For the 2026 school year, there are 30 public schools serving 17,051 students in Cleveland County, NC (there are 5 private schools, serving 227 private students). 99% of all K-12 students in Cleveland County, NC are educated in public schools (compared to the NC state average of 93%).
The top-ranked public schools in Cleveland County, NC are Cleveland Echs, Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy and Pinnacle Classical Academy. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Cleveland County, NC public schools have an average math proficiency score of 60% (versus the North Carolina public school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 52% (versus the 50% statewide average). Schools in Cleveland County have an average ranking of 9/10, which is in the top 20% of North Carolina public schools.
Minority enrollment is 41% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the North Carolina public school average of 58% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Best Public Schools in Cleveland County (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Cleveland Echs
(Math: 80-89% | Reading: 85-89% )
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
1800 E. Marion Street
Shelby, NC 28152
(704) 476-8232
Shelby, NC 28152
(704) 476-8232
Gr: 9-13 | 225 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 43%
Rank: #22.
Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy
Charter School
(Math: 82% | Reading: 77%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
2527 Us 221a Hwy
Mooresboro, NC 28114
(828) 657-9998
Mooresboro, NC 28114
(828) 657-9998
Gr: K-12 | 1,330 student Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 32%
Rank: #33.
Pinnacle Classical Academy
Charter School
(Math: 73% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
2401 Joes Lake Rd
Shelby, NC 28152
(704) 740-4040
Shelby, NC 28152
(704) 740-4040
Gr: K-12 | 1,178 student Student-teacher ratio: 28:1 Minority enrollment: 28%
Rank: #44.
Crest High School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
800 Old Boiling Springs Road
Shelby, NC 28152
(704) 476-8331
Shelby, NC 28152
(704) 476-8331
Gr: 9-12 | 1,098 student Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 39%
Rank: #55.
Kings Mountain High School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
500 Phifer Road
Kings Mountain, NC 28086
(704) 476-8330
Kings Mountain, NC 28086
(704) 476-8330
Gr: 9-12 | 1,305 student Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 41%
Rank: #66.
North Shelby
Special Education School
(Math: 60-79% | Reading: 60-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1701 Charles Road
Shelby, NC 28152
(704) 476-8230
Shelby, NC 28152
(704) 476-8230
Gr: PK-12 | 76 students Student-teacher ratio: 6:1 Minority enrollment: 43%
Rank: #77.
Boiling Springs Elementary School
(Math: 72% | Reading: 60%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1522 Patrick Avenue
Shelby, NC 28152
(704) 476-8361
Shelby, NC 28152
(704) 476-8361
Gr: PK-5 | 558 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
Rank: #88.
Burns High School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
307 E Stagecoach Trail
Lawndale, NC 28090
(704) 476-8335
Lawndale, NC 28090
(704) 476-8335
Gr: 9-12 | 928 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 32%
Rank: #99.
Springmore Elementary School
(Math: 72% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
616 Mcbrayer Homestead Road
Shelby, NC 28152
(704) 476-8235
Shelby, NC 28152
(704) 476-8235
Gr: PK-5 | 618 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 28%
Rank: #1010.
Casar Elementary School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
436 School House Road
Casar, NC 28020
(704) 476-8255
Casar, NC 28020
(704) 476-8255
Gr: PK-5 | 275 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 13%
Rank: #1111.
Jefferson Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1166 Wyke Road
Shelby, NC 28150
(704) 476-8390
Shelby, NC 28150
(704) 476-8390
Gr: PK-5 | 439 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 62%
Rank: #12 - 1412. - 14.
Grover Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
206 Carolina Avenue
Grover, NC 28073
(704) 476-8351
Grover, NC 28073
(704) 476-8351
Gr: PK-4 | 323 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
Rank: #12 - 1412. - 14.
Shelby High School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
230 E Dixon Boulevard
Shelby, NC 28152
(704) 476-8325
Shelby, NC 28152
(704) 476-8325
Gr: 9-12 | 792 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 71%
Rank: #12 - 1412. - 14.
West Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
500 W Mountain Street
Kings Mountain, NC 28086
(704) 476-8345
Kings Mountain, NC 28086
(704) 476-8345
Gr: PK-4 | 289 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 37%
Rank: #1515.
