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Gaston High School

Public Grades 7-12

304^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 380 Alabama High Schools

Better than 20% of Alabama high schools

Summary

Gaston High School is a small public school in Gadsden, Alabama, serving 380 students in grades 7 through 12 as part of the Etowah County district, where a majority of students (about 64%) come from low-income households.

The most striking thing about Gaston is its perfect graduation rate—100% for two years running—which beats the district average of 96.5% and the state average of 91.5%. That's a real strength, especially for a school facing significant challenges. However, test scores tell a different story. Only about 5.7% of 11th graders are proficient in math, compared to 18.7% across the district and 27.2% statewide. English scores for 11th graders (13.5% proficient) also lag far behind nearby schools like Glencoe High School (39.2%). Interestingly, younger students at Gaston perform much better—7th and 8th grade English proficiency is close to state averages—but those gains seem to fade by high school. Chronic absenteeism (19.3%) is also higher than the state average (12%), though it's improving.

There's good news too: Gaston has made remarkable progress with special education students, jumping from the 8th percentile statewide to the 73rd percentile in just a few years. The school also spends more per student ($11,715) than any comparable school in the area, including Southside High School ($7,930). Yet overall rankings have slipped to the 20th percentile, making Gaston the lowest-ranked high school in Etowah County. When compared to Pleasant Valley High School—a school of similar size and grade span—Gaston trails significantly in test scores and has more than double the chronic absenteeism rate. The picture is mixed: Gaston clearly keeps kids in school and graduates them, but the academic foundation at the high school level needs attention to match the strong middle school performance.

380

Students ?

19.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$11,715

Per pupil spending ?

63.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

4550 US Highway 411
Gadsden, AL 35901

(256) 547-8828

District: Etowah County

Feeder schools for Gaston High School:

Elementary:	Gaston Elementary School
	Highland Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

White:

80.0%

Two or more races:

8.2%

African American:

5.3%

See top rated Alabama high schools

Compare Gaston High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 34th percentile in 2016 → 20th in 2026

Strengths

✓100% graduate in 4 years — above the Alabama average (92%)

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Alabama average (25% vs 39% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (20th percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (19% vs 12% Alabama)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school25%

District avg39%

Alabama avg39%

Middle school

307^th of 443

Alabama public middle schools ?

Bottom 31%▼ down 26 pts since 2016

From top 43% (2016) to bottom 31% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Alabama Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

High school

304^th of 380

Alabama public high schools ?

Bottom 20%▼ down 14 pts since 2016

From bottom 34% (2016) to bottom 20% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Alabama High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

