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Gaston County Schools School District

943 Osceola Street
Gastonia, NC 28054-1397
(District boundaries shown in map)
5/
10
Bottom 50%

Top Rankings

Gaston County Schools School District 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 2025 school year, there are 45 public elementary schools serving 20,948 students in Gaston County Schools School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public elementary schools in North Carolina.
Public Elementary Schools in Gaston County Schools School District have an average math proficiency score of 47% (versus the North Carolina public elementary school average of 50%), and reading proficiency score of 44% (versus the 49% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 54% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the North Carolina public elementary school average of 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
58 Schools
2,174 Schools
# Students
30,403 Students
1,091,007 Students
# Teachers
1,816 Teachers
73,903 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
17:1
17:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Gaston County Schools School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 320 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 85% has decreased from 86% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (NC)
#181 out of 325 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(21-22)
49%
51%
46%
50%
61%
63%
(21-22)
85%
86%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.68
0.72
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
2%
4%
% Hispanic
20%
21%
% Black
25%
25%
% White
47%
43%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
6%
6%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $10,299 in this school district is less than the state median of $11,187. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $10,900 is less than the state median of $11,612. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
This School District
This State (NC)
Total Revenue
$313 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$331 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$10,299
$11,187
Spending / Student
$10,900
$11,612

Best Gaston County Schools School District Public Elementary Schools (2025)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Hawks Nest Steam Academy
Magnet School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
3430 Robinwood Rd
Gastonia, NC 28054
(704) 866-8467
Gr: K-5 | 351 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 43%
Rank: #22.
Cramerton Middle School
(Math: 76% | Reading: 73%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
601 Cramer Mountain Road
Cramerton, NC 28032
(704) 836-9603
Gr: 6-8 | 919 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 34%
Rank: #33.
Belmont Central Elementary School
(Math: 74% | Reading: 66%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
310 Eagle Road
Belmont, NC 28012
(704) 836-9137
Gr: 2-5 | 687 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 25%
Rank: #44.
North Belmont Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
210 School Street
Belmont, NC 28012
(704) 836-9135
Gr: PK-5 | 334 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 54%
Rank: #55.
Cherryville Elementary School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
700 East Academy Street
Cherryville, NC 28021
(704) 836-9115
Gr: PK-3 | 389 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 22%
Rank: #66.
New Hope Elementary School
(Math: 70% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
137 Stowe Road
Gastonia, NC 28056
(704) 836-9112
Gr: K-5 | 541 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
Rank: #77.
W A Bess Elementary School
(Math: 69% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
4340 Beaty Road
Gastonia, NC 28056
(704) 866-6075
Gr: PK-5 | 641 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 43%
Rank: #88.
Belmont Middle School
(Math: 59% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
1020 South Point Road
Belmont, NC 28012
(704) 836-9611
Gr: 6-8 | 765 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 31%
Rank: #99.
Pinewood Elementary School
(Math: 59% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
1925 N Main Street
Mount Holly, NC 28120
(704) 836-9138
Gr: PK-5 | 477 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 44%
Rank: #1010.
Ida Rankin Elementary School
(Math: 60% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
301 W Central Avenue
Mount Holly, NC 28120
(704) 836-9136
Gr: PK-5 | 510 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 48%
Rank: #1111.
Stanley Middle School
(Math: 55% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
317 Hovis Road
Stanley, NC 28164
(704) 836-9600
Gr: 6-8 | 606 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 38%
Rank: #1212.
Catawba Heights Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
101 Ivey Street
Belmont, NC 28012
(704) 836-9119
Gr: PK-5 | 253 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 49%
Rank: #1313.
Mount Holly Middle School
(Math: 52% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
124 S Hawthorne Street
Mount Holly, NC 28120
(704) 836-9610
Gr: 6-8 | 552 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 46%
Rank: #1414.
W B Beam Intermediate School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
401 East First Street
Cherryville, NC 28021
(704) 836-9114
Gr: 4-5 | 189 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 32%
Rank: #1515.
Lowell Elementary School
