Gates County Schools & Education
Gates County, North Carolina
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
62/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
92.0%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
92.0%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 88.0%
Per-Pupil Spending
$7,694
National avg $13,239
State avg $6,969
School Score
62/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 40/100
State Score Position
#11
of 100 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Gates County
Measured School Summary
Gates County performs at an average level with a school score of 62/100 and a solid graduation rate of 92.0%.
Funding Context
At $7,694 per pupil, Gates County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 54% above the North Carolina average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 4.0 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 10% higher than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Gates 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
5 public schools and 1 district 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
62/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #11 of 100 North Carolina counties with school score data.
Completion
92.0%
4.0 pts above the state average
Funding context
$7,694
$725 above the state average
School coverage
5
1 district represented in the county school list.
Start with measured county context
This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.
Check the local school mix
Gates County has 5 public schools across 1 district, 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 Gates 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.
Small-system county
Gates County has a compact public-school footprint. A single school change, boundary rule, or district update can move the lived experience more than the county score suggests.
State position
#11
of 100 North Carolina counties with school score data. The county score is 22 points above 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.
Gates County Schools
Elementary to high school visible
1,497 students
5 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Gates County Schools is the largest listed district slice, with 5 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 Gates County?
Which attendance zones, transfer rules, and transportation policies apply inside the local district?
What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?
If we need a program not visible in the NCES flags, which district office can confirm current offerings?
Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?
Education Overview
About Schools in Gates 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.
Small-Scale Education in a Single District
Gates County operates a highly centralized and intimate school system consisting of just five public schools. The infrastructure includes three elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school, all managed by a single county district. This streamlined system serves a total of 1,497 students.
Unity and Focus in Gates County Schools
The Gates County Schools district manages 100% of the public enrollment, as there are no charter schools within the county. This singular focus allows for a unified educational strategy across the entire region. The largest school is Gates County Senior High, which serves 479 students, ensuring a low student-to-teacher environment.
A Purely Rural Academic Experience
Every single school in Gates County is classified as rural, offering a consistent and quiet learning environment for all students. The average school size is remarkably small at 299 students, with T S Cooper Elementary enrolling just 174. This creates a deeply personal feel where teachers and administrators can know almost every student by name.
School Overview
Total Schools
5
in Gates County
Reported Enrollment
1,497
5 schools reporting
School Districts
1
district
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
1 School District in Gates County
Gates County Schools
5 Public Schools in Gates County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Every NCES public school remains listed here; no school-level profile pages are included in the current generated coverage for this county.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 5 of 5 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gates County Senior High | Record | Gates County Schools | Gatesville, 27938Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 479 |
| Central Middle School | Record | Gates County Schools | Gatesville, 27938Rural: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 345 |
| Gatesville Elementary | Record | Gates County Schools | Gatesville, 27938Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 260 |
| Buckland Elementary | Record | Gates County Schools | Gates, 27937Rural: Distant | KG–5 | Primary | 239 |
| T S Cooper Elementary | Record | Gates County Schools | Sunbury, 27979Rural: Distant | KG–5 | Primary | 174 |
Gates County Senior High
Gates County Schools
Gatesville, 27938 / Rural: Distant
Central Middle School
Gates County Schools
Gatesville, 27938 / Rural: Distant
Gatesville Elementary
Gates County Schools
Gatesville, 27938 / Rural: Distant
T S Cooper Elementary
Gates County Schools
Sunbury, 27979 / Rural: Distant
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$7,694
State avg $6,969
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Gates 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 Gates County?
What is the graduation rate in Gates County?
How much does Gates County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Gates County, North Carolina — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Gates County, North Carolina?
Gates County operates a highly centralized and intimate school system consisting of just five public schools. The infrastructure includes three elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school, all managed by a single county district. This streamlined system serves a total of 1,497 students.
What are the major school districts in Gates County, North Carolina?
The Gates County Schools district manages 100% of the public enrollment, as there are no charter schools within the county. This singular focus allows for a unified educational strategy across the entire region. The largest school is Gates County Senior High, which serves 479 students, ensuring a low student-to-teacher environment.
What is the school experience like in Gates County?
Every single school in Gates County is classified as rural, offering a consistent and quiet learning environment for all students. The average school size is remarkably small at 299 students, with T S Cooper Elementary enrolling just 174. This creates a deeply personal feel where teachers and administrators can know almost every student by name.
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.