Top Rankings
Gates County Schools ranks among the top 20% of public school district in North Carolina for:
Category
Attribute
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 20%)
For the 2026-27 school year, there are 5 public schools serving 1,410 students in Gates County Schools. This district's average testing ranking is 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public schools in North Carolina.
Public Schools in Gates County Schools have an average math proficiency score of 47% (versus the North Carolina public school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 41% (versus the 50% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 39% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the North Carolina public school average of 58% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
5 Schools
2,729 Schools
# Students
1,410 Students
1,548,397 Students
# Teachers
88 Teachers
96,034 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
16:1
16:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Gates County Schools, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 314 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%)
Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
(21-22)48%
51%
Showing 2012–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
41%
50%
Showing 2012–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
60%
63%
Graduation Rate
87%
86.5%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Chronically Absent Students
(2022-23)34.5%
28.7%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.55
0.72
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
n/a
5%
% Hispanic
4%
22%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 21-year historical data available below ↓
% Black
27%
24%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% White
61%
42%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
8%
6%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $17,489 is higher than the state median of $13,318. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $17,758 is higher than the state median of $13,934. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$25 MM
$20,622 MM
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Spending
$25 MM
$21,575 MM
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Revenue / Student
$17,489
$13,318
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Spending / Student
$17,758
$13,934
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Best Gates County Schools Public Schools (2026-27)
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 | 252 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 38%
Rank: #22.
Gates County Senior High School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
088 Hwy 158 West
Gatesville, NC 27938
(252) 357-0720
Gatesville, NC 27938
(252) 357-0720
Gr: 9-12 | 432 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 41%
Rank: #33.
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 | 170 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 38%
Rank: #44.
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 | 336 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 39%
Rank: #55.
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 | 220 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 34%
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools belong to Gates County Schools?
Gates County Schools manages 5 public schools serving 1,410 students.
What is the rank of Gates County Schools?
Gates County Schools is ranked #210 out of 314 school districts in North Carolina (bottom 50%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2021-2022 school year. This district ranks in the top 20% of North Carolina school districts for: Highest graduation rate (Top 20%)
What is the racial composition of students in Gates County Schools?
61% of Gates County Schools students are White, 27% of students are Black, 8% of students are Two or more races, and 4% of students are Hispanic.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Gates County Schools?
Gates County Schools has a student/teacher ratio of 16:1, which is equal to the North Carolina state average of 16:1.
What is Gates County Schools's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $17,758 is higher than the state median of $13,934. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Recent Articles
How Much Choice Do High School Students Have?
Learn how graduation requirements, prerequisites, electives, staffing, scheduling conflicts, AP courses, dual enrollment, and career pathways determine how much control high school students have over schedules each year.
Does Your Child Need More Recess?
Explore whether your child may benefit more from recess than another academic period, including research on attention, learning, physical activity, stress, social development, and school-day balance today.
Combined Grade Classrooms, What Parents Should Know
Learn how combined-grade classrooms work, why public schools use them, potential benefits and challenges, and the questions parents should ask before enrolling their child in one today.
