For the 2025 school year, there are 23 public preschools serving 10,363 students in Gaston County, NC.
The top ranked public preschools in Gaston County, NC are North Belmont Elementary School, Cherryville Elementary School and W A Bess Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Gaston County, NC public preschools 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). Pre schools in Gaston County have an average ranking of 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of North Carolina public pre schools.
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).
Best Public Preschools in Gaston County (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
North Belmont Elementary 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
| 334 students
Rank: #22.
Cherryville Elementary 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
| 389 students
Rank: #33.
W A Bess Elementary 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
| 641 students
Rank: #44.
Pinewood Elementary 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
| 477 students
Rank: #55.
Ida Rankin Elementary 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
| 510 students
Rank: #66.
Catawba Heights Elementary 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
| 253 students
Rank: #77.
Costner Elementary 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
| 453 students
Rank: #88.
Robinson Elementary 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
| 434 students
Rank: #99.
Tryon Elementary 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
| 334 students
Rank: #1010.
Carr Elementary School
(Math: 50% | Reading: 33%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
307 S Pine St
Dallas, NC 28034
(704) 922-3636
Dallas, NC 28034
(704) 922-3636
Grades: PK-5
| 617 students
Rank: #1111.
Chapel Grove Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
5201 Lewis Road
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 836-9113
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 836-9113
Grades: PK-5
| 391 students
Rank: #1212.
Brookside Elementary School
(Math: 41% | Reading: 37%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
1925 Auten Rd.
Gastonia, NC 28054
(704) 866-6283
Gastonia, NC 28054
(704) 866-6283
Grades: PK-5
| 506 students
Rank: #1313.
Pleasant Ridge Elementary School
(Math: 42% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
1260 Floyd Lane
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 866-6096
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 866-6096
Grades: PK-5
| 882 students
Rank: #1414.
Gardner Park Elementary School
(Math: 36% | Reading: 39%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
738 Armstrong Park Road
Gastonia, NC 28054
(704) 866-6082
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:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
3950 West Franklin Boulevard
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 862-5895
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 862-5895
Grades: PK-5
| 360 students
Rank: #1616.
Sherwood Elementary School
(Math: 29% | Reading: 28%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
1744 Dixon Road
Gastonia, NC 28054
(704) 866-6609
Gastonia, NC 28054
(704) 866-6609
Grades: PK-5
| 491 students
Rank: #1717.
Lingerfeldt Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
1601 Madison Street
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 866-6094
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 866-6094
Grades: PK-5
| 411 students
Rank: #1818.
Woodhill Elementary School
(Math: 24% | Reading: 23%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
1027 Woodhill Drive
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 866-6295
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 866-6295
Grades: PK-5
| 504 students
Rank: #1919.
H H Beam Elementary School
(Math: 20% | Reading: 18%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
200 Davis Park Road
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 866-6618
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:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
1623 N Webb Street
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 864-9667
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 864-9667
Grades: PK-12
| 161 students
Rank: n/an/a
1320 North 12th Street
Bessemer City, NC 28016
(704) 836-9109
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
Belmont, NC 28012
(704) 836-9116
Grades: PK-1
| 338 students
Rank: n/an/a
900 S Main Street
Stanley, NC 28164
(704) 836-9106
Stanley, NC 28164
(704) 836-9106
Grades: PK-2
| 313 students
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
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 preschools in Gaston County, NC?
The top ranked public preschools in Gaston County, NC include North Belmont Elementary School, Cherryville Elementary School and W A Bess Elementary School.
How many public preschools are located in Gaston County?
23 public preschools are located in Gaston County.
What is the racial composition of students in Gaston County?
Gaston County public preschools minority enrollment is 58% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the North Carolina public preschools average of 59% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Which public preschools in Gaston County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public preschools in Gaston County include: Lingerfeldt Elementary School vs. Brookside Elementary School, Catawba Heights Elementary School vs. North Belmont Elementary School, Carr Elementary School vs. North Belmont Elementary School
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