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W C Friday Middle School

Q: Is W C Friday Middle School a good school?

W C Friday Middle School ranks 573 rd of 778 North Carolina middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

573^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 778 North Carolina Middle Schools

Better than 26% of North Carolina middle schools

Summary

W C Friday Middle School is a public middle school in Dallas, North Carolina, serving roughly 618 students in grades 6–8 as part of Gaston County Schools. The school's overall ranking has slid from the 50th percentile in 2018–19 to the 26th percentile today, a 1-star rating that places it in the lower-middle of its local cluster — ahead of schools like W P Grier Middle School and York Chester Middle, but well behind nearby same-district schools such as Stanley Middle and Mount Holly Middle.

The clearest academic trouble spot is 7th grade. In 2025–26, only 36.8% of 7th graders were proficient in math and 35.8% in reading — about 14 to 15 percentage points below the school's own 6th-grade scores. This is not a one-year blip: 7th-grade math proficiency has been stuck in the mid-30s for three consecutive years, while Stanley Middle and Mount Holly Middle, which serve nearly identical student populations, post 7th-grade math rates near 60%. Staffing may be part of the issue — W C Friday's student-teacher ratio of 18.0 is higher than most of its high-poverty peers in Gaston County Schools — and outcomes for special education students rank near the very bottom among North Carolina middle schools.

There are positives to build on, though. Chronic absenteeism has fallen from 54.7% in 2020–21 to 21.4% in 2024–25, now below both the district and state averages. Sixth-grade reading is a relative bright spot, and science proficiency is stronger than at several nearby schools. The larger lesson for parents is that these challenges are not inevitable: John Chavis Middle, Mount Holly Middle, and Stanley Middle all serve similarly high-poverty student bodies while producing much stronger results. The items to keep an eye on at W C Friday are 7th-grade instruction, special education supports, and staffing levels.

618

Students ?

18.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

99.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1221 Ratchford Drive
Dallas, NC 28034-7522

(704) 922-5297

District: Gaston County Schools

Students who attend W C Friday Middle School usually attend:

High:

North Gaston High

Feeder schools for W C Friday Middle School:

Elementary:	Carr Elementary
	Costner Elementary

Racial breakdown:

White:

47.2%

African American:

23.8%

Hispanic:

19.4%

See top rated North Carolina middle schools

Compare W C Friday Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 37th percentile in 2016 → 26th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the North Carolina average (45% vs 58% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 11 percentile points since 2016

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school45%

District avg52%

North Carolina avg58%

573^rd of 778

North Carolina public middle schools ?

Bottom 26%▼ down 11 pts since 2016

From bottom 37% (2016) to bottom 26% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

145^th of 246Gaston County Schools among North Carolina 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	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	28.7	573 of 778	26.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	26.2	579 of 773	25.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	34.5	537 of 793	32.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	38.7	477 of 784	39.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	40.9	457 of 786	41.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	45.4	392 of 741	47.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	51.8	370 of 737	49.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	50.7	361 of 691	47.8%	★★☆☆☆
2017	45.8	403 of 694	41.9%	★★☆☆☆
2016	40.1	437 of 692	36.8%	★★☆☆☆
2015	34.2	486 of 705	31.1%	★★☆☆☆
2014	29.8	447 of 627	28.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	34.8	443 of 673	34.2%	★★☆☆☆
2012	56.6	347 of 662	47.6%	★★☆☆☆
2011	53.0	364 of 648	43.8%	★★☆☆☆
2010	55.6	344 of 640	46.3%	★★☆☆☆
2009	51.9	367 of 630	41.7%	★★☆☆☆
2008	37.9	429 of 620	30.8%	★★☆☆☆
2007	33.0	467 of 606	22.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	38.9	425 of 598	28.9%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	42.3	298 of 553	46.1%	★★☆☆☆
2025	43.1	293 of 546	46.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	42.0	315 of 560	43.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	37.3	345 of 559	38.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	33.7	375 of 550	31.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	55.4	166 of 533	68.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	60.2	142 of 519	72.6%	★★★★☆
2018	45.3	270 of 494	45.3%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2022	26.8	354 of 449	21.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	56.0	132 of 478	72.4%	★★★★☆
2019	45.5	249 of 504	50.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	76.1	40 of 475	91.6%	★★★★★