6^th of 6High Schools in the Etowah County

60^th of 139Etowah County among Alabama districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2018	78.6	132 of 680	80.6%	★★★★☆
2017	60.3	253 of 688	63.2%	★★★☆☆
2016	57.0	288 of 691	58.3%	★★★☆☆
2015	51.7	326 of 691	52.8%	★★★☆☆
2014	53.6	319 of 695	54.1%	★★★☆☆
2013	64.6	256 of 696	63.2%	★★★☆☆
2012	58.9	341 of 696	51.0%	★★★☆☆
2011	58.1	345 of 709	51.3%	★★★☆☆
2010	64.2	261 of 704	62.9%	★★★☆☆
2009	58.5	310 of 696	55.5%	★★★☆☆
2008	65.5	229 of 698	67.2%	★★★☆☆
2007	61.6	275 of 698	60.6%	★★★☆☆
2006	68.6	178 of 689	74.2%	★★★★☆
2005	58.7	280 of 688	59.3%	★★★☆☆
2004	66.9	172 of 623	72.4%	★★★★☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	31.7	307 of 443	30.7%	★★☆☆☆
2025	34.3	299 of 439	31.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	44.5	237 of 442	46.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	42.2	258 of 437	41.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	56.8	158 of 432	63.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	62.7	137 of 440	68.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	62.8	138 of 437	68.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	55.6	178 of 423	57.9%	★★★☆☆
2017	49.8	208 of 432	51.9%	★★★☆☆
2016	54.4	185 of 432	57.2%	★★★☆☆
2015	42.1	251 of 430	41.6%	★★☆☆☆
2014	33.6	306 of 438	30.1%	★★☆☆☆
2013	59.8	178 of 436	59.2%	★★★☆☆
2012	57.2	207 of 436	52.5%	★★★☆☆
2011	53.8	216 of 435	50.3%	★★★☆☆
2010	53.8	215 of 435	50.6%	★★★☆☆
2009	37.1	293 of 425	31.1%	★★☆☆☆
2008	57.5	163 of 417	60.9%	★★★☆☆
2007	48.5	219 of 412	46.8%	★★☆☆☆
2006	61.2	142 of 409	65.3%	★★★☆☆
2005	41.3	263 of 415	36.6%	★★☆☆☆
2004	29.7	313 of 407	23.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	35.4	280 of 422	33.6%	★★☆☆☆
2025	35.5	280 of 415	32.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	41.3	247 of 426	42.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	44.6	231 of 417	44.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	56.7	163 of 423	61.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	69.9	82 of 415	80.2%	★★★★☆
2019	63.3	115 of 399	71.2%	★★★★☆
2018	50.8	195 of 392	50.3%	★★★☆☆
2017	42.7	230 of 380	39.5%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	26.9	325 of 432	24.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	32.6	299 of 428	30.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	54.4	179 of 437	59.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	46.5	205 of 410	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	56.9	152 of 421	63.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	75.6	47 of 415	88.7%	★★★★☆
2019	77.0	57 of 396	85.6%	★★★★☆
2018	64.4	125 of 396	68.4%	★★★☆☆
2017	61.5	97 of 349	72.2%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	30.7	291 of 421	30.9%	★★☆☆☆
2025	36.2	278 of 422	34.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	47.0	214 of 428	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	40.1	254 of 419	39.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	50.7	183 of 427	57.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	50.4	187 of 418	55.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	61.3	135 of 399	66.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	60.7	140 of 397	64.7%	★★★☆☆
2017	50.3	181 of 380	52.4%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	25.9	218 of 266	18.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	31.8	201 of 271	25.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	35.9	180 of 281	35.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	26.7	232 of 281	17.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	36.8	158 of 256	38.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	40.9	153 of 274	44.2%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	15.6	323 of 355	9.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	26.8	299 of 377	20.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	32.8	263 of 373	29.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	27.4	284 of 370	23.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	41.9	194 of 376	48.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	54.6	132 of 369	64.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	46.8	160 of 343	53.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	43.5	178 of 331	46.2%	★★☆☆☆

High school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	21.2	304 of 380	20.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	27.3	258 of 374	31.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	37.8	232 of 378	38.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	23.1	289 of 371	22.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	12.8	332 of 367	9.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	16.5	314 of 371	15.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	28.9	264 of 366	27.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	14.9	304 of 356	14.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	8.6	342 of 353	3.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	33.6	231 of 351	34.2%	★★☆☆☆
2015	44.4	196 of 353	44.5%	★★☆☆☆
2014	34.1	240 of 358	33.0%	★★☆☆☆
2013	49.4	226 of 358	36.9%	★★☆☆☆
2012	40.7	264 of 358	26.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	48.5	226 of 360	37.2%	★★☆☆☆
2010	34.4	280 of 358	21.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	45.7	227 of 357	36.4%	★★☆☆☆
2008	16.1	340 of 359	5.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	43.0	232 of 358	35.2%	★★☆☆☆
2006	47.4	223 of 357	37.5%	★★☆☆☆
2005	31.2	299 of 359	16.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	48.1	201 of 357	43.7%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	24.5	287 of 372	22.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	33.3	223 of 359	37.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	41.8	198 of 366	45.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	33.5	229 of 358	36.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	19.3	308 of 367	16.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	27.8	257 of 359	28.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	44.4	210 of 354	40.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	16.8	287 of 347	17.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	6.9	334 of 343	2.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	25.7	302 of 377	19.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	26.0	273 of 367	25.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	34.7	248 of 375	33.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	37.7	205 of 349	41.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	17.2	313 of 361	13.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	19.1	301 of 361	16.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	41.3	208 of 358	41.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	42.7	204 of 349	41.5%	★★☆☆☆
2017	19.4	274 of 315	13.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	20.4	300 of 375	20.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	17.8	297 of 363	18.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	35.5	235 of 368	36.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	15.6	319 of 358	10.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	10.3	350 of 366	4.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	12.4	337 of 366	7.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	15.7	303 of 357	15.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	15.7	296 of 350	15.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	12.6	307 of 339	9.4%	☆☆☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	18.5	105 of 122	13.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2025	60.8	53 of 194	72.7%	★★★★☆
2019	12.6	158 of 171	7.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	10.7	296 of 316	6.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	17.3	276 of 325	15.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	27.4	238 of 325	26.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	14.2	295 of 317	6.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	7.7	318 of 326	2.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	10.4	308 of 319	3.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	18.8	275 of 313	12.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	4.8	298 of 300	0.7%	☆☆☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Middle school

