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Gaston County Schools


At a glance
149thof 242 North Carolina districts▲ 9
Better than 38% of North Carolina districts
943 Osceola Street
Gastonia, NC 28054-1397
·(704) 866-6100·All North Carolina district rankings →
Statewide performance 2017–2025
2025: better than 38.4% of districts
56
Schools
30,995
Students
5
5-star schools
Top rankedHighland School of Technology3rd of 641 North Carolina high schools
Biggest riser
Pinewood Elementary up 290 spots statewide this year
Smallest classes
Webb Street School 8.2 students per teacher
Newly ranked this year
Gaston Early College High School
SchoolDigger ratings
5★
4★
3★
2★
1★
0★
7 schools without a SchoolDigger rating (too few tested students)
Summary:

The Gaston County Schools district in North Carolina comprises 56 schools, including 30 elementary schools, 11 middle schools, 13 high schools, and 2 alternative schools, serving students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.

Several schools in the district stand out for their exceptional performance. Highland School of Technology, a public magnet high school, consistently ranks among the top schools in the state, with a #3 statewide ranking in 2024-2025 and 100% proficiency rates in multiple subject areas. Gaston Early College High School and Gaston Early College of Medical Sciences also rank highly, with the latter being the #5 school in the state in 2024-2025. Additionally, Cramerton Middle consistently performs well, ranking #61 statewide in 2024-2025.

However, the district also faces significant performance gaps, with some schools struggling to meet academic standards. The four-year graduation rate for most high schools is 87.7%, and there is a wide range in test score performance across the district. Schools with high rates of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch tend to have lower academic outcomes, highlighting the challenges faced by economically disadvantaged students. The district's leaders will need to address these disparities and work to provide a more equitable and high-quality education for all students in the Gaston County Schools system.

AllElementaryMiddleHighAlternative
Ranking:
Map legend
E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private





Districts nearby


SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction.

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.





Diagnostics