District overview
At a glance
Source years shown below
Reported students
30,995
NCES CCD 2024–25, where reported
Open schools
56
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Student–teacher ratio
15.9:1
Calculated from NCES 2024–25 enrollment and teacher FTE
Spending per pupil
$12,190
Current expenditure · FY 2023 F-33
Instruction per pupil
$7,450
Calculated from FY 2023 F-33
Grades served
PK–13
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
District interpretation
What the numbers say about Gaston County Schools
Gaston County Schools operates 56 current public-school records serving grades PK–13 in Gastonia, North Carolina. NCES reports 30,995 students and 1,947.51 classroom teacher FTE for 2024–25.
By reported enrollment, the district ranks 10 of 331 North Carolina districts with data. That position describes scale only—it does not say whether individual schools are a good fit for a particular student.
FY 2023 finance records show $12,190 in current expenditure per pupil and $7,450 per pupil assigned to instruction. This places reported current spending 142 of 318 districts in North Carolina. Local wages, transportation, special education, facilities, and district responsibilities all affect this comparison.
Student context
Needs schools plan for
- English learners
- 7.4%
- Students with disabilities (IDEA)
- 13.4%
- Classroom teachers (FTE)
- 1,947.51
- Current expenditure (FY 2023)
- $369,115,000
Context measures describe who a district serves and its resources. They are not negative rating inputs.
Gaston County Schools location
Gastonia, North Carolina · 35.2506, -81.1775. This is the NCES EDGE district-office point, not an attendance boundary.
Open exact point in OpenStreetMap →Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White44.1%
- Hispanic22.3%
- Black25.4%
- Asian1.9%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.2%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial6%
Race/ethnicity: NCES CCD 2024–25 where reported, otherwise CRDC 2021–22. English learner and disability context: CRDC 2021–22. Totals can differ due to rounding or source privacy rules.
Interactive campus directory
Explore schools in Gaston County Schools
56 current directory entries
Filter by school level or name, then sort by enrollment or reported student–teacher ratio.
Showing 56 of 56 schools
| School | Level | Grades | Students | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashbrook High | High | 09–12 | 1,386 | 18:1 |
| Belmont Central Elementary | Elementary | 02–05 | 693 | 19.4:1 |
| Belmont Middle | Middle | 06–08 | 770 | 18.1:1 |
| Bessemer City Central Elem | Elementary | 03–05 | 392 | 16.1:1 |
| Bessemer City High | High | 09–12 | 590 | 18.5:1 |
| Bessemer City Middle | Middle | 06–08 | 497 | 17.1:1 |
| Bessemer City Primary | Elementary | PK–02 | 445 | 14.5:1 |
| Brookside Elementary | Elementary | PK–05 | 512 | 15.2:1 |
| Carr Elementary | Elementary | PK–05 | 665 | 16.9:1 |
| Catawba Heights Elementary | Elementary | PK–05 | 238 | 12:1 |
| Chapel Grove Elementary | Elementary | PK–05 | 382 | 15.1:1 |
| Cherryville Elementary | Elementary | PK–03 | 378 | 13.6:1 |
| Cherryville High | High | 09–12 | 484 | 14.7:1 |
| Costner Elementary | Elementary | PK–05 | 430 | 14.1:1 |
| Cramerton Middle | Middle | 06–08 | 959 | 18.8:1 |
| East Gaston High | High | 09–12 | 917 | 18.6:1 |
| Edward D Sadler Jr Elementary School | Elementary | PK–05 | 374 | 10.8:1 |
| Forestview High | High | 09–12 | 1,133 | 18.2:1 |
| Gardner Park Elementary | Elementary | PK–05 | 560 | 14.5:1 |
| Gaston Early College High School | High | 09–13 | 235 | 21.9:1 |
| Gaston Early College of Medical Sciences | High | 09–13 | 174 | 21.8:1 |
| Gaston Virtual Academy Virtual | Other | KG–12 | 283 | 13.7:1 |
| H H Beam Elementary | Elementary | PK–05 | 591 | 15:1 |
| Hawks Nest STEAM Academy | Elementary | KG–05 | 356 | 14.8:1 |
| Highland Sch of Technology | High | 09–12 | 538 | 13.9:1 |
| Holbrook Middle | Middle | 06–08 | 712 | 13.6:1 |
| Hunter Huss High | High | 09–12 | 1,165 | 18.9:1 |
| Ida Rankin Elementary School | Elementary | PK–05 | 533 | 14.3:1 |
| J B Page Primary School | Elementary | PK–01 | 396 | 14.8:1 |
| John Chavis Middle School | Middle | 06–08 | 412 | 15:1 |
| Kiser Elementary | Elementary | 03–05 | 328 | 17.1:1 |
| Lingerfeldt Elementary | Elementary | PK–05 | 450 | 16.5:1 |
| Lowell Elementary | Elementary | PK–05 | 367 | 13:1 |
| McAdenville Elementary | Elementary | KG–05 | 190 | 17.3:1 |
| Mount Holly Middle | Middle | 06–08 | 570 | 15.3:1 |
| New Hope Elementary | Elementary | KG–05 | 571 | 16.7:1 |
| North Belmont Elementary | Elementary | PK–05 | 371 | 14.3:1 |
| North Gaston High | High | 09–12 | 1,061 | 17.2:1 |
| Pinewood Elementary | Elementary | PK–05 | 508 | 15.5:1 |
| Pleasant Ridge Elementary | Elementary | PK–05 | 887 | 16:1 |
| Robinson Elementary | Elementary | PK–05 | 420 | 13.8:1 |
| Sherwood Elementary | Elementary | PK–05 | 553 | 16.4:1 |
| South Point High | High | 09–12 | 989 | 18.2:1 |
| Southwest Middle | Middle | 06–08 | 832 | 15.4:1 |
| Springfield Primary | Elementary | PK–02 | 352 | 15:1 |
| Stanley Middle | Middle | 06–08 | 602 | 15.7:1 |
| Stuart W Cramer High | High | 09–12 | 953 | 17.8:1 |
| Tryon Elementary | Elementary | PK–05 | 336 | 12.7:1 |
| W A Bess Elementary School | Elementary | PK–05 | 674 | 17:1 |
| W B Beam Intermediate School | Elementary | 04–05 | 191 | 18.5:1 |
| W C Friday Middle School | Middle | 06–08 | 618 | 18:1 |
| W P Grier Middle School | Middle | 06–08 | 659 | 15.8:1 |
| Warlick Academy | High | 06–12 | 175 | 10.9:1 |
| Webb Street School | Other | PK–12 | 163 | 8.3:1 |
| Woodhill Elementary | Elementary | PK–05 | 577 | 16.6:1 |
| York Chester Middle | Middle | 06–08 | 398 | 16:1 |