Public schools in Salisbury, NC
15 open public schools with an address in Salisbury, operated by 1 education agency. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
15
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
7,886
15 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
18.2:1
North Carolina median 15.4:1
Charter schools
0
1 virtual
An overview of Salisbury public schools
The federal directory lists 15 public schools in Salisbury, NC: 7 elementary, 3 middle, 4 high, 1 combined or other. The 15 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 7,886 students, an average of 526 per school. The largest campus is East Rowan High (986 students), and the largest elementary school is Granite Quarry Elementary (586).
Every listed school belongs to Rowan-Salisbury Schools. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 18.2:1, higher than the statewide school median of 15.4:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 1 virtual school. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 4 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 2 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 3 of 4 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 98% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Salisbury
Elementary schools in Salisbury
7| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dole Elementary Rowan-Salisbury Schools | PK–05 | 388 | 15.6:1 | |
| Granite Quarry Elementary Rowan-Salisbury Schools | PK–05 | 586 | 20:1 | |
| Hurley Elementary Rowan-Salisbury Schools | PK–05 | 466 | 14.8:1 | |
| Isenberg Elementary Rowan-Salisbury Schools | PK–05 | 509 | 15:1 | |
| Knollwood Elementary Rowan-Salisbury Schools | PK–05 | 585 | 18.8:1 | |
| Koontz Elementary Rowan-Salisbury Schools | PK–05 | 554 | 14.7:1 | |
| Overton Elementary Rowan-Salisbury Schools | PK–05 | 237 | 15.3:1 |
Middle schools in Salisbury
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erwin Middle Rowan-Salisbury Schools | 06–08 | 763 | 17:1 | |
| Southeast Middle Rowan-Salisbury Schools | 06–08 | 628 | 18.2:1 | |
| West Rowan Middle Rowan-Salisbury Schools | 06–08 | 707 | 18.2:1 |
High schools in Salisbury
4| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Rowan High Rowan-Salisbury Schools | 09–12 | 986 | 20.1:1 | |
| Henderson High Rowan-Salisbury Schools · Alternative School | 06–12 | 71 | 10.2:1 | |
| Rowan Co Early College Rowan-Salisbury Schools | 09–12 | 235 | 33:1 | |
| Salisbury High Rowan-Salisbury Schools | 09–12 | 930 | 19.6:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Salisbury
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summit Virtual Academy Rowan-Salisbury Schools · Virtual | KG–12 | 241 | 18.3:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White36.4%
- Hispanic27.2%
- Black27.7%
- Asian1%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.3%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0%
- Multiracial7.5%
Enrollment-weighted across 15 Salisbury schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (7,886 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Salisbury
How many public schools are in Salisbury, NC?
The current NCES directory lists 15 open public schools with a location address in Salisbury: 7 elementary, 3 middle, 4 high, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 7,886 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Salisbury?
All listed public schools with an address in Salisbury belong to Rowan-Salisbury Schools. Mailing cities do not always match district boundaries, so confirm the district for a specific home address.
What is the largest public high school in Salisbury?
East Rowan High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Salisbury, with 986 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Salisbury?
No school with an address in Salisbury is identified as a charter school in the current NCES directory. Families may still have charter or virtual options elsewhere in North Carolina.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Salisbury schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Salisbury public schools is 18.2:1, higher than the North Carolina school median of 15.4:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Salisbury guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby North Carolina cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All North Carolina cities