Rowan-Salisbury School System
Listed by NCES as Rowan-Salisbury Schools (district ID 3704050)
Public school district · Rowan County · North Carolina · NCES district ID 3704050
Rowan-Salisbury School System spent $12,141 per student on current operations in fiscal year 2022-23, below the middle: 58% of the other North Carolina districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022 spent more (median $12,366). Its 32 schools enrolled 17,683 students in 2024-25; 54.1% of its revenue came from the state. Census Bureau figures for 2023-24 put it at $13,427 per student, up 10.6% on the year before (U.S. $17,619 that year). Its four-year graduation rate for the class of 2023 was 88% (North Carolina: 86.5%).
NCES F-33 finance survey, fiscal year 2022-23 · Census Bureau school finances 2023-24 · NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25 · method
Spending per student among North Carolina districts of similar size
Current spending per student excludes construction and debt. The 9 districts closest to Rowan-Salisbury School System in enrollment (14,406 to 21,206 students) and Rowan-Salisbury School System itself.
Where the money came from
$257,084,000 in revenue: 54.1% state, 21.7% local and 24.2% federal. Total spending including $12,920,000 of capital outlay was $236,773,000, or $12,992 per student; the figure above leaves capital out.
- State$139,122,000 54%
- Local$55,673,000 22%
- Federal$62,289,000 24%
Source: NCES F-33 school district finance survey, fiscal year 2022-23: current expenditures for elementary and secondary education divided by fall membership; the state median covers 150 districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022. Revenue by source (TOTALREV, TFEDREV, TSTREV, TLOCREV).
Enrollment fell from 2022-23 to 2024-25
18,225 students in 2022-23, 18,110 students in 2023-24, 17,683 students in 2024-25, counted across the schools that reported each year.
Teachers and students per teacher
| School year | Students | Teachers (FTE) | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | 18,225 | 1104.5 | 16.5 |
| 2023-24 | 18,110 | 1096.0 | 16.5 |
| 2024-25 | 17,683 | 990.0 | 17.9 |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data membership and staff files, 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25; sums over the schools reporting each year.
$54,592,000 in teacher salaries in fiscal year 2022-23, $2,995 per student
Rowan-Salisbury School System booked $54,592,000 of teacher salaries in its 2022-23 finance report and counted 1,129 full-time teachers in its Common Core of Data district staff file for 2022-23 (the school files behind the staffing figures on this page count teachers separately, so the two can differ), or $48,351 of salary spending per teacher. That is more than 36 in 100 North Carolina districts with a figure (state median $49,503, 293 districts). It is spending, not what a teacher is paid: the salary lines and the teacher count come from different files, so the result can differ widely from the average salary the district publishes (its salary schedule gives pay); benefits are left out, and states book salaries differently, so compare districts within one state. For pay, the National Education Association put the average North Carolina teacher salary at $53,644 in 2021-22 (NCES Digest table 211.60).
| Program | Teacher salaries | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Regular programs | $36,684,000 | 67.2% |
| Special education | $4,596,000 | 8.4% |
| Vocational | $3,605,000 | 6.6% |
| Other programs | $9,707,000 | 17.8% |
Teacher salaries per student, fiscal years 2018-19 to 2022-23
The district's teacher salary bill divided by its fall enrollment each year: $3,098 in 2018-19, $3,073 in 2019-20, $3,276 in 2020-21, $3,158 in 2021-22, $2,995 in 2022-23.
Source: NCES F-33 school district finance survey, fiscal years 2019 to 2023: teacher salaries in regular, special, vocational and other programs (Z35 to Z38) and fall membership (V33); NCES Common Core of Data LEA staff file 2022-23, teachers (full-time equivalent).
State test results, 2021-22
In 2021-22, the students tested in Rowan-Salisbury School System scored proficient or above: 34% in reading and 30% in math, against 48% in reading and 50% in math across North Carolina. Each state writes its own test and sets its own proficiency bar, so compare these within North Carolina, not across states. Where a state published results by grade only, the grades tested are combined, weighted by the students tested in each.
| Subject | This district | North Carolina | Students tested |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading and language arts | 34% | 48% | 8,092 |
| Math | 30% | 50% | 8,074 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts state assessment results 2021-22, all students, from ED Data Express (the Data Rescue Project archive; ED has no 2022-23 result for this district): ED shows district results as ranges (for example 20-24%) to protect small groups.
Graduation rate, class of 2023
88% of the 1,511 students in Rowan-Salisbury School System's class of 2023 graduated within four years, against 86.5% across North Carolina. The four-year rate follows the students who started ninth grade in fall 2019, adjusted for those who moved in or out, and counts those who earned a regular diploma by 2023. Every state computes it the same way under federal law, though each sets its own diploma requirements.
| This district | North Carolina | |
|---|---|---|
| Four-year graduation rate | 88% | 86.5% |
| Students in the class | 1,511 | 120,822 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rates 2022-23, all students, from ED Data Express: ED shows district rates as ranges (for example 90-94%) and leaves out small classes.
