For the 2024-25 school year, there are 25 public schools serving 15,177 students in Gastonia, NC (there are 9 private schools, serving 2,243 private students). 87% of all K-12 students in Gastonia, NC are educated in public schools (compared to the NC state average of 92%).
The top ranked public schools in Gastonia, NC are Highland Sch Of Technology, Hawks Nest Steam Academy and Forestview High School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Gastonia, NC public schools have an average math proficiency score of 43% (versus the North Carolina public school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 41% (versus the 50% statewide average). Schools in Gastonia have an average ranking of 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of North Carolina public schools.
Minority enrollment is 64% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the North Carolina public school average of 56% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Best Public Schools in Gastonia, NC (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.
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: #33.
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: #44.
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: #55.
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: #66.
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: #77.
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: #88.
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: #99.
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: #1010.
Chapel Grove Elementary School
Magnet 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
| 357 students
Rank: #1111.
Hunter Huss High School
Magnet School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
1518 Edgefield Avenue
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 866-6610
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 866-6610
Grades: 9-12
| 1,120 students
Rank: #1212.
Brookside Elementary School
Magnet 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
| 502 students
Rank: #1313.
Pleasant Ridge Elementary School
Magnet 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
| 866 students
Rank: #1414.
Gardner Park Elementary School
Magnet 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
| 521 students
Rank: #1515.
Southwest Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 37% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
1 Roadrunner Drive
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 866-6290
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 866-6290
Grades: 6-8
| 804 students
Rank: #1616.
Edward D Sadler Jr Elementary School
Magnet 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
| 321 students
Rank: #1717.
York Chester Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 35% | Reading: 30%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
601 S Clay Street
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 836-9609
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 836-9609
Grades: 6-8
| 431 students
Rank: #1818.
Sherwood Elementary School
Magnet 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
| 514 students
Rank: #1919.
Lingerfeldt Elementary School
Magnet 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
| 408 students
Rank: #2020.
W P Grier Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 24% | Reading: 28%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
1622 E Garrison Boulevard
Gastonia, NC 28054
(704) 836-9604
Gastonia, NC 28054
(704) 836-9604
Grades: 6-8
| 610 students
Rank: #2121.
Woodhill Elementary School
Magnet 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
| 462 students
Rank: #2222.
H H Beam Elementary School
Magnet 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
| 510 students
Rank: #2323.
Ridgeview Charter School
Magnet School
Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 15-19%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
207 W. Bradley St.
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 867-6635
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 867-6635
Grades: K-7
| 254 students
Rank: #2424.
Webb Street School
Special Education School
Magnet School
Magnet 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
| 148 students
Rank: #2525.
Warlick Academy
Alternative School
Magnet School
Magnet School
(Math: ≤5% | Reading: 15-19%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
1316 Spencer Mountain Road
Gastonia, NC 28054
(704) 836-9608
Gastonia, NC 28054
(704) 836-9608
Grades: 6-12
| 175 students
Gastonia, North Carolina 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
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
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 Gastonia, NC?
The top ranked public schools in Gastonia, NC include Highland Sch Of Technology, Hawks Nest Steam Academy and Forestview High School.
How many public schools are located in Gastonia?
25 public schools are located in Gastonia.
What percentage of students in Gastonia go to public school?
87% of all K-12 students in Gastonia are educated in public schools (compared to the NC state average of 92%).
What is the racial composition of students in Gastonia?
Gastonia public schools minority enrollment is 64% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the North Carolina public schools average of 56% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Which public schools in Gastonia are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public schools in Gastonia include: Hunter Huss High School vs. Ashbrook High School, W P Grier Middle School vs. Southwest Middle School, W A Bess Elementary School vs. New Hope Elementary School
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