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 23 public preschools serving 10,363 students in Gaston County Schools School District. This district's average pre testing ranking is 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public pre schools in North Carolina.
Public Preschools in Gaston County Schools School District have an average math proficiency score of 45% (versus the North Carolina public pre school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 39% (versus the 46% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 58% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the North Carolina public preschool average of 59% (majority Black and Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
58 Schools
994 Schools
# Students
30,403 Students
464,055 Students
# Teachers
1,816 Teachers
33,275 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
17:1
17:1

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 88% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (NC)
#181 out of 325 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
This chart displays the overall district rank of Gaston County Schools  School District, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
49%
51%
This chart displays the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Gaston County Schools  School District and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
46%
50%
This chart displays the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Gaston County Schools  School District and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
61%
63%
This chart displays the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of Gaston County Schools  School District and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
85%
86%
This chart displays public school graduation rate of Gaston County Schools  School District and public school graduation rate of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.

Students by Ethnicity:

0.68
0.72
# American Indian Students
67 Students
6,572 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
522 Students
18,458 Students
% Asian Students
2%
4%
# Hispanic Students
6,244 Students
105,943 Students
% Hispanic Students
20%
23%
# Black Students
7,475 Students
114,509 Students
% Black Students
25%
25%
# White Students
14,229 Students
189,147 Students
% White Students
47%
41%
# Hawaiian Students
32 Students
648 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
1,873 Students
28,778 Students
% of Two or more races Students
6%
6%

Students by Grade:

# Students in PK Grade:
316
23,104
# Students in K Grade:
2,176
72,144
# Students in 1st Grade:
2,184
74,289
# Students in 2nd Grade:
2,370
75,942
# Students in 3rd Grade:
2,145
68,925
# Students in 4th Grade:
2,095
69,686
# Students in 5th Grade:
2,247
66,668
# Students in 6th Grade:
2,315
5,021
# Students in 7th Grade:
2,374
3,684
# Students in 8th Grade:
2,399
3,629
# Students in 9th Grade:
2,814
214
# Students in 10th Grade:
2,493
194
# Students in 11th Grade:
2,369
187
# Students in 12th Grade:
2,106
368
# Ungraded Students:
-
-

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
This chart displays total revenue of Gaston County Schools  School District and median value from total revenues of all school districts in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Spending
$331 MM
$17,964 MM
This chart displays total spending of Gaston County Schools  School District and median value from total spendings of all school districts in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Revenue / Student
$10,299
$11,187
This chart displays average revenue per public school student in Gaston County Schools  School District and average revenue per public school student of all school districts in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Spending / Student
$10,900
$11,612
This chart displays average spending per public school student in Gaston County Schools  School District and average spending per public school student of all school districts in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.

Best Gaston County Schools School District Public Preschools (2025)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
North Belmont Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
210 School Street
Belmont, NC 28012
(704) 836-9135
Grades: PK-5
| 334 students
Rank: #22.
Cherryville Elementary School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
700 East Academy Street
Cherryville, NC 28021
(704) 836-9115
Grades: PK-3
| 389 students
Rank: #33.
W A Bess Elementary School
(Math: 69% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
4340 Beaty Road
Gastonia, NC 28056
(704) 866-6075
Grades: PK-5
| 641 students
Rank: #44.
Pinewood Elementary School
(Math: 59% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
1925 N Main Street
Mount Holly, NC 28120
(704) 836-9138
Grades: PK-5
| 477 students
Rank: #55.
Ida Rankin Elementary School
(Math: 60% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
301 W Central Avenue
Mount Holly, NC 28120
(704) 836-9136
Grades: PK-5
| 510 students
Rank: #66.
Catawba Heights Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
101 Ivey Street
Belmont, NC 28012
(704) 836-9119
Grades: PK-5
| 253 students
Rank: #77.
Costner Elementary School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
353 Old 277 Loop Hwy
Dallas, NC 28034
(704) 922-3522
Grades: PK-5
| 453 students
Rank: #88.
Robinson Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
3122 S Union Road
Gastonia, NC 28056
(704) 866-6607
Grades: PK-5
| 434 students
Rank: #99.
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
Grades: PK-5
| 334 students
Rank: #1010.
Carr Elementary School
(Math: 50% | Reading: 33%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
307 S Pine St
Dallas, NC 28034
(704) 922-3636
Grades: PK-5
| 617 students
Rank: #1111.
Chapel Grove Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
5201 Lewis Road
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 836-9113
Grades: PK-5
| 391 students
Rank: #1212.
Brookside Elementary School
(Math: 41% | Reading: 37%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
1925 Auten Rd.
Gastonia, NC 28054
(704) 866-6283
Grades: PK-5
| 506 students
Rank: #1313.
Pleasant Ridge Elementary School
(Math: 42% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
1260 Floyd Lane
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 866-6096
Grades: PK-5
| 882 students
Rank: #1414.
Gardner Park Elementary School
(Math: 36% | Reading: 39%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
738 Armstrong Park Road
Gastonia, NC 28054
(704) 866-6082
Grades: PK-5
| 549 students
Rank: #1515.
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
Grades: PK-5
| 360 students
Rank: #1616.
Sherwood Elementary School
(Math: 29% | Reading: 28%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
1744 Dixon Road
Gastonia, NC 28054
(704) 866-6609
Grades: PK-5
| 491 students
Rank: #1717.
Lingerfeldt Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
1601 Madison Street
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 866-6094
Grades: PK-5
| 411 students
Rank: #1818.
Woodhill Elementary School
(Math: 24% | Reading: 23%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
1027 Woodhill Drive
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 866-6295
Grades: PK-5
| 504 students
Rank: #1919.
H H Beam Elementary School
(Math: 20% | Reading: 18%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
200 Davis Park Road
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 866-6618
Grades: PK-5
| 569 students
Rank: #2020.
Webb Street School
Special Education School
(Math: 11-19% | Reading: 11-19%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
1623 N Webb Street
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 864-9667
Grades: PK-12
| 161 students
Rank: n/an/a
Bessemer City Primary
1320 North 12th Street
Bessemer City, NC 28016
(704) 836-9109
Grades: PK-2
| 446 students
Rank: n/an/a
215 Ewing Drive
Belmont, NC 28012
(704) 836-9116
Grades: PK-1
| 338 students
Rank: n/an/a
Springfield Primary
900 S Main Street
Stanley, NC 28164
(704) 836-9106
Grades: PK-2
| 313 students

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Quick Stats (2025)

  • District size: 58 schools
  • Grades: PK-13
  • Enrollment: 30,403 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 17:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 53%
  • : 85% (Btm 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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