17 elementary schools, 7,906 students
| School | Students | Per teacher | Free lunch | Title I, 2021‑22 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Landis Elementary | 613 | 18.7 | 99.5% | Schoolwide program |
| West Rowan Elementary | 611 | 15.1 | 99.5% | Schoolwide program |
| China Grove Elementary | 592 | 18.6 | 99.5% | Schoolwide program |
| Granite Quarry Elementary | 586 | 20.0 | 99.5% | Schoolwide program |
| Knollwood Elementary | 585 | 18.8 | 99.5% | Schoolwide program |
| Koontz Elementary | 554 | 14.7 | 92.8% | Schoolwide program |
| Millbridge Elementary | 547 | 15.5 | 99.5% | Schoolwide program |
| Isenberg Elementary | 509 | 15.0 | 95.3% | Schoolwide program |
| Rockwell Elementary | 502 | 16.8 | 99.4% | Schoolwide program |
| Hurley Elementary | 466 | 14.8 | 99.4% | Schoolwide program |
| Shive Elementary | 413 | 14.5 | 99.3% | Schoolwide program |
| North Rowan Elementary | 405 | 15.0 | 99.3% | Schoolwide program |
The other 5 elementary schools
| School | Students | Per teacher | Free lunch | Title I, 2021‑22 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dole Elementary | 388 | 15.6 | 99.2% | Schoolwide program |
| Bostian Elementary | 342 | 15.6 | 99.1% | Not Title I |
| Mt Ulla Elementary | 281 | 16.4 | 98.9% | Schoolwide program |
| Morgan Elementary | 275 | 14.9 | 98.9% | Schoolwide program |
| Overton Elementary | 237 | 15.3 | 92.0% | Schoolwide program |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.
6 middle schools, 3,776 students
| School | Students | Per teacher | Free lunch | Title I, 2021‑22 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erwin Middle | 763 | 17.0 | 98.4% | Eligible, no program |
| West Rowan Middle | 707 | 18.2 | 98.9% | Eligible, no program |
| North Rowan Middle | 649 | 15.3 | 99.5% | Schoolwide program |
| Southeast Middle | 628 | 18.2 | 99.5% | Eligible, no program |
| China Grove Middle | 572 | 19.1 | 99.5% | Eligible, no program |
| Corriher Lipe Middle | 457 | 17.9 | 99.3% | Eligible, no program |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.
8 high schools, 5,760 students
| School | Students | Per teacher | Free lunch | Title I, 2021‑22 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carson High | 1,063 | 23.0 | 99.7% | Eligible, no program |
| West Rowan High | 988 | 21.6 | 99.6% | Eligible, no program |
| East Rowan High | 986 | 20.1 | 98.4% | Eligible, no program |
| South Rowan High | 932 | 21.5 | 99.7% | Eligible, no program |
| Salisbury High | 930 | 19.6 | 99.7% | Eligible, no program |
| North Rowan High | 555 | 20.0 | 66.2% | Eligible, no program |
| Rowan Co Early College | 235 | 33.0 | 98.7% | Eligible, no program |
| Henderson High | 71 | 10.2 | 95.8% | Schoolwide program |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.
1 other school, 241 students
| School | Students | Per teacher | Free lunch | Title I, 2021‑22 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summit Virtual Academy | 241 | 18.3 | 80.5% | Eligible, no program |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.
One more school on file: small, closed or in an earlier directory
These records carry fewer federal fields than a full school page needs, so each is summarized here with what NCES reports.
Knox Middle
Middle school in Salisbury; 514 students; 15.2 students per teacher.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25 and earlier directories: the last year each school was listed, its students and its teachers.
Contact Rowan-Salisbury School System
- Website: rssed.org
- Phone: (704) 636-7500
- Office: 500 North Main Street, Salisbury, NC 28144
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, local education agency directory 2024-25. Enrollment, boundaries and school assignment are the district's to confirm.
What to look at next about Rowan-Salisbury School System
- North Carolina districts by spending per studentRowan-Salisbury School System ranks 87 of 150 North Carolina districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022 on current spending per student in fiscal year 2022-23 ($12,141).#87 of 150
- Every school district in North CarolinaRowan-Salisbury School System is the number 19 by size of 332 North Carolina districts, with 18,225 students in fall 2022 (F-33).#19 of 332
- Harnett County SchoolsThe next larger North Carolina district: 20,050 students in fall 2022, $10,877 per student in fiscal year 2022-23.$10,877
- Davidson County SchoolsThe next smaller North Carolina district: 17,964 students in fall 2022, $11,178 per student in fiscal year 2022-23.$11,178
- Compare Rowan-Salisbury School System with Harnett County SchoolsEnrollment, spending, revenue sources and schools, side by side.
