Mahadev Maitri Foundation
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Cleveland County Schools

North Carolina · Public School District
28
Schools
14,406
Students
$12,545
Per-Pupil Spend
-13% nat'l
74.9%
Free Lunch Rate
+23pp vs nat'l
88.2%
Graduation Rate
≈ nat'l avg
District Overview

Cleveland County Schools is a public school district in North Carolina serving 14,406 students across 28 schools. It includes 15 elementary, 5 middle, 6 high schools. Its graduation rate of 88.2% is near the national average of 86.5%. Per-pupil spending of $12,545 is below the national average for a US public school district. 75% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting significant economic need in the community. Opportunity scores across its schools are limited, with a district median of 33/100.

⇄ Compare with another district
All Schools (28)
Elementary Schools15 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Bethware ElementaryPK–04515
Boiling Springs ElementaryPK–05549
Casar ElementaryPK–05278
East ElementaryPK–04214
Elizabeth ElementaryPK–05569
Fallston ElementaryPK–05456
Grover ElementaryPK–04320
James Love ElementaryPK–05350
Jefferson ElementaryPK–05429
North ElementaryPK–04263
Springmore ElementaryPK–05553
Township Three ElementaryPK–05529
Union ElementaryPK–05423
Washington ElementaryPK–05415
West ElementaryPK–04290
Middle Schools5 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Burns Middle06–08734
Crest Middle06–08849
Kings Mountain Intermediate05–06627
Kings Mountain Middle07–08712
Shelby Middle06–08630
High Schools6 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Burns High09–12934
Cleveland ECHS09–13219
Crest High09–121,114
Kings Mountain High09–121,236
Shelby High09–12825
Turning Point Academy06–12108
Other Schools2 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Cleveland InnovationKG–12182
North ShelbyPK–1283
District Finances
Per-Pupil Expenditure$12,545-13% nat'l avg
National avg $14,347
Revenue Sources
59%
21%
State
59.1%
Local (property tax)
21.4%
Federal
19.5%

State funding accounts for 59% of the budget — this district relies more on state aid than local tax revenue.

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey. District-level data.
District Snapshot
28
Schools
14,406
Students
75%
Free Lunch
$13K
Per-Pupil
Graduation Rate88.2%
Opportunity Score33/100
StateNorth Carolina →
School Rankings
Strengths & Considerations
Range of school options
With 28 schools, families have meaningful choice across programs and grade levels.
High economic need in community
75% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch — above the national rate of 52.2% — reflecting broader economic challenges.
Low opportunity scores
Median opportunity score of 33/100, below the national median of 50, which can correlate with weaker long-term economic mobility for students.
Location
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Cleveland County Schools?
Cleveland County Schools has 28 public schools, serving a total of 14,406 students.
What is the graduation rate for Cleveland County Schools?
The graduation rate is 88.2%, which is above the national average of 86.5%.
How much does Cleveland County Schools spend per student?
Cleveland County Schools spends $12,545 per pupil — 13% below the national average of $14,347.
What percentage of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch in Cleveland County Schools?
75% of students in Cleveland County Schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, compared to the national rate of 52.2%.
Are there charter schools in Cleveland County Schools?
No, Cleveland County Schools does not currently include any charter schools.
What grade levels does Cleveland County Schools serve?
Cleveland County Schools serves grades PK through 13, covering elementary level.
What is the opportunity score for Cleveland County Schools?
The median opportunity score across schools in Cleveland County Schools is 33/100. The national median is 50/100. Opportunity scores reflect long-term economic mobility prospects for children who grow up in these communities.
About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.