Female (2026)34th percentile+3 vs school

Male (2026)31st percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)25th percentile-6 vs school

Special Education (2026)18th percentile-13 vs school

White (2026)9th percentile-22 vs school

High school

Special Education (2025)73rd percentile+42 vs school

Female (2026)23rd percentile+3 vs school

Male (2026)20th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)20th percentile~ school

Multi-racial (2026)14th percentile-6 vs school

White (2026)6th percentile-14 vs school

By subject vs Alabama (2025-2026) ?

English36%-13 vs state

Science32%-13 vs state

Mathematics10%-16 vs state

3.0

2 ratings · 1 written review

5★1

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★1

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What people are saying

by a citizen on FaceBook
Monday, August 23, 2010

I went to this school and graduated from there in 2002, when I went there it was a good school. But since they got this new principal, I've heard really bad things about programs being cancelled and cut out that really helped the kids out. They cut out the book fair that they used to have 2 times a year through the library, they cut out santa shoppe for the time right before christmas that gave kids a chance to buy little trinkets and treats for their parents for Christmas, and I've also heard that the cheerleaders don't have a booster club anymore, so all of their money has to come from fund raising or from out of their parent's pockets. I don't think they help out enough with underprivliged kids. They also had a program called "Through Savannah's Eyes" that was for a girl that had went to school there, and under the reign of the new principal this has also been eliminated. There are 3 generations of people in my family that have graduated from this school, and its a shame that my daughter and son won't be going here because I just don't think it affords the children attending there the same opprotunities in learning, arts, and morals that it offered when I attended school there several years ago. I'm just saying....... Close Quote

