Gaston County Schools & Education
Gaston County, North Carolina
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
30/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Lower Signal
Graduation Rate
88.5%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
88.5%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 88.0%
Per-Pupil Spending
$6,151
National avg $13,239
State avg $6,969
School Score
30/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 40/100
State Score Position
#79
of 100 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Gaston County
Measured School Summary
Gaston County faces educational challenges with a school score of 30/100 and a graduation rate of 88.5%, falling below typical benchmarks.
Funding Context
At $6,151 per pupil, Gaston County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 26% below the North Carolina average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 0.5 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 12% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Gaston County before comparing districts
County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.
Local context that changes the interpretation
60 public schools and 5 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.
Overall screen
30/100
Lower measured signal. Ranks #79 of 100 North Carolina counties with school score data.
Completion
88.5%
0.5 pts above the state average
Funding context
$6,151
$818 below the state average
School coverage
60
5 districts represented in the county school list.
Start with measured county context
The county-level signal is lower, so review individual schools and local records before interpreting the score. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.
Check the local school mix
Gaston County has 60 public schools across 5 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.
Verify local rules
Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.
What Gaston County school data means before you move
County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.
Dominant-district county
Gaston County Schools carries most of the listed public-school system, with 56 of 60 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.
State position
#79
of 100 North Carolina counties with school score data. The county score is 10 points below the state average.
Data confidence
Usable
3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.
K-12 continuity check
These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.
Gaston County Schools
Elementary to high school visible
30,281 students
56 listed schools in this county slice.
Piedmont Community Charter
Other grade structure
1,906 students
1 listed school in this county slice.
Mountain Island Charter
Other grade structure
1,703 students
1 listed school in this county slice.
Community Public Charter
Elementary school only in this slice
607 students
1 listed school in this county slice.
District reality check
Gaston County Schools is the largest listed district slice, with 56 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.
What the data cannot tell you
NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.
Questions to ask before choosing an address
Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Gaston County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Gaston County district systems?
What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?
Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?
Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?
Education Overview
About Schools in Gaston County, North Carolina
This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.
High Graduation Rates in a Suburban Setting
Gaston County supports a robust network of 60 public schools, serving a large population of 34,751 students. The landscape is dominated by 32 elementary schools, supplemented by 11 middle schools, 13 high schools, and four specialized facilities. This infrastructure is managed across five school districts.
A Balance of Traditional and Charter Schools
Gaston County Schools is the primary provider, educating 30,281 students across 56 schools. The county also hosts four charter schools, which include the largest individual campuses like Piedmont Community Charter with 1,906 students. These charters represent nearly 7% of all schools, offering significant alternatives to the traditional district system.
Suburban Life and Large Campus Cultures
With 29 schools in suburban locales and 19 in city settings, most students experience a modernized, high-density academic environment. Schools average 579 students, but major high schools like Ashbrook High serve over 1,300 students. This variety ensures that families can find everything from smaller rural schools to large, amenity-rich suburban campuses.
School Overview
Total Schools
60
in Gaston County
Reported Enrollment
34,751
60 schools reporting
School Districts
5
districts
Charter Schools
4
7% of total
School Level Breakdown
5 School Districts in Gaston County
Gaston County Schools
GuidePiedmont Community Charter
Mountain Island Charter
Community Public Charter
Ridgeview Charter School
60 Public Schools in Gaston County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 8 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 20 of 60 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Piedmont Community Charter School | Profile | Piedmont Community Charter | Gastonia, 28054City: Small | KG–12 | Charter | 1,906 |
