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Gaston Elementary School

Q: Is Gaston Elementary School a good school?

Gaston Elementary School ranks 324 th of 686 Alabama elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-6

324^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 686 Alabama Elementary Schools

Better than 53% of Alabama elementary schools

Summary

Gaston Elementary School is a PK-6 school in Gadsden, AL, serving 290 students within the Etowah County school district, where about two-thirds of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

One of Gaston's standout strengths is attendance. Its chronic absenteeism rate is just 7.2%—less than half the district rate of 15% and well below the state average. This consistency suggests a school culture where showing up matters, and it likely supports learning. Gaston also does remarkably well with its economically disadvantaged students, who rank in the 58th percentile statewide—higher than the school's overall ranking. That's a sign that the school is effectively closing gaps for students facing financial challenges. The school also gets strong results per dollar spent, with per-student spending of $7,023, the lowest among nearby schools, while still outperforming several higher-spending options like Highland Elementary School and Duck Springs Elementary School.

However, there are clear trouble spots. Gaston's 3rd grade math proficiency is exceptional at 74.19%—far above the district (49.26%) and state (44.89%)—but by 5th grade, it drops to just 20.93%, well below both averages. This dramatic fade-out in upper-grade math is the school's biggest challenge. English performance is more stable, though 4th grade dips noticeably. There's also an unusual gender gap: boys rank in the 60th percentile statewide while girls rank in the 48th, a reversal of typical patterns. Compared to nearby schools, Gaston (53rd percentile) sits below Hokes Bluff Elementary School (68th) and Mitchell Elementary School (72nd), but it outperforms most Gadsden City schools, including Floyd Elementary School and Adams Elementary School. For parents, Gaston offers a caring, attendance-focused environment with strong early-grade teaching, but it's worth asking how the school plans to address the math slump in later grades.

290

Students ?

15.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$7,023

Per pupil spending ?

67.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

4550 US Highway 411
Gadsden, AL 35901

(256) 622-1073

District: Etowah County

Students who attend Gaston Elementary School usually attend:

High:

Gaston High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

84.8%

Two or more races:

6.9%

African American:

4.8%

See top rated Alabama elementary schools

Compare Gaston Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 75th percentile in 2019 → 53rd in 2026

Strengths

✓Above the Alabama median (53rd percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 22 percentile points since 2019

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school52%

District avg57%

Alabama avg51%

324^th of 686

Alabama public elementary schools ?

Top 47%▼ down 22 pts since 2019

From top 25% (2019) to top 47% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Alabama Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

7^th of 11Elementary Schools in the Etowah County

60^th of 140Etowah 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)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	54.4	324 of 686	52.8%	★★★☆☆
2025	54.5	320 of 680	52.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	62.7	244 of 684	64.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	70.5	182 of 680	73.2%	★★★★☆
2022	73.3	160 of 687	76.7%	★★★★☆
2021	58.5	269 of 692	61.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	70.5	173 of 681	74.6%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	49.3	340 of 651	47.8%	★★☆☆☆
2025	54.3	299 of 649	53.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	60.0	243 of 650	62.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	56.6	274 of 645	57.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	68.1	185 of 656	71.8%	★★★★☆
2021	57.3	270 of 656	58.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	66.3	187 of 646	71.1%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	55.7	283 of 667	57.6%	★★★☆☆
2025	54.7	287 of 660	56.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	65.2	215 of 670	67.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	80.9	70 of 623	88.8%	★★★★☆
2022	84.9	48 of 651	92.6%	★★★★★
2021	64.1	200 of 653	69.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	83.7	48 of 649	92.6%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	60.0	263 of 659	60.1%	★★★☆☆
2025	55.5	294 of 651	54.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	62.8	236 of 655	64.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	79.2	106 of 649	83.7%	★★★★☆
2022	72.6	157 of 669	76.5%	★★★★☆
2021	55.7	279 of 669	58.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	71.2	162 of 650	75.1%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2025	40.1	222 of 403	44.9%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	33.5	355 of 501	29.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	35.8	361 of 532	32.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	44.8	301 of 535	43.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	53.3	241 of 528	54.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	58.3	201 of 540	62.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	42.4	293 of 539	45.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	54.0	218 of 529	58.8%	★★★☆☆

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)

Male (2026)60th percentile+7 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)58th percentile+5 vs school

Female (2026)48th percentile-5 vs school

Special Education (2025)45th percentile-8 vs school

White (2026)29th percentile-24 vs school

By subject vs Alabama (2025-2026) ?

