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Kings Mountain Middle

Q: Is Kings Mountain Middle a good school?

Kings Mountain Middle ranks 373 rd of 778 North Carolina middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 7-8

373^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 778 North Carolina Middle Schools

Better than 52% of North Carolina middle schools

Summary

Kings Mountain Middle serves 631 students in grades 7 and 8 in Kings Mountain, NC, and is part of Cleveland County Schools. The school currently holds a 3-star rating, ranking 373rd out of 778 North Carolina middle schools (52nd percentile). This represents a meaningful decline from its 2018-2019 peak, when it ranked in the 80th percentile statewide. In the immediate area, Crest Middle is the higher-performing counterpart within the same district, while Gaston County schools such as Bessemer City Middle and Southwest Middle rank significantly lower despite serving very similar student populations.

Academically, reading is a clear and consistent strength, with both 7th and 8th grade proficiency rates at or above state averages—8th grade reading was nearly 5 points higher than the state in 2025-2026. Nearly all students (99.5%) qualify for free/reduced-price lunch, yet the school performs well for economically disadvantaged, Hispanic, and English Language Learner students compared to their peers statewide. However, math proficiency is largely average, and science has become volatile, swinging from nearly 8 points above the state in 2022-2023 to over 6 points below it in 2025-2026. Special education and gifted and talented students are areas of concern, with recent subgroup rankings in the bottom third of the state.

One of the most pressing challenges is chronic absenteeism. Roughly 30% of students were chronically absent in 2024-2025, a rate significantly higher than both the district and state averages. Additionally, test scores suggest a difficult academic transition from Kings Mountain Intermediate, where 6th grade math proficiency was 66.9% in 2024-2025, compared to just 53.5% for 7th graders the following year at Kings Mountain Middle. While not a struggling school by regional standards, Kings Mountain Middle has strong foundational literacy and effective support systems for high-poverty students. To return to the upper-third statewide status it achieved just a few years ago, the school will need to address chronic absenteeism, stabilize math and science outcomes, and investigate supports for special education and gifted students.

631

Students ?

16.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

99.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1000 Phifer Road
Kings Mountain, NC 28086-3750

(704) 476-8340

District: Cleveland County Schools

Students who attend Kings Mountain Middle usually attend:

High:	Cleveland ECHS
	Kings Mountain High

Feeder schools for Kings Mountain Middle:

Elementary:	Bethware Elementary
	East Elementary
	Grover Elementary
	North Elementary
	More...
	West Elementary

Racial breakdown:

White:

55.2%

African American:

25.7%

Hispanic:

9.2%

See top rated North Carolina middle schools

Compare Kings Mountain Middle to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 49th percentile in 2016 → 52nd in 2026

Strengths

✓Above the North Carolina median (52nd percentile)

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school58%

District avg58%

North Carolina avg58%

373^rd of 778

North Carolina public middle schools ?

Top 48%▲ up 3 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Middle 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	52.6	373 of 778	52.1%	★★★☆☆
2025	54.9	329 of 773	57.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	51.1	383 of 793	51.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	64.4	249 of 784	68.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	65.1	245 of 786	68.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	68.4	210 of 741	71.7%	★★★★☆
2019	77.6	146 of 737	80.2%	★★★★☆
2018	69.1	204 of 691	70.5%	★★★★☆
2017	55.9	320 of 694	53.9%	★★★☆☆
2016	51.1	350 of 692	49.4%	★★☆☆☆
2015	62.8	249 of 705	64.7%	★★★☆☆
2014	65.0	189 of 627	69.9%	★★★★☆
2013	72.9	152 of 673	77.4%	★★★★☆
2012	77.7	114 of 662	82.8%	★★★★☆
2011	73.0	170 of 648	73.8%	★★★★☆
2010	76.8	122 of 640	80.9%	★★★★☆
2009	76.4	128 of 630	79.7%	★★★★☆
2008	77.6	113 of 620	81.8%	★★★★☆
2007	82.4	51 of 606	91.6%	★★★★★
2006	70.0	160 of 598	73.2%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	46.6	266 of 553	51.9%	★★★☆☆
2025	40.6	310 of 546	43.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	49.6	234 of 560	58.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	65.3	126 of 559	77.5%	★★★★☆
2022	60.5	156 of 550	71.6%	★★★★☆
2021	71.0	81 of 533	84.8%	★★★★☆
2019	81.3	52 of 519	90.0%	★★★★★
2018	64.8	118 of 494	76.1%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2022	36.4	262 of 449	41.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	45.2	226 of 478	52.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	63.8	111 of 504	78.0%	★★★★☆
2018	46.2	218 of 475	54.1%	★★★☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	47.9	152 of 363	58.1%	★★★☆☆
2025	77.6	40 of 371	89.2%	★★★★☆
2024	47.5	147 of 356	58.7%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	48.9	379 of 731	48.2%	★★☆☆☆
2025	58.5	274 of 733	62.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	52.1	340 of 738	53.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	59.8	275 of 731	62.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	65.2	226 of 733	69.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	69.4	188 of 706	73.4%	★★★★☆
2019	74.5	156 of 684	77.2%	★★★★☆
2018	68.2	203 of 656	69.1%	★★★☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	51.7	305 of 465	34.4%	★★☆☆☆
2025	64.8	157 of 458	65.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	56.1	243 of 461	47.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	50.1	282 of 452	37.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	57.8	225 of 450	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	62.9	181 of 448	59.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	68.1	97 of 416	76.7%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	52.2	246 of 566	56.5%	★★★☆☆
2025	69.2	118 of 562	79.0%	★★★★☆
2024	69.4	112 of 564	80.1%	★★★★☆
2023	77.0	75 of 553	86.4%	★★★★☆
2022	86.8	35 of 541	93.5%	★★★★★
2021	76.0	65 of 522	87.5%	★★★★☆
2019	84.3	42 of 493	91.5%	★★★★★
2018	92.5	12 of 472	97.5%	★★★★★

