Top Rankings
Gaston County Schools ranks among the top 20% of public school district in North Carolina for:
Category
Attribute
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2026 school year, there are 16 public high schools serving 10,092 students in Gaston County Schools. This district's average high testing ranking is 5/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public high schools in North Carolina.
Public High Schools in Gaston County Schools have an average math proficiency score of 57% (versus the North Carolina public high school average of 58%), and reading proficiency score of 52% (versus the 58% statewide average).
Public High School in Gaston County School have a Graduation Rate of 85%, which is less than the North Carolina average of 86%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Highland Sch Of Technology, with ≥95% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in North Carolina or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 53% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the North Carolina public high school average of 55% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
58 Schools
758 Schools
# Students
30,403 Students
565,236 Students
# Teachers
1,816 Teachers
33,421 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
17:1
17:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Gaston County Schools, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 320 school districts in North Carolina (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 85% has decreased from 86% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#181 out of 325 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
(21-22)49%
51%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
46%
50%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
61%
63%
Graduation Rate
(21-22)85%
86%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.68
0.70
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
2%
4%
% Hispanic
20%
20%
% Black
25%
24%
% White
47%
45%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
6%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $10,299 in this school district is less than the state median of $11,192. The school district revenue/student has grown by 8% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $10,900 is less than the state median of $11,617. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$313 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$331 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$10,299
$11,192
Spending / Student
$10,900
$11,617
Best Gaston County Schools Public High Schools (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
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
Gr: 9-12 | 528 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 38%
Rank: #22.
Gaston Early College High School
(Math: ≥90% | Reading: ≥90%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
201 Hwy 321 South, Gaston Coll
Dallas, NC 28034
(704) 922-2405
Dallas, NC 28034
(704) 922-2405
Gr: 9-13 | 195 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 43%
Rank: #33.
South Point High School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 77%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
906 South Point Road
Belmont, NC 28012
(704) 836-9612
Belmont, NC 28012
(704) 836-9612
Gr: 9-12 | 983 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
Rank: #44.
Stuart W Cramer High School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
101 Lakewood Rd
Belmont, NC 28012
(704) 866-5700
Belmont, NC 28012
(704) 866-5700
Gr: 9-12 | 956 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 43%
Rank: #55.
East Gaston High School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1744 Lane Road
Mount Holly, NC 28120
(704) 836-9613
Mount Holly, NC 28120
(704) 836-9613
Gr: 9-12 | 908 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 35%
Rank: #66.
Forestview High 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
Gr: 9-12 | 1,116 student Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 50%
Rank: #77.
Cherryville High School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
313 Ridge Avenue
Cherryville, NC 28021
(704) 836-9605
Cherryville, NC 28021
(704) 836-9605
Gr: 9-12 | 508 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 28%
Rank: #88.
North Gaston High School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1133 Ratchford Road
Dallas, NC 28034
(704) 922-5285
Dallas, NC 28034
(704) 922-5285
Gr: 9-12 | 1,083 student Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 54%
Rank: #99.
Ashbrook High 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
Gr: 9-12 | 1,341 student Student-teacher ratio: 26:1 Minority enrollment: 79%
Rank: #1010.
Bessemer City High School
(Math: 40-49% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
119 Yellow Jacket Lane
Bessemer City, NC 28016
(704) 836-9601
Bessemer City, NC 28016
(704) 836-9601
Gr: 9-12 | 548 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 58%
Rank: #1111.
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
Gr: K-12 | 323 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 45%
Rank: #1212.
Hunter Huss High 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
Gr: 9-12 | 1,134 student Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 80%
Rank: #1313.
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
Gr: PK-12 | 161 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 51%
Rank: #1414.
Warlick Academy
Alternative 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
Gr: 6-12 | 153 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 75%
Rank: n/an/a
300 Rhodes Perimeter Drive, Ga
Dallas, NC 28034
(704) 923-8480
Dallas, NC 28034
(704) 923-8480
Gr: 9-12 | 155 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 53%
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