English64%~ state avg

Science56%+6 vs state

Mathematics39%~ state avg

★

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Schools Near Gaston Elementary 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 (2025)	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 3rd Grade	Summative Assessment Mathematics 4th Grade	Summative Assessment Mathematics 5th Grade	Summative Assessment Mathematics 6th Grade	Summative Assessment Science 4th Grade	Summative Assessment English 3rd Grade	Summative Assessment English 4th Grade	Summative Assessment English 5th Grade	Summative Assessment English 6th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Gaston Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	4550 US Highway 411	Gadsden	35901	Etowah County	Etowah County	No	No	No	Yes	(256) 622-1073	290	18	15.9	67.6%	246 (84.8%)	14 (4.8%)	7 (2.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.0%)	20 (6.9%)	54.4	324^th of 686 public elementary schools	52.8%		54.5	320^th of 680 public elementary schools	52.9%	4	74.2	29.4	20.9	31.3	55.9	77.4	44.1	72.1	62.5	$7,023	$864	$6,158
Thompson Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	236 Goldenrod Ave	Gadsden	35901	Etowah County	Gadsden City	No	No	No	Yes	(256) 546-7011	288	14	20.2	81.3%	50 (17.4%)	179 (62.2%)	40 (13.9%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.7%)	15 (5.2%)	11.8	626^th of 686 public elementary schools	8.7%		16.5	572^nd of 680 public elementary schools	15.9%	54	14.0	4.9	20.0		22.0	34.9	31.7	53.3		$11,365	$3,097	$8,253
Highland Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	3156 Tabor Rd	Gadsden	35904	Etowah County	Etowah County	No	No	No	Yes	(256) 546-7409	216	12	18.0	53.7%	185 (85.6%)	7 (3.2%)	6 (2.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (7.9%)	27.3	506^th of 686 public elementary schools	26.2%		40.7	419^th of 680 public elementary schools	38.4%	87	27.8	0.0	16.1	15.4	45.5	61.1	40.9	54.8	53.9	$10,660	$1,779	$8,880
Adams Elementary School	Public	K-5	919 Raley St	Gadsden	35903	Etowah County	Gadsden City	No	No	No	Yes	(256) 492-4952	433	23	18.6	90.8%	61 (14.1%)	196 (45.3%)	160 (37.0%)	2 (0.5%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (2.8%)	11.7	627^th of 686 public elementary schools	8.6%		9.7	641^st of 680 public elementary schools	5.7%	14	11.0	14.9	21.4		28.4	33.7	34.3	39.3		$9,435	$2,672	$6,747
Mitchell Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1501 Noccalula Rd	Gadsden	35901	Etowah County	Gadsden City	No	No	No	No	(256) 546-2711	262	18	14.8	59.2%	163 (62.2%)	50 (19.1%)	26 (9.9%)	3 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (7.6%)	70.9	190^th of 686 public elementary schools	72.3%		71.4	184^th of 680 public elementary schools	72.9%	6	47.7	58.5	37.5		58.5	75.0	70.7	84.4		$8,237	$807	$7,413
Donehoo Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1109 E Broad St	Gadsden	35903	Etowah County	Gadsden City	No	No	No	Yes	(256) 546-3604	225	12	18.3	73.3%	20 (8.9%)	158 (70.2%)	40 (17.8%)	2 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (2.2%)	65.1	237^th of 686 public elementary schools	65.5%		50.7	349^th of 680 public elementary schools	48.7%	112	60.0	50.0	48.5		39.3	85.7	60.7	69.7		$11,244	$2,746	$8,483
Hokes Bluff Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	5375 Main Street	Hokes Bluff	35903	Etowah County	Etowah County	No	No	No	Yes	(256) 492-5571	610	37	16.4	45.4%	561 (92.0%)	6 (1.0%)	21 (3.4%)	2 (0.3%)	3 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	16 (2.6%)	67.1	220^th of 686 public elementary schools	67.9%		68.9	207^th of 680 public elementary schools	69.6%	13	44.8	43.3	47.7		64.4	79.2	63.3	75.0		$8,280	$1,183	$7,095
Therapeutic Academic Program	Public	1-5	201 College St	Gadsden	35901	Etowah County	Gadsden City	No	No	No	No	(256) 549-2961																			(n/a)
W E Striplin Elementary School	Public	K-5	600 Cleveland Ave	Gadsden	35901	Etowah County	Gadsden City	No	No	No	Yes	(256) 546-8616	400	20	19.7	84.8%	37 (9.3%)	222 (55.5%)	122 (30.5%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (3.8%)	32.5	475^th of 686 public elementary schools	30.8%		21.4	532^nd of 680 public elementary schools	21.8%	57	41.5	41.5	15.5		40.0	45.1	40.0	63.2		$9,349	$2,460	$6,872
Duck Springs Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	10180 Duck Springs Rd	Attalla	35954	Etowah County	Etowah County	No	No	No	Yes	(256) 538-6301	207	13	15.9	65.2%	161 (77.8%)	6 (2.9%)	19 (9.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	5 (2.4%)	15 (7.2%)	41.5	421^st of 686 public elementary schools	38.6%		50.9	347^th of 680 public elementary schools	49.0%	74	24.1	33.3	20.0	25.0	52.4	62.1	61.9	56.7	62.5	$10,593	$2,046	$8,547

Frequently Asked Questions about Gaston Elementary School

How many students attend Gaston Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 290 students attended Gaston Elementary School.

What schools do graduates of Gaston Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Gaston Elementary School usually go on to attend:

High : Gaston High School

What district is Gaston Elementary School in?

Etowah County

Is Gaston Elementary School a good school?

Gaston Elementary School ranks 324^th of 686 Alabama elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Gaston Elementary School?

Students at Gaston Elementary School are 85% White, 7% Two or more races, 5% African American, 2% Hispanic, 1% Pacific Islander.

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Latest Alabama data All new data »

2025–26 Summative Assessment scoresAug 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.