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East Rutherford Middle School

Q: Is East Rutherford Middle School a good school?

East Rutherford Middle School ranks 537 th of 778 North Carolina middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

537^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 778 North Carolina Middle Schools

Better than 31% of North Carolina middle schools

Summary

East Rutherford Middle School in Bostic, NC, serves 533 students in grades 6–8 and is part of Rutherford County Schools, a district rated above average statewide — yet the school itself has slipped sharply, falling from the 57th percentile of North Carolina middle schools in 2022–2023 to just the 31st percentile (2 stars) by 2025–2026. The student body faces profound economic challenges, with 98.7% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, and chronic absenteeism runs at 36.4%, well above the state average of 24.2%.

Academically, results vary widely by grade and subject. Sixth-grade math is a genuine bright spot: 63.5% proficiency, above both district (57.3%) and state (59.2%) averages. But by 7th and 8th grade, scores fall dramatically. Only 39.8% of 7th graders and 29.7% of 8th graders are proficient in math, while 7th-grade reading sits at 36.3% — all far below state averages and well behind nearby CHASE Middle School, Crest Middle, and Polk County Middle School. Similar schools with virtually identical poverty levels — such as Burns Middle and Shelby Middle — outperform East Rutherford in most subjects, a sign that demographics alone don't explain the results.

Two other concerns stand out. East Rutherford has the highest student-to-teacher ratio (20.0) of any comparable local middle school, up sharply from 14.5 two years ago, while Polk County Middle School sits at 11.1. The school is also struggling to serve its highest-ability learners: gifted and talented students rank in the 8th percentile statewide. However, there are strengths to build on. English Language Learner students rank in the 64th percentile — far above the school's overall placement — and 6th-grade math shows what is possible with effective instruction. While the recent decline is steeper than at neighboring schools, targeted attention to attendance, upper-grade transitions, staffing, and advanced coursework could help reverse the trend.

533

Students ?

20.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

98.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

259 East Church Street
Bostic, NC 28018

(828) 245-3750

District: Rutherford County Schools

Students who attend East Rutherford Middle School usually attend:

High:	East Rutherford High School
	Rutherford Early College High School

Feeder schools for East Rutherford Middle School:

Elementary:	Ellenboro Elementary School
	Forest City-Dunbar Elementary School
	Sunshine Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

White:

65.7%

Hispanic:

14.3%

African American:

12.4%

See top rated North Carolina middle schools

Compare East Rutherford Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 40th percentile in 2016 → 31st in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the North Carolina average (47% vs 58% meeting standards)

!High chronic absenteeism (36% vs 24% North Carolina)

!Ranking has slipped — down 9 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school47%

District avg52%

North Carolina avg58%

537^th of 778

North Carolina public middle schools ?

Bottom 31%▼ down 9 pts since 2016

From bottom 40% (2016) to bottom 31% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

71^st of 246Rutherford 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	32.1	537 of 778	31.0%	★★☆☆☆
2025	37.2	492 of 773	36.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	52.0	375 of 793	52.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	54.8	335 of 784	57.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	50.7	375 of 786	52.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	39.0	439 of 741	40.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	54.5	344 of 737	53.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	53.7	339 of 691	50.9%	★★★☆☆
2017	46.7	396 of 694	42.9%	★★☆☆☆
2016	42.3	418 of 692	39.6%	★★☆☆☆
2015	51.4	357 of 705	49.4%	★★☆☆☆
2014	42.7	357 of 627	43.1%	★★☆☆☆
2013	48.9	336 of 673	50.1%	★★★☆☆
2012	48.0	412 of 662	37.8%	★★☆☆☆
2011	49.5	395 of 648	39.0%	★★☆☆☆
2010	57.7	331 of 640	48.3%	★★☆☆☆
2009	63.2	254 of 630	59.7%	★★★☆☆
2008	53.7	318 of 620	48.7%	★★☆☆☆
2007	53.3	324 of 606	46.5%	★★☆☆☆
2006	53.3	328 of 598	45.2%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	35.6	359 of 553	35.1%	★★☆☆☆
2025	40.7	308 of 546	43.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	50.3	231 of 560	58.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	53.9	195 of 559	65.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	55.3	188 of 550	65.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	36.7	329 of 533	38.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	57.3	165 of 519	68.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	63.2	129 of 494	73.9%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2022	37.6	251 of 449	44.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	37.9	300 of 478	37.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	68.6	90 of 504	82.1%	★★★★☆
2018	61.1	103 of 475	78.3%	★★★★☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	51.7	130 of 363	64.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	57.4	89 of 371	76.0%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	31.9	510 of 731	30.2%	★★☆☆☆
2025	42.8	431 of 733	41.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	53.7	319 of 738	56.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	59.8	274 of 731	62.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	53.6	321 of 733	56.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	38.3	421 of 706	40.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	57.3	294 of 684	57.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	54.7	315 of 656	52.0%	★★★☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	28.1	426 of 465	8.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	37.2	377 of 458	17.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	41.7	363 of 461	21.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	25.8	420 of 452	7.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	24.4	422 of 450	6.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	27.2	398 of 448	11.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	31.1	368 of 416	11.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	49.9	79 of 127	37.8%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	33.3	396 of 566	30.0%	★★☆☆☆
2025	42.2	331 of 562	41.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	64.4	146 of 564	74.1%	★★★★☆
2023	42.2	326 of 553	41.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	54.8	212 of 541	60.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	50.2	242 of 522	53.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	43.9	285 of 493	42.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	57.3	168 of 472	64.4%	★★★☆☆

