	63.8	68.4	75.3	46.4	50.9	43.8	64.4	$10,135	$1,538	$8,597
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	99.1%	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			$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	$9,971	$1,530	$8,441

Frequently Asked Questions about James Love Elementary

What district is James Love Elementary in?

Cleveland County Schools

What schools do graduates of James Love Elementary attend?

Students who attend James Love Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Shelby Middle
High : Cleveland ECHS
High : Shelby High

What is the racial makeup of James Love Elementary?

Students at James Love Elementary are 53% African American, 24% White, 15% Hispanic, 7% Two or more races.

How many students attend James Love Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 376 students attended James Love Elementary.

Is James Love Elementary a good school?

James Love Elementary ranks 996^th of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Rate James Love Elementary!

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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.