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	33.4	260 of 363	28.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	36.2	222 of 371	40.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	48.0	143 of 356	59.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	32.8	228 of 318	28.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	53.7	96 of 312	69.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	47.3	86 of 236	63.6%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	25.5	570 of 731	22.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	17.5	643 of 733	12.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	41.3	438 of 738	40.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	43.0	415 of 731	43.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	42.3	415 of 733	43.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	42.9	393 of 706	44.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	49.3	373 of 684	45.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	50.1	366 of 656	44.2%	★★☆☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	58.3	233 of 465	49.9%	★★★☆☆
2025	47.8	332 of 458	27.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	54.4	262 of 461	43.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	46.1	321 of 452	29.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	59.2	207 of 450	54.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	57.8	221 of 448	50.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	59.2	203 of 416	51.2%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	37.4	357 of 566	36.9%	★★☆☆☆
2025	31.3	411 of 562	26.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	48.8	276 of 564	51.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	53.1	228 of 553	58.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	53.5	227 of 541	58.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	63.1	140 of 522	73.2%	★★★★☆
2019	56.4	169 of 493	65.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	52.2	212 of 472	55.1%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	28.4	558 of 725	23.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	30.6	537 of 729	26.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	40.5	442 of 743	40.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	49.6	344 of 735	53.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	47.7	326 of 689	52.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	64.4	159 of 633	74.9%	★★★★☆
2019	53.8	275 of 639	57.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	53.9	264 of 604	56.3%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	30.4	531 of 736	27.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	35.0	481 of 733	34.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	27.2	573 of 751	23.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	32.1	517 of 747	30.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	36.4	488 of 748	34.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	46.6	367 of 711	48.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	51.2	349 of 697	49.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	49.5	362 of 665	45.6%	★★☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	22.6	280 of 333	15.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	15.2	305 of 328	7.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	21.1	274 of 306	10.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	37.6	200 of 302	33.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	19.6	254 of 283	10.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	27.9	199 of 248	19.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	16.9	487 of 500	2.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	18.5	454 of 473	4.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	14.2	590 of 644	8.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	14.7	590 of 649	9.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	19.4	559 of 652	14.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	23.4	538 of 656	18.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	29.2	501 of 658	23.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	27.6	493 of 632	22.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	31.7	482 of 624	22.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	32.5	449 of 596	24.7%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Gifted and Talented (2026)50th percentile+24 vs school

African American (2026)46th percentile+20 vs school

Hispanic (2026)37th percentile+11 vs school

English Language Learner (2026)28th percentile~ school

Male (2026)28th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)23rd percentile-3 vs school

Female (2026)22nd percentile-4 vs school

Disabled (2022)21st percentile-21 vs school

Multi-racial (2026)16th percentile-10 vs school

White (2026)8th percentile-18 vs school

Special Education (2026)3rd percentile-24 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Science57%-12 vs state