Homeless

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2024	68.3	7 of 50	86.0%	★★★★☆
2023	63.5	12 of 50	76.0%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	55.9	287 of 725	60.4%	★★★☆☆
2025	57.1	266 of 729	63.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	53.1	318 of 743	57.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	72.6	136 of 735	81.5%	★★★★☆
2022	74.5	103 of 689	85.1%	★★★★☆
2021	76.5	84 of 633	86.7%	★★★★☆
2019	78.3	79 of 639	87.6%	★★★★☆
2018	74.0	99 of 604	83.6%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	53.2	343 of 736	53.4%	★★★☆☆
2025	49.5	366 of 733	50.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	47.6	388 of 751	48.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	65.9	223 of 747	70.1%	★★★★☆
2022	62.5	252 of 748	66.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	65.6	216 of 711	69.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	78.7	124 of 697	82.2%	★★★★☆
2018	69.2	192 of 665	71.1%	★★★★☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	41.9	196 of 333	41.1%	★★☆☆☆
2025	48.8	159 of 328	51.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	43.8	172 of 306	43.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	56.3	110 of 302	63.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	64.8	77 of 283	72.8%	★★★★☆
2021	55.3	86 of 248	65.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	74.0	40 of 237	83.1%	★★★★☆
2018	41.7	134 of 221	39.4%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	30.0	386 of 500	22.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	33.2	326 of 478	31.8%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	43.7	385 of 644	40.2%	★★☆☆☆
2025	49.7	320 of 649	50.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	34.6	447 of 652	31.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	47.9	333 of 656	49.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	49.3	329 of 658	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	53.6	271 of 632	57.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	65.9	202 of 624	67.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	56.2	260 of 596	56.4%	★★★☆☆

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)

Homeless (2024)86th percentile+34 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)60th percentile+8 vs school

English Language Learner (2026)58th percentile+6 vs school

Hispanic (2026)57th percentile+4 vs school

Male (2026)53rd percentile~ school

African American (2026)52nd percentile~ school

Female (2026)48th percentile-4 vs school

Disabled (2022)42nd percentile-27 vs school

Multi-racial (2026)41st percentile-11 vs school

White (2026)40th percentile-12 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2026)34th percentile-18 vs school

Special Education (2026)23rd percentile-29 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Science62%-6 vs state

Reading59%+3 vs state

Mathematics54%~ state avg

★

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Schools Near Kings Mountain Middle