Kings Mountain Intermediate
(Math: 65% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
227 Kings Mountain Boulevard
Kings Mountain, NC 28086
(704) 476-8366
Kings Mountain, NC 28086
(704) 476-8366
Gr: 5-6 | 601 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 41%
Rank: #16 - 1816. - 18.
Bethware Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
115 Bethware Drive
Kings Mountain, NC 28086
(704) 476-8346
Kings Mountain, NC 28086
(704) 476-8346
Gr: PK-4 | 548 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 38%
Rank: #16 - 1816. - 18.
East Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
600 N Cleveland Avenue
Kings Mountain, NC 28086
(704) 476-8356
Kings Mountain, NC 28086
(704) 476-8356
Gr: PK-4 | 199 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 58%
Rank: #16 - 1816. - 18.
James Love Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
309 James Love Road
Shelby, NC 28152
(704) 476-8385
Shelby, NC 28152
(704) 476-8385
Gr: PK-5 | 376 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 76%
Rank: #1919.
Fallston Elementary School
(Math: 58% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
112 Gary Street
Fallston, NC 28042
(704) 476-8240
Fallston, NC 28042
(704) 476-8240
Gr: PK-5 | 502 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 25%
Rank: #2020.
Kings Mountain Middle School
(Math: 56% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1000 Phifer Road
Kings Mountain, NC 28086
(704) 476-8340
Kings Mountain, NC 28086
(704) 476-8340
Gr: 7-8 | 631 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 45%
Rank: #2121.
North Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
900 N Ramseur Street
Kings Mountain, NC 28086
(704) 476-8225
Kings Mountain, NC 28086
(704) 476-8225
Gr: PK-4 | 272 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 47%
Rank: #2222.
Union Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1440 Union Church Road
Shelby, NC 28150
(704) 476-8250
Shelby, NC 28150
(704) 476-8250
Gr: PK-5 | 413 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 40%
Rank: #2323.
Burns Middle School
(Math: 55% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
215 Shady Grove Road
Lawndale, NC 28090
(704) 476-8223
Lawndale, NC 28090
(704) 476-8223
Gr: 6-8 | 744 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 31%
Rank: #2424.
Crest Middle School
(Math: 55% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
315 Beaver Dam Church Rd
Shelby, NC 28152
(704) 476-8221
Shelby, NC 28152
(704) 476-8221
Gr: 6-8 | 810 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 40%
Rank: #2525.
Washington Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
1907 Stony Point Road
Shelby, NC 28150
(704) 476-8260
Shelby, NC 28150
(704) 476-8260
Gr: PK-5 | 376 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 45%
Rank: #2626.
Township Three Elementary School
(Math: 50% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
526 Davis Road
Shelby, NC 28152
(704) 476-8245
Shelby, NC 28152
(704) 476-8245
Gr: PK-5 | 540 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 60%
Rank: #2727.
Cleveland Innovation
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
400 W Marion St
Shelby, NC 28150
(704) 476-8163
Shelby, NC 28150
(704) 476-8163
Gr: K-12 | 187 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 34%
Rank: #2828.
Shelby Middle School
(Math: 37% | Reading: 38%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
1480 South Dekalb Street
Shelby, NC 28152
(704) 476-8328
Shelby, NC 28152
(704) 476-8328
Gr: 6-8 | 588 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 70%
Rank: #2929.
Elizabeth Elementary School
(Math: 28% | Reading: 30%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
220 S Post Road
Shelby, NC 28152
(704) 476-8371
Shelby, NC 28152
(704) 476-8371
Gr: PK-5 | 649 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 76%
Rank: #3030.
Turning Point Academy
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: ≤10%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
409 West Sumter Street
Shelby, NC 28150
(704) 476-8399
Shelby, NC 28150
(704) 476-8399
Gr: 6-12 | 142 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 54%
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top-ranked public schools in Cleveland County, NC?
The top-ranked public schools in Cleveland County, NC include Cleveland Echs, Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy and Pinnacle Classical Academy.
How many public schools are located in Cleveland County?
30 public schools are located in Cleveland County.
What percentage of students in Cleveland County go to public school?
99% of all K-12 students in Cleveland County are educated in public schools (compared to the NC state average of 93%).
What is the racial composition of students in Cleveland County?
Cleveland County public schools minority enrollment is 41% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the North Carolina public schools average of 58% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Which public schools in Cleveland County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public schools in Cleveland County include: Crest High School vs. Burns High School, Crest Middle School vs. Burns Middle School, Burns High School vs. Crest High School
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