Rowan County Schools & Education
Rowan County, North Carolina
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
38/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Lower Signal
Graduation Rate
89.0%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
89.0%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 88.0%
Per-Pupil Spending
$6,720
National avg $13,239
State avg $6,969
School Score
38/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 40/100
State Score Position
#43
of 100 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Rowan County
Measured School Summary
Rowan County faces educational challenges with a school score of 38/100 and a graduation rate of 89.0%, falling below typical benchmarks.
Funding Context
At $6,720 per pupil, Rowan County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 6% below the North Carolina average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 1.0 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 4% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Rowan County before comparing districts
County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.
Local context that changes the interpretation
35 public schools and 2 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.
Overall screen
38/100
Lower measured signal. Ranks #43 of 100 North Carolina counties with school score data.
Completion
89.0%
1.0 pts above the state average
Funding context
$6,720
$249 below the state average
School coverage
35
2 districts represented in the county school list.
Start with measured county context
The county-level signal is lower, so review individual schools and local records before interpreting the score. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.
Check the local school mix
Rowan County has 35 public schools across 2 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.
Verify local rules
Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.
What Rowan County school data means before you move
County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.
Dominant-district county
Rowan-Salisbury Schools carries most of the listed public-school system, with 33 of 35 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.
State position
#43
of 100 North Carolina counties with school score data. The county score is 2 points below the state average.
Data confidence
Usable
3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.
K-12 continuity check
These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.
Rowan-Salisbury Schools
Elementary to high school visible
18,225 students
33 listed schools in this county slice.
Faith Academy
Elementary school only in this slice
601 students
1 listed school in this county slice.
District reality check
Rowan-Salisbury Schools is the largest listed district slice, with 33 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.
What the data cannot tell you
NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.
Questions to ask before choosing an address
Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Rowan County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Rowan County district systems?
What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?
Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?
Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?
Education Overview
About Schools in Rowan County, North Carolina
This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.
Thirty-Five Schools Serving Rowan County
Rowan County features a broad infrastructure of 35 public schools across two districts, serving 19,095 students. The system is comprised of 20 elementary schools, 7 middle schools, and 8 high schools. This comprehensive network caters to a mix of suburban and rural communities.
The Rowan-Salisbury Schools System
The Rowan-Salisbury Schools district is the primary education provider, managing 33 schools and 18,225 students. Faith Academy, the county's single charter school, serves 601 students and adds diversity to the educational landscape. This streamlined district structure ensures consistent educational standards across the county.
A Balanced Suburban and Rural Experience
The county’s 35 schools are split almost evenly between rural (18) and suburban (17) settings. Average school size is 546 students, with large high schools like Carson and West Rowan serving over 1,100 students each. This balance offers families the choice between neighborhood suburban schools or quieter rural campuses.
School Overview
Total Schools
35
in Rowan County
Reported Enrollment
19,095
35 schools reporting
School Districts
2
districts
Charter Schools
1
3% of total
School Level Breakdown
2 School Districts in Rowan County
Rowan-Salisbury Schools
GuideFaith Academy
35 Public Schools in Rowan County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 5 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 20 of 35 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carson High | Profile | Rowan-Salisbury Schools | China Grove, 28023Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 1,170 |
| West Rowan High | Profile | Rowan-Salisbury Schools | Mount Ulla, 28125Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 1,113 |