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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 5th Grade	EOG Mathematics 6th Grade	EOG Mathematics 7th Grade	EOG Mathematics 8th Grade	EOG Reading 5th Grade	EOG Reading 6th Grade	EOG Reading 7th Grade	EOG Reading 8th Grade	EOG Science 5th Grade	EOG Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Kings Mountain Middle	Public	7-8	1000 Phifer Road	Kings Mountain	28086	Cleveland County	Cleveland County Schools	No	No	No	No	(704) 476-8340	631	37	16.9	99.5%	348 (55.2%)	162 (25.7%)	58 (9.2%)	7 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	56 (8.9%)	52.6	373^rd of 778 public middle schools	52.1%		54.9	329^th of 773 public middle schools	57.4%	44			53.5	53.8			58.0	60.8		62.1	$8,838	$691	$8,147
Kings Mountain Intermediate	Public	5-6	227 Kings Mountain Boulevard	Kings Mountain	28086	Cleveland County	Cleveland County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 476-8366	601	32	19.0	99.3%	352 (58.6%)	144 (24.0%)	56 (9.3%)	8 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	40 (6.7%)								(n/a)	63.0	69.5			52.0	58.5			71.2		$8,233	$1,444	$6,788
Bessemer City Middle	Public	6-8	525 Ed Wilson Road	Bessemer City	28016	Gaston County	Gaston County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 836-9602	497	29	17.1	99.4%	205 (41.2%)	136 (27.4%)	118 (23.7%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (7.0%)	15.6	678^th of 778 public middle schools	12.9%		19.6	641^st of 773 public middle schools	17.1%	37		37.6	23.1	34.2		38.3	28.4	40.6		55.5	$9,249	$1,434	$7,815
Southwest Middle	Public	6-8	1 Roadrunner Drive	Gastonia	28052	Gaston County	Gaston County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 866-6290	832	54	15.3	99.6%	187 (22.5%)	280 (33.7%)	302 (36.3%)	5 (0.6%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	57 (6.9%)	14.7	687^th of 778 public middle schools	11.7%		13.6	696^th of 773 public middle schools	10.0%	9		42.6	35.7	26.1		33.8	31.0	35.1		53.0	$8,802	$1,244	$7,559
John Chavis Middle School	Public	6-8	103 South Chavis Drive	Cherryville	28021	Gaston County	Gaston County Schools	No	No	No	No	(704) 836-9606	412	27	14.9	99.3%	296 (71.8%)	38 (9.2%)	56 (13.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (5.3%)	44	444^th of 778 public middle schools	42.9%		45.9	427^th of 773 public middle schools	44.8%	17		46.0	54.3	53.4		43.2	51.2	50.4		73.7	$9,634	$956	$8,678
Shelby Middle	Public	6-8	1480 South Dekalb Street	Shelby	28152	Cleveland County	Cleveland County Schools	No	No	No	No	(704) 476-8328	588	35	16.6	99.5%	178 (30.3%)	293 (49.8%)	74 (12.6%)	5 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	38 (6.5%)	32	538^th of 778 public middle schools	30.8%		37.6	488^th of 773 public middle schools	36.9%	50		48.5	38.4	58.9		42.5	40.7	52.4		48.6	$11,218	$923	$10,295
York Chester Middle	Public	6-8	601 S Clay Street	Gastonia	28052	Gaston County	Gaston County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 836-9609	398	25	15.9	99.2%	72 (18.1%)	188 (47.2%)	121 (30.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (4.3%)	9.3	726^th of 778 public middle schools	6.7%		25.9	582^nd of 773 public middle schools	24.7%	144		26.4	17.8	33.3		29.8	25.6	33.6		49.6	$12,146	$3,225	$8,921
W P Grier Middle School	Public	6-8	1622 E Garrison Boulevard	Gastonia	28054	Gaston County	Gaston County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 836-9604	659	42	15.7	99.5%	63 (9.6%)	348 (52.8%)	192 (29.1%)	9 (1.4%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	45 (6.8%)	15.7	677^th of 778 public middle schools	13.0%		10.3	717^th of 773 public middle schools	7.2%	40		37.4	30.7	24.9		32.1	38.7	34.5		60.6	$8,330	$1,260	$7,071
W C Friday Middle School	Public	6-8	1221 Ratchford Drive	Dallas	28034	Gaston County	Gaston County Schools	No	No	No	No	(704) 922-5297	618	34	18.0	99.5%	292 (47.2%)	147 (23.8%)	120 (19.4%)	7 (1.1%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	50 (8.1%)	28.7	573^rd of 778 public middle schools	26.3%		26.2	579^th of 773 public middle schools	25.1%	6		51.7	36.8	40.5		50.0	35.8	48.7		56.9	$8,144	$730	$7,414
Crest Middle	Public	6-8	315 Beaver Dam Church Rd	Shelby	28152	Cleveland County	Cleveland County Schools	No	No	No	No	(704) 476-8221	810	50	16.3	98.9%	490 (60.5%)	200 (24.7%)	71 (8.8%)	2 (0.2%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	46 (5.7%)	64.2	255^th of 778 public middle schools	67.2%		60.9	276^th of 773 public middle schools	64.3%	21		61.2	63.4	62.1		55.9	60.3	69.7		68.2	$8,409	$668	$7,741

Frequently Asked Questions about Kings Mountain Middle

What high school do graduates of Kings Mountain Middle attend?

Students who attend Kings Mountain Middle usually go on to attend Cleveland ECHS

What is the racial makeup of Kings Mountain Middle?

Students at Kings Mountain Middle are 55% White, 26% African American, 9% Hispanic, 9% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

How many students attend Kings Mountain Middle?

In the 2024-25 school year, 631 students attended Kings Mountain Middle.

Is Kings Mountain Middle a good school?

Kings Mountain Middle ranks 373^rd of 778 North Carolina middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What district is Kings Mountain Middle 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.