Foothills Review

There were 8,890 students enrolled in Rutherford County schools in the 2023-24 school year, 0.7% less than the previous year, according to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.

Thomas Jefferson Class Academy registered the highest enrollment among Rutherford County's 20 schools in the 2023-24 school year, welcoming 1,389 students.

Despite steady enrollment, North Carolina schools continue to face significant funding challenges. The state's per-student spending remains nearly $5,000 below the national average, limiting resources for teachers, classrooms, and student support programs. In fact, North Carolina ranks 48th out of 50 states in per-student funding (after adjusting for regional costs).

Staffing shortages have also become a growing concern, with teacher turnover rising to 11.5% in the most recent school year. Low salaries and high workloads make it difficult to retain experienced educators, potentially increasing class sizes and affecting learning quality.

School name	Total Enrollment in 2022-23	Total Enrollment in 2023-24	% Change
Thomas Jefferson Class Academy	1,340	1,389	3.7%
R-S Central High School	729	725	-0.5%
East Rutherford High School	642	616	-4%
Chase High School	637	592	-7.1%
R-S Middle School	568	548	-3.5%
East Rutherford Middle School	548	540	-1.5%
Ellenboro Elementary School	556	521	-6.3%
Chase Middle School	489	481	-1.6%
Forest City-Dunbar Elementary School	455	448	-1.5%
Lake Lure Classical Academy	425	440	3.5%
Harris Elementary School	407	405	-0.5%
Forrest W. Hunt Elementary School	351	378	7.7%
Rutherfordton Elementary School	375	377	0.5%
Spindale Elementary School	324	318	-1.9%
Mt. Vernon-Ruth Elementary School	222	220	-0.9%
Pinnacle Elementary School	222	208	-6.3%
Cliffside Elementary School	213	206	-3.3%
Rutherford Early College High School	189	199	5.3%
Sunshine Elementary School	165	177	7.3%
Rutherford Opportunity Center	99	102	3%