For the 2024-25 school year, there are 61 public schools serving 34,718 students in Gaston County, NC (there are 15 private schools, serving 3,148 private students). 92% of all K-12 students in Gaston County, NC are educated in public schools (compared to the NC state average of 92%).
The top ranked public schools in Gaston County, NC are Highland Sch Of Technology, Gaston Early College High School and South Point High School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Gaston County, NC public schools have an average math proficiency score of 51% (versus the North Carolina public school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 47% (versus the 50% statewide average). Schools in Gaston County have an average ranking of 6/10, which is in the top 50% of North Carolina public schools.
Minority enrollment is 50% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the North Carolina public school average of 56% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Best Public Schools in Gaston County (2024-25)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Highland Sch Of Technology
Magnet School
(Math: ≥95% | Reading: ≥95%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
1600 N Morris Street
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 810-8816
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 810-8816
Grades: 9-12
| 514 students
Rank: #22.
Gaston Early College High School
Magnet School
(Math: ≥90% | Reading: ≥90%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
201 Hwy 321 South, Gaston Coll
Dallas, NC 28034
(704) 922-2405
Dallas, NC 28034
(704) 922-2405
Grades: 9-13
| 197 students
Rank: #33.
South Point High School
Magnet School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 77%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
906 South Point Road
Belmont, NC 28012
(704) 836-9612
Belmont, NC 28012
(704) 836-9612
Grades: 9-12
| 955 students
Rank: #44.
Hawks Nest Steam Academy
Magnet School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
3430 Robinwood Rd
Gastonia, NC 28054
(704) 866-8467
Gastonia, NC 28054
(704) 866-8467
Grades: K-5
| 347 students
Rank: #55.
Cramerton Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 76% | Reading: 73%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
601 Cramer Mountain Road
Cramerton, NC 28032
(704) 836-9603
Cramerton, NC 28032
(704) 836-9603
Grades: 6-8
| 909 students
Rank: #66.
Mountain Island Charter School
Magnet School
Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 76% | Reading: 67%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
13440 Lucia Riverbend Highway
Mount Holly, NC 28120
(704) 827-8840
Mount Holly, NC 28120
(704) 827-8840
Grades: K-12
| 1,703 students
Rank: #77.
Stuart W Cramer High School
Magnet School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
101 Lakewood Rd
Belmont, NC 28012
(704) 866-5700
Belmont, NC 28012
(704) 866-5700
Grades: 9-12
| 964 students
Rank: #88.
Belmont Central Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 74% | Reading: 66%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
310 Eagle Road
Belmont, NC 28012
(704) 836-9137
Belmont, NC 28012
(704) 836-9137
Grades: 2-5
| 689 students
Rank: #99.
East Gaston High School
Magnet School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1744 Lane Road
Mount Holly, NC 28120
(704) 836-9613
Mount Holly, NC 28120
(704) 836-9613
Grades: 9-12
| 883 students
Rank: #1010.
North Belmont Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
210 School Street
Belmont, NC 28012
(704) 836-9135
Belmont, NC 28012
(704) 836-9135
Grades: PK-5
| 327 students
Rank: #1111.
Cherryville Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
700 East Academy Street
Cherryville, NC 28021
(704) 836-9115
Cherryville, NC 28021
(704) 836-9115
Grades: PK-3
| 383 students
Rank: #1212.
Forestview High School
Magnet School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
5545 Union Road
Gastonia, NC 28056
(704) 861-2625
Gastonia, NC 28056
(704) 861-2625
Grades: 9-12
| 1,081 students
Rank: #1313.
New Hope Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 70% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
137 Stowe Road
Gastonia, NC 28056
(704) 836-9112
Gastonia, NC 28056
(704) 836-9112
Grades: K-5
| 520 students
Rank: #1414.
Cherryville High School
Magnet School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
313 Ridge Avenue
Cherryville, NC 28021
(704) 836-9605
Cherryville, NC 28021
(704) 836-9605
Grades: 9-12
| 492 students
Rank: #1515.
W A Bess Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 69% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
4340 Beaty Road
Gastonia, NC 28056
(704) 866-6075
Gastonia, NC 28056
(704) 866-6075
Grades: PK-5
| 622 students
Rank: #1616.
Piedmont Community Charter School
Magnet School
Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 65% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
119 E. 2nd Avenue
Gastonia, NC 28054
(704) 853-2428
Gastonia, NC 28054
(704) 853-2428
Grades: K-12
| 1,906 students
Rank: #1717.
Belmont Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 59% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
1020 South Point Road
Belmont, NC 28012
(704) 836-9611
Belmont, NC 28012
(704) 836-9611
Grades: 6-8
| 742 students
Rank: #1818.
Pinewood Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 59% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
1925 N Main Street
Mount Holly, NC 28120
(704) 836-9138
Mount Holly, NC 28120
(704) 836-9138
Grades: PK-5
| 485 students
Rank: #1919.
Ida Rankin Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 60% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
301 W Central Avenue
Mount Holly, NC 28120
(704) 836-9136
Mount Holly, NC 28120
(704) 836-9136
Grades: PK-5
| 507 students
Rank: #2020.
Stanley Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 55% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
317 Hovis Road
Stanley, NC 28164
(704) 836-9600
Stanley, NC 28164
(704) 836-9600
Grades: 6-8
| 670 students
Rank: #2121.
North Gaston High School
Magnet School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1133 Ratchford Road
Dallas, NC 28034
(704) 922-5285
Dallas, NC 28034
(704) 922-5285
Grades: 9-12
| 1,134 students
Rank: #2222.
Catawba Heights Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
101 Ivey Street
Belmont, NC 28012
(704) 836-9119
Belmont, NC 28012
(704) 836-9119
Grades: PK-5
| 259 students
Rank: #2323.
