Rowan-Salisbury Schools

500 North Main Street
Salisbury, NC 28144
(District boundaries shown in map)
2/
10
Bottom 50%

Top Rankings

Rowan-Salisbury Schools ranks among the top 20% of public school district in North Carolina for:

Category
Attribute
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2026 school year, there are 12 public preschools serving 5,886 students in Rowan-Salisbury Schools. This district's average pre testing ranking is 1/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public pre schools in North Carolina.
Public Preschools in Rowan-Salisbury Schools have an average math proficiency score of 31% (versus the North Carolina public pre school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 33% (versus the 46% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 58% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public preschool average of 60% (majority Black and Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
32 Schools
1,007 Schools
# Students
17,683 Students
477,947 Students
# Teachers
990 Teachers
32,759 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
18:1
18:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Rowan-Salisbury Schools, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 314 school districts in North Carolina (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 86% has increased from 84% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (NC)
#268 out of 325 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(21-22)
31%
51%
35%
50%
43%
63%
(21-22)
84%
86%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.68
0.73
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
1%
4%
% Hispanic
25%
24%
% Black
20%
25%
% White
47%
40%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
7%
6%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $12,481 is higher than the state median of $11,168. The school district revenue/student has grown by 18% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $12,448 is higher than the state median of $11,592. The school district spending/student has grown by 18% over four school years.
This School District
This State (NC)
Total Revenue
$221 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$220 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$12,481
$11,168
Spending / Student
$12,448
$11,592

Best Rowan-Salisbury Schools Public Preschools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Rockwell Elementary School
(Math: 64% | Reading: 52%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
114 Link St
Rockwell, NC 28138
(704) 279-3145
Gr: PK-5 | 502 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 12%
Rank: #22.
West Rowan Elementary School
(Math: 47% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
480 Mimosa St
Cleveland, NC 27013
(704) 278-2131
Gr: PK-5 | 611 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 44%
Rank: #33.
Shive Elementary School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
655 Holshouser Rd
Rockwell, NC 28138
(704) 279-2899
Gr: PK-5 | 413 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 26%
Rank: #44.
Morgan Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
3860 Liberty Rd
Gold Hill, NC 28071
(704) 636-0169
Gr: PK-5 | 275 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 14%
Rank: #55.
Granite Quarry Elementary School
(Math: 31% | Reading: 34%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
118 South Walnut St
Granite Quarry, NC 28072
(704) 279-2154
Gr: PK-5 | 586 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 51%
Rank: #66.
China Grove Elementary School
(Math: 28% | Reading: 34%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
514 South Franklin St
China Grove, NC 28023
(704) 857-7708
Gr: PK-5 | 592 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 45%
Rank: #77.
Isenberg Elementary School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
2800 Jake Alexander Blvd N
Salisbury, NC 28147
(704) 639-3009
Gr: PK-5 | 509 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 81%
Rank: #88.
Knollwood Elementary School
(Math: 31% | Reading: 26%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
3075 Shue Rd
Salisbury, NC 28147
(704) 857-3400
Gr: PK-5 | 585 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 78%
Rank: #99.
Hurley Elementary School
(Math: 18% | Reading: 25%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
625 Hurley School Rd
Salisbury, NC 28147
(704) 639-3038
Gr: PK-5 | 466 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 85%
Rank: #1010.
North Rowan Elementary School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
600 Charles St
Spencer, NC 28159
(704) 639-3042
Gr: PK-5 | 405 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 79%
Rank: #1111.
Koontz Elementary School
(Math: 18% | Reading: 18%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
685 East Ritchie Rd
Salisbury, NC 28146
(704) 216-0273
Gr: PK-5 | 554 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 88%
Rank: #1212.
Dole Elementary School
(Math: 12% | Reading: 20%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
465 Choate Rd
Salisbury, NC 28146
(704) 639-3046
Gr: PK-5 | 388 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 78%

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Quick Facts (2026)

  • District size: 32 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 17,683 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 18:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 53%
  • : 84% (Top 50% in NC)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 31% (Btm 50%)
  • : 35% (Btm 50%)
  • : 43% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), NC Dept. of Education

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