| East Rowan High | Profile | Rowan-Salisbury Schools | Salisbury, 28146Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 1,032 |
| Salisbury High | Profile | Rowan-Salisbury Schools | Salisbury, 28144Suburb: Midsize | 9–12 | High | 959 |
| South Rowan High | Profile | Rowan-Salisbury Schools | China Grove, 28023Suburb: Midsize | 9–12 | High | 952 |
| Erwin Middle | Record | Rowan-Salisbury Schools | Salisbury, 28146Rural: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 759 |
| West Rowan Middle | Record | Rowan-Salisbury Schools | Salisbury, 28147Rural: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 648 |
| China Grove Elementary | Record | Rowan-Salisbury Schools | China Grove, 28023Suburb: Midsize | PK–5 | Primary | 618 |
| Faith Academy Charter School | Record | Faith Academy | Faith, 28041Suburb: Midsize | KG–8 | Charter | 601 |
| Landis Elementary | Record | Rowan-Salisbury Schools | Landis, 28088Suburb: Midsize | KG–5 | Primary | 589 |
| North Rowan High | Record | Rowan-Salisbury Schools | Spencer, 28159Suburb: Midsize | 9–12 | High | 589 |
| West Rowan Elementary | Record | Rowan-Salisbury Schools | Cleveland, 27013Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 570 |
| Millbridge Elementary | Record | Rowan-Salisbury Schools | China Grove, 28023Rural: Fringe | KG–5 | Primary | 566 |
| Knollwood Elementary | Record | Rowan-Salisbury Schools | Salisbury, 28147Suburb: Midsize | PK–5 | Primary | 565 |
| Granite Quarry Elementary | Record | Rowan-Salisbury Schools | Granite Quarry, 28072Suburb: Midsize | PK–5 | Primary | 560 |
| Southeast Middle | Record | Rowan-Salisbury Schools | Salisbury, 28146Rural: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 559 |
| China Grove Middle | Record | Rowan-Salisbury Schools | China Grove, 28023Suburb: Midsize | 6–8 | Middle | 524 |
| Rockwell Elementary | Record | Rowan-Salisbury Schools | Rockwell, 28138Suburb: Midsize | PK–5 | Primary | 519 |
| Hurley Elementary | Record | Rowan-Salisbury Schools | Salisbury, 28147Rural: Fringe | PK–5 | Primary | 518 |
| Koontz Elementary | Record | Rowan-Salisbury Schools | Salisbury, 28146Rural: Fringe | PK–5 | Primary | 515 |
Carson High
Rowan-Salisbury Schools
China Grove, 28023 / Rural: Fringe
West Rowan High
Rowan-Salisbury Schools
Mount Ulla, 28125 / Rural: Fringe
East Rowan High
Rowan-Salisbury Schools
Salisbury, 28146 / Rural: Fringe
Salisbury High
Rowan-Salisbury Schools
Salisbury, 28144 / Suburb: Midsize
South Rowan High
Rowan-Salisbury Schools
China Grove, 28023 / Suburb: Midsize
China Grove Elementary
Rowan-Salisbury Schools
China Grove, 28023 / Suburb: Midsize
Faith Academy Charter School
Faith Academy
Faith, 28041 / Suburb: Midsize
Landis Elementary
Rowan-Salisbury Schools
Landis, 28088 / Suburb: Midsize
West Rowan Elementary
Rowan-Salisbury Schools
Cleveland, 27013 / Rural: Distant
Millbridge Elementary
Rowan-Salisbury Schools
China Grove, 28023 / Rural: Fringe
Knollwood Elementary
Rowan-Salisbury Schools
Salisbury, 28147 / Suburb: Midsize
Granite Quarry Elementary
Rowan-Salisbury Schools
Granite Quarry, 28072 / Suburb: Midsize
China Grove Middle
Rowan-Salisbury Schools
China Grove, 28023 / Suburb: Midsize
Rockwell Elementary
Rowan-Salisbury Schools
Rockwell, 28138 / Suburb: Midsize
Hurley Elementary
Rowan-Salisbury Schools
Salisbury, 28147 / Rural: Fringe
Koontz Elementary
Rowan-Salisbury Schools
Salisbury, 28146 / Rural: Fringe
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$6,720
State avg $6,969
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Rowan County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
Open CompareBrowse Public Schools
See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.
View SchoolsFrequently Asked Questions
Which North Carolina counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in North Carolina?
How should I read the school score in Rowan County?
What is the graduation rate in Rowan County?
How much does Rowan County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Rowan County, North Carolina — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Rowan County, North Carolina?
Rowan County features a broad infrastructure of 35 public schools across two districts, serving 19,095 students. The system is comprised of 20 elementary schools, 7 middle schools, and 8 high schools. This comprehensive network caters to a mix of suburban and rural communities.
What are the major school districts in Rowan County, North Carolina?
The Rowan-Salisbury Schools district is the primary education provider, managing 33 schools and 18,225 students. Faith Academy, the county's single charter school, serves 601 students and adds diversity to the educational landscape. This streamlined district structure ensures consistent educational standards across the county.
What is the school experience like in Rowan County?
The county’s 35 schools are split almost evenly between rural (18) and suburban (17) settings. Average school size is 546 students, with large high schools like Carson and West Rowan serving over 1,100 students each. This balance offers families the choice between neighborhood suburban schools or quieter rural campuses.
Counties with Similar School Profile
Data Sources
Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.
Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.