Homeless

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	51.4	25 of 59	57.6%	★★★☆☆
2025	84.2	3 of 44	93.2%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	37.9	457 of 725	37.0%	★★☆☆☆
2025	43.4	402 of 729	44.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	58.7	270 of 743	63.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	63.2	205 of 735	72.1%	★★★★☆
2022	52.6	285 of 689	58.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	32.0	442 of 633	30.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	58.9	225 of 639	64.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	54.4	257 of 604	57.5%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	30.6	527 of 736	28.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	31.8	509 of 733	30.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	48.3	381 of 751	49.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	48.6	366 of 747	51.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	46.1	402 of 748	46.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	39.4	429 of 711	39.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	49.3	364 of 697	47.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	50.9	346 of 665	48.0%	★★☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	37.5	217 of 333	34.8%	★★☆☆☆
2025	21.9	284 of 328	13.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	29.8	234 of 306	23.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	23.3	259 of 302	14.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	25.2	228 of 283	19.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	28.3	196 of 248	21.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	58.1	80 of 237	66.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	44.3	125 of 221	43.4%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	29.2	396 of 500	20.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	38.6	259 of 478	45.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	46.9	198 of 473	58.1%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	19.1	563 of 644	12.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	22.0	544 of 649	16.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	33.3	463 of 652	29.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	43.6	373 of 656	43.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	35.5	441 of 658	33.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	24.0	512 of 632	19.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	36.1	435 of 624	30.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	32.6	448 of 596	24.8%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

English Language Learner (2026)64th percentile+33 vs school

Homeless (2026)58th percentile+27 vs school

Disabled (2022)44th percentile-8 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)37th percentile+6 vs school

African American (2026)35th percentile+4 vs school

Multi-racial (2026)35th percentile+4 vs school

Female (2026)30th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2026)30th percentile~ school

Male (2026)28th percentile-3 vs school

Special Education (2026)21st percentile-10 vs school

White (2026)13th percentile-18 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2026)8th percentile-23 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Science60%-8 vs state

Reading45%-11 vs state

Mathematics44%-12 vs state

5.0

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by a student
Monday, January 2, 2017

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Schools Near East Rutherford Middle School

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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 6th Grade	EOG Mathematics 7th Grade	EOG Mathematics 8th Grade	EOG Reading 6th 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
East Rutherford Middle School	Public	6-8	259 East Church Street	Bostic	28018	Rutherford County	Rutherford County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 245-3750	533	27	20.0	98.7%	350 (65.7%)	66 (12.4%)	76 (14.3%)	3 (0.6%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	37 (6.9%)	32.1	537^th of 778 public middle schools	31.0%		37.2	492^nd of 773 public middle schools	36.4%	45	63.5	39.8	29.7	51.9	36.3	46.5	60.5	$9,615	$916	$8,699
Chase Middle School	Public	6-8	840 Chase High Rd	Forest City	28043	Rutherford County	Rutherford County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 247-1043	484	27	18.1	97.1%	338 (69.8%)	30 (6.2%)	80 (16.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	36 (7.4%)	55.4	346^th of 778 public middle schools	55.5%		61.1	275^th of 773 public middle schools	64.4%	71	56.8	61.8	38.8	56.8	66.9	56.0	72.5	$9,772	$780	$8,991
R-S Middle School	Public	6-8	607 Westbrook Dr.	Rutherfordton	28139	Rutherford County	Rutherford County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 286-4461	561	30	18.6	98.2%	373 (66.5%)	78 (13.9%)	51 (9.1%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	56 (10.0%)	40.7	473^rd of 778 public middle schools	39.2%		48.9	393^rd of 773 public middle schools	49.2%	80	52.6	50.3	40.6	44.2	49.7	57.2	67.2	$8,987	$745	$8,242
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
Burns Middle	Public	6-8	215 Shady Grove Road	Lawndale	28090	Cleveland County	Cleveland County Schools	No	No	No	No	(704) 476-8223	744	43	17.1	99.6%	512 (68.8%)	116 (15.6%)	73 (9.8%)	4 (0.5%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	38 (5.1%)	60.5	294^th of 778 public middle schools	62.2%		53.5	349^th of 773 public middle schools	54.9%	55	73.4	62.2	46.3	59.5	52.8	58.8	75.4	$9,061	$807	$8,254
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
Polk County Middle School	Public	6-8	321 Wolverine Trail	Mill Spring	28756	Polk County	Polk County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 894-2215	454	41	11.1	99.3%	339 (74.7%)	19 (4.2%)	64 (14.1%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	29 (6.4%)	59.4	307^th of 778 public middle schools	60.5%		67	230^th of 773 public middle schools	70.2%	77	54.9	56.0	51.3	52.9	60.4	72.0	76.7	$11,233	$636	$10,597

Frequently Asked Questions about East Rutherford Middle School

What is the racial makeup of East Rutherford Middle School?

Students at East Rutherford Middle School are 66% White, 14% Hispanic, 12% African American, 7% Two or more races.

What high school do graduates of East Rutherford Middle School attend?

Students who attend East Rutherford Middle School usually go on to attend East Rutherford High School

What district is East Rutherford Middle School in?

Rutherford County Schools

Is East Rutherford Middle School a good school?

East Rutherford Middle School ranks 537^th of 778 North Carolina middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend East Rutherford Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 533 students attended East Rutherford Middle School.

Rate East Rutherford Middle School!

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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.