Mount Holly Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 52% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
124 S Hawthorne Street
Mount Holly, NC 28120
(704) 836-9610
Mount Holly, NC 28120
(704) 836-9610
Grades: 6-8
| 557 students
Rank: #2424.
W B Beam Intermediate School
Magnet School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
401 East First Street
Cherryville, NC 28021
(704) 836-9114
Cherryville, NC 28021
(704) 836-9114
Grades: 4-5
| 203 students
Rank: #2525.
Ashbrook High School
Magnet School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
2222 S New Hope Road
Gastonia, NC 28054
(704) 866-6600
Gastonia, NC 28054
(704) 866-6600
Grades: 9-12
| 1,303 students
Rank: #2626.
Lowell Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 55% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
1500 Power Drive
Lowell, NC 28098
(704) 836-9118
Lowell, NC 28098
(704) 836-9118
Grades: K-5
| 409 students
Rank: #2727.
Costner Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
353 Old 277 Loop Hwy
Dallas, NC 28034
(704) 922-3522
Dallas, NC 28034
(704) 922-3522
Grades: PK-5
| 485 students
Rank: #2828.
Community Public Charter
Magnet School
Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
400 Ralph Handsel Blvd.
Stanley, NC 28164
(704) 931-4418
Stanley, NC 28164
(704) 931-4418
Grades: K-8
| 607 students
Rank: #2929.
Mcadenville Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
275 E Wesleyan Drive
Mc Adenville, NC 28101
(704) 836-9117
Mc Adenville, NC 28101
(704) 836-9117
Grades: K-5
| 180 students
Rank: #3030.
John Chavis Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 46% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
103 South Chavis Drive
Cherryville, NC 28021
(704) 836-9606
Cherryville, NC 28021
(704) 836-9606
Grades: 6-8
| 413 students
Rank: #3131.
W C Friday Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
1221 Ratchford Drive
Dallas, NC 28034
(704) 922-5297
Dallas, NC 28034
(704) 922-5297
Grades: 6-8
| 605 students
Rank: #3232.
Bessemer City High School
Magnet School
(Math: 40-49% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
119 Yellow Jacket Lane
Bessemer City, NC 28016
(704) 836-9601
Bessemer City, NC 28016
(704) 836-9601
Grades: 9-12
| 566 students
Rank: #3333.
Robinson Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
3122 S Union Road
Gastonia, NC 28056
(704) 866-6607
Gastonia, NC 28056
(704) 866-6607
Grades: PK-5
| 419 students
Rank: #3434.
Gaston Virtual Academy
Magnet School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
1 Learning Place
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 836-9125
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 836-9125
Grades: K-12
| 462 students
Rank: #3535.
Tryon Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
2620 Tryon Courthouse Road
Bessemer City, NC 28016
(704) 836-9107
Bessemer City, NC 28016
(704) 836-9107
Grades: PK-5
| 338 students
Show 26 more public schools in Gaston County, NC (out of 61 total schools)
Loading...
Gaston County Public Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Grades
Students
1621 N Webb Street
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 866-6073
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 866-6073
Grades: PK-5
| 364 students
1 Learning Place
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 866-6079
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 866-6079
Grades: PK-5
| 410 students
Gaston College-east Campus 722
Belmont, NC 28012
(704) 866-6100
Belmont, NC 28012
(704) 866-6100
Grades: n/a
| n/a students
1 Learning Place
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 866-6100
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 866-6100
Grades: 9-12
| n/a students
1 Learning Place
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 866-6100
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 866-6100
Grades: K-8
| 189 students
3430 Robinwood Rd
Gastonia, NC 28054
(704) 866-8467
Gastonia, NC 28054
(704) 866-8467
Grades: 4-5
| 172 students
Highland Charter (Closed 2013)
Charter School
324 North Highland Stree
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 852-7047
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 852-7047
Grades: K-5
| 114 students
135 Camp Sertoma Rd
Dallas, NC 28034
(704) 922-7832
Dallas, NC 28034
(704) 922-7832
Grades: 6-12
| n/a students
1900 W Davidson Avenue
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 866-6098
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 866-6098
Grades: PK-5
| 478 students
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top ranked public schools in Gaston County, NC?
The top ranked public schools in Gaston County, NC include Highland Sch Of Technology, Gaston Early College High School and South Point High School.
How many public schools are located in Gaston County?
61 public schools are located in Gaston County.
What percentage of students in Gaston County go to public school?
92% of all K-12 students in Gaston County are educated in public schools (compared to the NC state average of 92%).
What is the racial composition of students in Gaston County?
Gaston County public schools minority enrollment is 50% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the North Carolina public schools average of 56% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Which public schools in Gaston County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public schools in Gaston County include: Hunter Huss High School vs. Ashbrook High School, Bessemer City Central Elementary School vs. Bessemer City Primary, Bessemer City Primary vs. Bessemer City Central Elementary School
Recent Articles
Drug Testing Teachers: Testing Positive or Negative?
This article examines the ongoing debate about drug testing for teachers in public schools. It discusses the rationale behind such policies, privacy concerns, cost implications, and the relatively low prevalence of drug use among educators. The piece also explores future considerations for drug testing policies in educational settings.
Head in the Clouds: Why Public Schools are Embracing Cloud Computing
Explore how public schools are integrating cloud computing into their educational frameworks. Understand the advantages such as enhanced collaboration, cost savings, and accessibility, as well as the challenges schools face in adopting this technology.
September 27, 2024
Understanding RubricsThis article explores the fundamental principles of rubrics in education, focusing on their role as assessment tools. It breaks down the key components of rubrics, including criteria, performance levels, and descriptors. The piece also delves into the two main types of rubrics - holistic and analytic - providing authoritative definitions and explaining their unique applications in educational settings.