Schools Near Gaston High School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				Summative Assessment Mathematics (2026)			Summative Assessment Science (2026)		Summative Assessment English (2026)			Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	Summative Assessment Mathematics 7th Grade	Summative Assessment Mathematics 8th Grade	Summative Assessment Mathematics 11th Grade	Summative Assessment Science 8th Grade	Summative Assessment Science 11th Grade	Summative Assessment English 7th Grade	Summative Assessment English 8th Grade	Summative Assessment English 11th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Gaston High School	Public	7-12	4550 US Highway 411	Gadsden	35901	Etowah County	Etowah County	No	No	No	Yes	(256) 547-8828	380	20	19.0	63.9%	304 (80.0%)	20 (5.3%)	20 (5.3%)	2 (0.5%)	1 (0.3%)	2 (0.5%)	31 (8.2%)	21.2	304^th of 380 public high schools	20.0%		27.3	258^th of 374 public high schools	31.0%	46	12.5	10.8	5.7	40.0	24.5	47.9	47.7	13.5	$11,715	$2,360	$9,318
Hokes Bluff High School	Public	9-12	1865 Appalachia Rd	Hokes Bluff	35903	Etowah County	Etowah County	No	No	No	No	(256) 492-1360	371	21	17.4	42.0%	334 (90.0%)	3 (0.8%)	14 (3.8%)	3 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (4.6%)	46.6	189^th of 380 public high schools	50.3%		66.4	106^th of 374 public high schools	71.7%	83			22.1		36.8			19.6	$10,424	$1,191	$9,200
C I T Y Program	Public	6-12	435 E Chestnut	Gadsden	35903	Etowah County	Gadsden City	No	No	No	No	(256) 543-2489																			(n/a)
Downtown Educational Center	Public	6-12	220 Locust Street	Gadsden	35901	Etowah County	Gadsden City	No	No	No	No	(256) 547-5446																			(n/a)
Glencoe High School	Public	9-12	803 Lonesome Bend Rd	Glencoe	35905	Etowah County	Etowah County	No	No	No	No	(256) 492-2250	300	17	17.7	37.7%	271 (90.3%)	8 (2.7%)	12 (4.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.7%)	58.7	133^rd of 380 public high schools	65.0%		51.8	170^th of 374 public high schools	54.5%	37			14.8		40.7			39.2	$11,338	$1,412	$9,922
Gadsden City High School	Public	9-12	1917 Black Creek Parkway	Gadsden	35904	Etowah County	Gadsden City	No	No	No	No	(256) 543-3614	1,361	79	17.2	68.9%	407 (29.9%)	616 (45.3%)	301 (22.1%)	14 (1.0%)	6 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (1.2%)	37.6	242^nd of 380 public high schools	36.3%		33.3	239^th of 374 public high schools	36.1%	3			18.0		27.9			22.1	$10,701	$1,038	$9,632
Career Technical Center	Public	9-12	105 Burke Ave SE	Attalla	35954	Etowah County	Etowah County	No	No	No	No	(256) 538-3312																			(n/a)
Etowah High School	Public	9-12	201 Case Avenue SE	Attalla	35954	Etowah County	Attalla City	No	No	No	No	(256) 538-8381	453	31	14.7	62.7%	303 (66.9%)	62 (13.7%)	51 (11.3%)	3 (0.7%)	4 (0.9%)	1 (0.2%)	29 (6.4%)	29.8	269^th of 380 public high schools	29.2%		45.3	186^th of 374 public high schools	50.3%	83			9.9		18.0			28.4	$11,236	$1,529	$9,664
Southside High School	Public	9-12	2361 School Drive	Southside	35907	Etowah County	Etowah County	No	No	No	No	(256) 442-2172	825	43	19.0	33.7%	690 (83.6%)	46 (5.6%)	39 (4.7%)	22 (2.7%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (3.0%)	56.5	143^rd of 380 public high schools	62.4%		60.6	130^th of 374 public high schools	65.2%	13			25.0		37.5			28.6	$7,930	$552	$7,332
Sardis High School	Public	9-12	1420 Church St	Sardis City	35956	Etowah County	Etowah County	No	No	No	Yes	(256) 593-5221	546	32	16.8	48.7%	432 (79.1%)	3 (0.5%)	76 (13.9%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	5 (0.9%)	28 (5.1%)	43.5	204^th of 380 public high schools	46.3%		53.4	164^th of 374 public high schools	56.1%	40			16.5		34.7			23.9	$9,558	$1,497	$8,025

Frequently Asked Questions about Gaston High School

What schools feed into Gaston High School?

Gaston High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Gaston Elementary School
Elementary : Highland Elementary School

How many students attend Gaston High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 380 students attended Gaston High School.

What district is Gaston High School in?

Etowah County

What is the racial makeup of Gaston High School?

Students at Gaston High School are 80% White, 8% Two or more races, 5% African American, 5% Hispanic.

Is Gaston High School a good school?

Gaston High School ranks in the bottom 20.0% of Alabama high schools.

Rate Gaston High School!

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Latest Alabama data All new data »

2025–26 Summative Assessment scoresNewAug 14, 2026

2024–25 attendance data & graduation ratesDec 27, 2025

2024–25 Summative Assessment scoresAug 14, 2025

2021–22 through 2023–24 attendance data & graduation ratesDec 2, 2024

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Alabama State Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.