- Carson High, its largest high school1,063 students in 2024-25, 23.0 per teacher.1,063
- Teacher salary spending across North CarolinaRowan-Salisbury School System spent $48,351 in salaries per full-time teacher in fiscal year 2022-23 (state median $49,503); spending, not a salary.$48,351
- Find the school district for an addressA home's district decides which public schools it can enroll in.
Source: NCES F-33 finance survey, fiscal year 2022-23 (spending per student and fall 2022 membership; ranks among the state's districts that reported them); NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25 (schools).
Questions about Rowan-Salisbury School System
How many schools and students are in Rowan-Salisbury School System?
32 schools were open in 2024-25 (17 elementary, 6 middle, 8 high, 1 other), enrolling 17,683 students, according to the NCES Common Core of Data.How much does Rowan-Salisbury School System spend per student?
$12,141 per student on current operations in fiscal year 2022-23 (NCES F-33), which leaves out construction and debt; the North Carolina median for districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022 is $12,366 and the U.S. figure is $16,260. Census Bureau figures for 2023-24 put it at $13,427 per student, up 10.6% on the year before (U.S. $17,619 that year).Where does Rowan-Salisbury School System's money come from?
$257,084,000 in revenue in fiscal year 2022-23: 54.1% state, 21.7% local and 24.2% federal (NCES F-33).How many children in Rowan-Salisbury School System live in poverty?
The Census Bureau estimates that 4,376 of the 23,465 children aged 5 to 17 living within the district's boundaries in 2024, 18.6%, were in families in poverty (Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). It is a model-based estimate for everyone living in the district, not a count of its students; the free-meal shares in the school tables are counts of enrolled students.How much does Rowan-Salisbury School System spend on teacher salaries?
$54,592,000 in fiscal year 2022-23 (NCES F-33), or $2,995 per student. Divided by the 1,129 full-time teachers in the NCES Common Core of Data for 2022-23 that is $48,351 per teacher, more than 36 in 100 North Carolina districts (state median $49,503). That is spending, not what a teacher is paid: the salary lines and the teacher count come from different files, and the result can differ widely from the average salary a district publishes. The district's salary schedule gives pay. For pay, the National Education Association put the average North Carolina teacher salary at $53,644 in 2021-22 (NCES Digest table 211.60).How do students in Rowan-Salisbury School System do on state tests?
In 2021-22, the students tested in Rowan-Salisbury School System scored proficient or above: 34% in reading and 30% in math, against 48% in reading and 50% in math across North Carolina. North Carolina's own test sets what proficient means, so results compare within the state, not across states. Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts state assessment results, 2021-22.What is the graduation rate in Rowan-Salisbury School System?
88% of the 1,511 students in Rowan-Salisbury School System's class of 2023 graduated within four years, against 86.5% across North Carolina. The four-year rate follows the students who started ninth grade in fall 2019, adjusted for those who moved in or out. Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rates, 2022-23.What is Rowan-Salisbury School System's NCES district ID?
3704050. Each of its schools' 12-digit NCES IDs begins with these seven digits.
Reading these figures: how to choose a school district, what Title I means and what an absenteeism rate means. They are for information and are not a substitute for the school's or district's own records.
Sources
Every federal file behind this record
- NCES Common Core of Data, 2024-25: directory, membership, staff and lunch files. nces.ed.gov
- NCES Common Core of Data, 2021-22 school characteristics: Title I status. nces.ed.gov
- Civil Rights Data Collection, 2021-22: AP courses, gifted programs, counselors, discipline. civilrightsdata.ed.gov
- EDFacts, 2022-23: chronic absenteeism. ed.gov
- EDFacts four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rates, 2022-23: the class of 2023 for the district and its state (ED Data Express). eddataexpress.ed.gov
- EDFacts state assessment results, 2021-22: reading and math proficiency for the district and its state (ED Data Express). eddataexpress.ed.gov
- NCES Digest of Education Statistics, table 211.60 (2021-22): the state's average teacher salary, from the National Education Association. nces.ed.gov
- U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024: children aged 5 to 17 and those in families in poverty, by school district. census.gov
- U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances, fiscal year 2023-24: per pupil current spending for 2023-24 and 2022-23. census.gov
- NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, fiscal year 2022-23: district spending and revenue. nces.ed.gov
- U.S. Census Bureau geocoder and TIGER school districts: the district boundary used by the district finder. census.gov
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances Per pupil current spending by school system · FY 2023-24
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey Revenue and expenditures by district · FY 2022-23
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School directory, membership, staff and lunch files · 2024-25