Rutherford County Schools (RCSNC) is the comprehensive public school system of Rutherford County, North Carolina. With eighteen schools and one pre-kindergarten center serving over 8,000 students, we are an innovative school district committed to preparing all students for college and career success. Through its Going GLOBAL initiative, RCSNC has embraced a one-to-one digital learning environment where all students from kindergarten through grade twelve have access to a personal technology device every day. Supported by a strong community with deep roots, we celebrate lasting partnerships with the Robert and Janice McNair Educational Foundation, the Rutherford County Schools Education Foundation, and multiple other agencies and organizations.

These are days of hope, hard work and high expectations for Rutherford County Schools. Teachers and administrators are proving again and again that they are willing to go the extra mile in making the local public schools better than ever. At the elementary grade level, teachers are putting forth more effort at making learning a hands-on experience for children and encouraging interaction in the classroom in addition to more traditional learning methods. This helps make the children active rather than passive learners.

All 6-8 students are in middle schools, which provide for team teaching, specialized guidance, and more variety in exploratory and extra-curricular activities. The middle schools also help students succeed in making the transition to high school. All three high schools are now on the "4 x 4" block schedule. With this, classes last longer than in the past, but there are fewer classes during the day, and each course is completed in one semester. The "4 x 4" promotes more experience-based learning.

The Rutherford County Schools care about all students-preschool through high school, the academically gifted as well as the academically challenged, and those with special needs. Creativity and innovation are promoted and embraced throughout the district. The school system is continually seeking ways to better serve all students.

North Carolina provides state-sponsored health insurance for employed teachers. State employees also receive disability pay. Permanent and full-time staff are also entered into the state retirement system. Employees may also opt for a North Carolina Flexible Benefits Plan that features a dependent care spending account, dental insurance, vision insurance and death insurance. Life insurance is also available to members of the State Employees’ Association of North Carolina.

The Beginning Teacher Support Program is a comprehensive program to support the growth and development of beginning teachers in the Rutherford County School System. This program serves first, second and third year teachers and includes teachers with an initial, lateral, residency and provisional license. Three days at the beginning of the school year are set aside for Beginning Teacher Orientation. The first two days of orientation includes relevant training and information on various topics and day three of the Beginning Teacher Orientation begins with a special breakfast given in honor of the beginning teachers at which they will be introduced to central office staff and to school board members. As new teachers are hired, principals, in collaboration with the Director of Human Resources, select mentors for new teachers. All mentors are required to have completed the state approved mentor training. Principals serve as members of the beginning teacher’s support team.

Rutherford County Schools makes a strong effort at preparing all students for life after high school, regardless of whether they are college-bound or headed directly for the work world. We offer Advanced Placement courses as well as computer education. We were among the first school systems in the state to implement a promotion standards/student accountability policy. This policy is an effort to unite the parent, student and school to develop each student's academic potential to the fullest.