Top Rankings
Gates County Schools School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in North Carolina for:
Category
Attribute
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 20%)
Student Attention
Lowest student-teacher ratio (Top 1%)
For the 2025-26 school year, there are 4 public elementary schools serving 993 students in Gates County Schools School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public elementary schools in North Carolina.
Public Elementary Schools in Gates County Schools School District have an average math proficiency score of 46% (versus the North Carolina public elementary school average of 50%), and reading proficiency score of 40% (versus the 49% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 38% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the North Carolina public elementary school average of 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
5 Schools
2,174 Schools
# Students
1,448 Students
1,091,007 Students
# Teachers
109 Teachers
73,903 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
13:1
13:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Gates County Schools School District, 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 87% has decreased from 90-94% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#211 out of 325 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
(21-22)48%
51%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
41%
50%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
60%
63%
Graduation Rate
(21-22)85-89%
86%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.55
0.72
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
n/a
4%
% Hispanic
4%
21%
% Black
27%
25%
% White
61%
43%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
8%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $14,743 is higher than the state median of $11,187. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $14,706 is higher than the state median of $11,612. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$21 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$21 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$14,743
$11,187
Spending / Student
$14,706
$11,612
Best Gates County Schools School District Public Elementary Schools (2025-26)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Gatesville Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
709 North Main Street
Gatesville, NC 27938
(252) 357-0613
Gatesville, NC 27938
(252) 357-0613
Gr: PK-5 | 243 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 38%
Rank: #22.
T S Cooper Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
237 Nc 32 South
Sunbury, NC 27979
(252) 465-4091
Sunbury, NC 27979
(252) 465-4091
Gr: K-5 | 161 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 38%
Rank: #33.
Central Middle School
(Math: 43% | Reading: 38%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
362 Us Hwy 158 W
Gatesville, NC 27938
(252) 357-0470
Gatesville, NC 27938
(252) 357-0470
Gr: 6-8 | 347 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 36%
Rank: #44.
Buckland Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
448 Nc 37 North
Gates, NC 27937
(252) 357-1611
Gates, NC 27937
(252) 357-1611
Gr: K-5 | 242 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 40%
Recent Articles

10 Advantages of Public Education in 2025
Explore 10 key benefits of public education in 2025, with fresh statistics, expert insights, and real-world examples for parents and educators.

COVID-19’s Lasting Impact on U.S. Public Schools (2025)
Explore how COVID-19 continues to affect U.S. public schools in 2025: learning losses, enrollment shifts, mental health, and recovery strategies.