Reading44%-11 vs state

Mathematics42%-14 vs state

★

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Schools Near W C Friday Middle 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)				EOG Mathematics (2026)			EOG Reading (2026)			EOG Science (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	EOG Mathematics 6th Grade	EOG Mathematics 7th Grade	EOG Mathematics 8th Grade	EOG Reading 6th Grade	EOG Reading 7th Grade	EOG Reading 8th Grade	EOG Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
W C Friday Middle School	Public	6-8	1221 Ratchford Drive	Dallas	28034	Gaston County	Gaston County Schools	No	No	No	No	(704) 922-5297	618	34	18.0	99.5%	292 (47.2%)	147 (23.8%)	120 (19.4%)	7 (1.1%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	50 (8.1%)	28.7	573^rd of 778 public middle schools	26.3%		26.2	579^th of 773 public middle schools	25.1%	6	51.7	36.8	40.5	50.0	35.8	48.7	56.9	$8,144	$730	$7,414
Stanley Middle	Public	6-8	317 Hovis Road	Stanley	28164	Gaston County	Gaston County Schools	No	No	No	No	(704) 836-9600	602	38	15.6	99.5%	357 (59.3%)	87 (14.5%)	112 (18.6%)	7 (1.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	38 (6.3%)	65	247^th of 778 public middle schools	68.3%		61.7	269^th of 773 public middle schools	65.2%	22	73.9	61.3	68.6	53.5	47.9	65.8	76.7	$8,317	$777	$7,540
York Chester Middle	Public	6-8	601 S Clay Street	Gastonia	28052	Gaston County	Gaston County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 836-9609	398	25	15.9	99.2%	72 (18.1%)	188 (47.2%)	121 (30.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (4.3%)	9.3	726^th of 778 public middle schools	6.7%		25.9	582^nd of 773 public middle schools	24.7%	144	26.4	17.8	33.3	29.8	25.6	33.6	49.6	$12,146	$3,225	$8,921
W P Grier Middle School	Public	6-8	1622 E Garrison Boulevard	Gastonia	28054	Gaston County	Gaston County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 836-9604	659	42	15.7	99.5%	63 (9.6%)	348 (52.8%)	192 (29.1%)	9 (1.4%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	45 (6.8%)	15.7	677^th of 778 public middle schools	13.0%		10.3	717^th of 773 public middle schools	7.2%	40	37.4	30.7	24.9	32.1	38.7	34.5	60.6	$8,330	$1,260	$7,071
Holbrook Middle	Public	6-8	418 S Church Street	Lowell	28098	Gaston County	Gaston County Schools	No	No	No	No	(704) 836-9607	712	53	13.5	97.8%	242 (34.0%)	217 (30.5%)	197 (27.7%)	9 (1.3%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	46 (6.5%)	27.1	589^th of 778 public middle schools	24.3%		23.2	605^th of 773 public middle schools	21.7%	16	54.2	36.9	39.2	47.4	46.3	44.3	47.4	$7,945	$752	$7,193
Southwest Middle	Public	6-8	1 Roadrunner Drive	Gastonia	28052	Gaston County	Gaston County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 866-6290	832	54	15.3	99.6%	187 (22.5%)	280 (33.7%)	302 (36.3%)	5 (0.6%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	57 (6.9%)	14.7	687^th of 778 public middle schools	11.7%		13.6	696^th of 773 public middle schools	10.0%	9	42.6	35.7	26.1	33.8	31.0	35.1	53.0	$8,802	$1,244	$7,559
Bessemer City Middle	Public	6-8	525 Ed Wilson Road	Bessemer City	28016	Gaston County	Gaston County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 836-9602	497	29	17.1	99.4%	205 (41.2%)	136 (27.4%)	118 (23.7%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (7.0%)	15.6	678^th of 778 public middle schools	12.9%		19.6	641^st of 773 public middle schools	17.1%	37	37.6	23.1	34.2	38.3	28.4	40.6	55.5	$9,249	$1,434	$7,815
Mount Holly Middle	Public	6-8	124 S Hawthorne Street	Mount Holly	28120	Gaston County	Gaston County Schools	No	No	No	No	(704) 836-9610	570	37	15.2	99.5%	281 (49.3%)	115 (20.2%)	106 (18.6%)	19 (3.3%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	47 (8.2%)	60	301^st of 778 public middle schools	61.3%		53.5	350^th of 773 public middle schools	54.7%	49	55.1	60.8	59.9	50.5	60.3	63.2	76.9	$8,065	$884	$7,181
Cramerton Middle	Public	6-8	601 Cramer Mountain Road	Cramerton	28032	Gaston County	Gaston County Schools	No	No	No	No	(704) 836-9603	959	51	18.8	43.2%	587 (61.2%)	154 (16.1%)	117 (12.2%)	44 (4.6%)	4 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	53 (5.5%)	88.1	69^th of 778 public middle schools	91.1%		88.9	61^st of 773 public middle schools	92.1%	8	79.3	75.4	73.5	73.3	73.1	78.6	88.9	$7,892	$734	$7,158
East Lincoln Middle	Public	6-8	4137 Hwy 73	Iron Station	28080	Lincoln County	Lincoln County Schools	No	No	No	No	(704) 732-0761	738	45	16.2	37.8%	532 (72.1%)	53 (7.2%)	90 (12.2%)	7 (0.9%)	4 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	52 (7.0%)	69.3	216^th of 778 public middle schools	72.2%		67.9	223^rd of 773 public middle schools	71.2%	7	73.8	62.8	66.3	62.7	55.6	58.9	79.1	$7,305	$426	$6,879

Frequently Asked Questions about W C Friday Middle School

What high school do graduates of W C Friday Middle School attend?

Students who attend W C Friday Middle School usually go on to attend North Gaston High

How many students attend W C Friday Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 618 students attended W C Friday Middle School.

What is the racial makeup of W C Friday Middle School?

Students at W C Friday Middle School are 47% White, 24% African American, 19% Hispanic, 8% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

What district is W C Friday Middle School in?

Gaston County Schools

Is W C Friday Middle School a good school?

W C Friday Middle School ranks 573^rd of 778 North Carolina middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

Rate W C Friday Middle School!

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Latest North Carolina data All new data »

2017–18 through 2025–26 attendance data & graduation ratesSep 2, 2026

2025–26 EOC & EOG test scoresSep 2, 2026

2016–17 through 2024–25 graduation ratesSep 3, 2025

2024–25 EOC & EOG test scoresSep 3, 2025

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.