(Math: 55% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
1500 Power Drive
Lowell, NC 28098
(704) 836-9118
Gr: K-5 | 373 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 52%
Rank: #1616.
Costner Elementary School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
353 Old 277 Loop Hwy
Dallas, NC 28034
(704) 922-3522
Gr: PK-5 | 453 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 33%
Rank: #1717.
Mcadenville Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
275 E Wesleyan Drive
Mc Adenville, NC 28101
(704) 836-9117
Gr: K-5 | 174 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 42%
Rank: #1818.
John Chavis Middle School
(Math: 46% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
103 South Chavis Drive
Cherryville, NC 28021
(704) 836-9606
Gr: 6-8 | 395 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 27%
Rank: #1919.
W C Friday Middle School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
1221 Ratchford Drive
Dallas, NC 28034
(704) 922-5297
Gr: 6-8 | 612 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 51%
Rank: #2020.
Robinson Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
3122 S Union Road
Gastonia, NC 28056
(704) 866-6607
Gr: PK-5 | 434 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 56%
Rank: #2121.
Gaston Virtual Academy
Magnet School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
1 Learning Place
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 836-9125
Gr: K-12 | 323 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 45%
Rank: #2222.
Tryon Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
2620 Tryon Courthouse Road
Bessemer City, NC 28016
(704) 836-9107
Gr: PK-5 | 334 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 26%
Rank: #2323.
Kiser Elementary School
(Math: 40% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
311 E College Street
Stanley, NC 28164
(704) 836-9105
Gr: 3-5 | 336 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 36%
Rank: #2424.
Carr Elementary School
(Math: 50% | Reading: 33%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
307 S Pine St
Dallas, NC 28034
(704) 922-3636
Gr: PK-5 | 617 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 54%
Rank: #2525.
Chapel Grove Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
5201 Lewis Road
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 836-9113
Gr: PK-5 | 391 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 42%
Rank: #2626.
Holbrook Middle School
(Math: 37% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
418 S Church Street
Lowell, NC 28098
(704) 836-9607
Gr: 6-8 | 786 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 65%
Rank: #2727.
Brookside Elementary School
(Math: 41% | Reading: 37%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
1925 Auten Rd.
Gastonia, NC 28054
(704) 866-6283
Gr: PK-5 | 506 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 63%
Rank: #2828.
Pleasant Ridge Elementary School
(Math: 42% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
1260 Floyd Lane
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 866-6096
Gr: PK-5 | 882 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 79%
Rank: #2929.
Gardner Park Elementary School
(Math: 36% | Reading: 39%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
738 Armstrong Park Road
Gastonia, NC 28054
(704) 866-6082
Gr: PK-5 | 549 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 71%
Rank: #3030.
Southwest Middle School
(Math: 37% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
1 Roadrunner Drive
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 866-6290
Gr: 6-8 | 809 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 76%
Rank: #3131.
Edward D Sadler Jr Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
3950 West Franklin Boulevard
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 862-5895
Gr: PK-5 | 360 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 85%
Rank: #3232.
Bessemer City Middle School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 34%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
525 Ed Wilson Road
Bessemer City, NC 28016
(704) 836-9602
Gr: 6-8 | 502 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 55%
Rank: #3333.
York Chester Middle School
(Math: 35% | Reading: 30%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
601 S Clay Street
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 836-9609
Gr: 6-8 | 381 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 83%
Rank: #3434.
Bessemer City Central Elementary School
(Math: 29% | Reading: 31%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
1400 Puett's Chapel Road
Bessemer City, NC 28016
(704) 836-9108
Gr: 3-5 | 355 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 57%
Rank: #3535.
Sherwood Elementary School
(Math: 29% | Reading: 28%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
1744 Dixon Road
Gastonia, NC 28054
(704) 866-6609
Gr: PK-5 | 491 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 80%
Show 10 more public schools in Gaston County Schools School District (out of 45 total schools)
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Quick Facts (2025)

  • District size: 58 schools
  • Grades: PK-13
  • Enrollment: 30,403 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 17:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 53%
  • : 85% (Top 50% in NC)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 49% (Top 50%)
  • : 46% (Btm 50%)
  • : 61% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), NC Dept. of Education

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