| Mountain Island Charter School | Profile | Mountain Island Charter | Mt. Holly, 28120Rural: Fringe | KG–12 | Charter | 1,703 |
| Ashbrook High | Profile | Gaston County Schools | Gastonia, 28054City: Small | 9–12 | High | 1,303 |
| North Gaston High | Profile | Gaston County Schools | Dallas, 28034Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 1,134 |
| Hunter Huss High | Profile | Gaston County Schools | Gastonia, 28052City: Small | 9–12 | High | 1,120 |
| Forestview High | Profile | Gaston County Schools | Gastonia, 28056Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 1,081 |
| Stuart W Cramer High | Profile | Gaston County Schools | Belmont, 28012Suburb: Midsize | 9–12 | High | 964 |
| South Point High | Profile | Gaston County Schools | Belmont, 28012Suburb: Midsize | 9–12 | High | 955 |
| Cramerton Middle | Record | Gaston County Schools | Cramerton, 28032Suburb: Midsize | 6–8 | Middle | 909 |
| East Gaston High | Record | Gaston County Schools | Mount Holly, 28120Suburb: Midsize | 9–12 | High | 883 |
| Pleasant Ridge Elementary | Record | Gaston County Schools | Gastonia, 28052City: Small | PK–5 | Primary | 866 |
| Southwest Middle | Record | Gaston County Schools | Gastonia, 28052City: Small | 6–8 | Middle | 804 |
| Holbrook Middle | Record | Gaston County Schools | Lowell, 28098Suburb: Midsize | 6–8 | Middle | 777 |
| Belmont Middle | Record | Gaston County Schools | Belmont, 28012Suburb: Midsize | 6–8 | Middle | 742 |
| Belmont Central Elementary | Record | Gaston County Schools | Belmont, 28012Suburb: Midsize | 2–5 | Primary | 689 |
| Stanley Middle | Record | Gaston County Schools | Stanley, 28164Suburb: Midsize | 6–8 | Middle | 670 |
| Carr Elementary | Record | Gaston County Schools | Dallas, 28034Suburb: Midsize | PK–5 | Primary | 633 |
| W A Bess Elementary School | Record | Gaston County Schools | Gastonia, 28056Rural: Fringe | PK–5 | Primary | 622 |
| W P Grier Middle School | Record | Gaston County Schools | Gastonia, 28054City: Small | 6–8 | Middle | 610 |
| Community Public Charter | Record | Community Public Charter | Stanley, 28164Suburb: Midsize | KG–8 | Charter | 607 |
Piedmont Community Charter School
Piedmont Community Charter
Gastonia, 28054 / City: Small
Mountain Island Charter School
Mountain Island Charter
Mt. Holly, 28120 / Rural: Fringe
Ashbrook High
Gaston County Schools
Gastonia, 28054 / City: Small
North Gaston High
Gaston County Schools
Dallas, 28034 / Rural: Fringe
Hunter Huss High
Gaston County Schools
Gastonia, 28052 / City: Small
Forestview High
Gaston County Schools
Gastonia, 28056 / Rural: Fringe
Stuart W Cramer High
Gaston County Schools
Belmont, 28012 / Suburb: Midsize
South Point High
Gaston County Schools
Belmont, 28012 / Suburb: Midsize
Pleasant Ridge Elementary
Gaston County Schools
Gastonia, 28052 / City: Small
Belmont Central Elementary
Gaston County Schools
Belmont, 28012 / Suburb: Midsize
W A Bess Elementary School
Gaston County Schools
Gastonia, 28056 / Rural: Fringe
W P Grier Middle School
Gaston County Schools
Gastonia, 28054 / City: Small
Community Public Charter
Community Public Charter
Stanley, 28164 / Suburb: Midsize
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$6,151
State avg $6,969
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Gaston County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
Open CompareBrowse Public Schools
See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.
View SchoolsFrequently Asked Questions
Which North Carolina counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in North Carolina?
How should I read the school score in Gaston County?
What is the graduation rate in Gaston County?
How much does Gaston County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Gaston County, North Carolina — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Gaston County, North Carolina?
Gaston County supports a robust network of 60 public schools, serving a large population of 34,751 students. The landscape is dominated by 32 elementary schools, supplemented by 11 middle schools, 13 high schools, and four specialized facilities. This infrastructure is managed across five school districts.
What are the major school districts in Gaston County, North Carolina?
Gaston County Schools is the primary provider, educating 30,281 students across 56 schools. The county also hosts four charter schools, which include the largest individual campuses like Piedmont Community Charter with 1,906 students. These charters represent nearly 7% of all schools, offering significant alternatives to the traditional district system.
What is the school experience like in Gaston County?
With 29 schools in suburban locales and 19 in city settings, most students experience a modernized, high-density academic environment. Schools average 579 students, but major high schools like Ashbrook High serve over 1,300 students. This variety ensures that families can find everything from smaller rural schools to large, amenity-rich suburban campuses.
Counties with Similar School Profile
Data Sources
Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.
Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.