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W A Bess Elementary School

Q: Is W A Bess Elementary School a good school?

W A Bess Elementary School ranks 270 th of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

270^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 82% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

W A Bess Elementary School is a public PK-5 school in Gastonia, North Carolina, serving 674 students as part of Gaston County Schools, and it currently ranks among the top elementary schools in the state with a 4-star rating and an 82nd-percentile statewide ranking.

Academically, W A Bess beats both district and state averages in every tested subject and grade level. Math is a particular strength: proficiency in grades 3, 4, and 5 runs from 72 to 79 percent, well above state averages near 61–66 percent. Fifth-grade science also shines at about 78 percent proficient, compared to roughly 68 percent statewide, and reading proficiency holds near 66 percent across the intermediate grades. What makes these results stand out is that about 99 percent of Bess students come from low-income households. That combination of high poverty and high achievement puts W A Bess in a class by itself locally: nearby high-poverty schools like Pleasant Ridge Elementary, H H Beam Elementary, Lingerfeldt Elementary, Gardner Park Elementary, Sherwood Elementary, and Robinson Elementary all have families with similar economic circumstances, yet they rank far lower statewide, many in the bottom 40 percent or worse.

Attendance helps explain the difference. Chronic absenteeism at W A Bess is just 13.5 percent — nearly half the district rate of 23.2 percent and the state figure of 24.2 percent. That strong daily attendance gives students more instructional time than peers at comparable local schools, where chronic absenteeism frequently tops 25 percent. By other measures, the school is also doing more with less: its per-student spending of about $8,590 is below that of many lower-performing neighbors. Low-income students at W A Bess rank in the 91st percentile statewide, English Language Learners in the 77th percentile, and boys and girls alike perform near the 80th percentile. Families should be aware that special education performance slipped to the 34th percentile in the most recent testing year — an area to watch — but this does not overshadow the consistent, schoolwide success that makes W A Bess a compelling option for Gastonia families.

674

Students ?

16.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

Community Eligibility

All students receive free meals (2024-25) ?

98.2%

Kindergartners up to date on all required vaccines (2025-26)

Exemptions: 0% (any vaccine)

4340 Beaty Road
Gastonia, NC 28056

(704) 866-6075

District: Gaston County Schools

Students who attend W A Bess Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Cramerton Middle
High:	Forestview High

Racial breakdown:

White:

51.2%

African American:

18.0%

Hispanic:

16.2%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

Compare W A Bess Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 79th percentile in 2016 → 82nd in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the North Carolina average (72% vs 61% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 18% of North Carolina elementary schools

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school72%

District avg55%

North Carolina avg61%

270^th of 1,492

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Top 18%▲ up 3 pts since 2016

From top 21% (2016) to top 18% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Elementary 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	77.7	270 of 1492	81.9%	★★★★☆
2025	70.5	381 of 1490	74.4%	★★★★☆
2024	60.3	577 of 1505	61.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	73.0	359 of 1502	76.1%	★★★★☆
2022	77.1	291 of 1514	80.8%	★★★★☆
2021	78.9	261 of 1489	82.5%	★★★★☆
2019	84.6	172 of 1473	88.3%	★★★★☆
2018	83.4	178 of 1434	87.6%	★★★★☆
2017	79.5	236 of 1429	83.5%	★★★★☆
2016	75.2	305 of 1425	78.6%	★★★★☆
2015	78.0	273 of 1440	81.0%	★★★★☆
2014	82.6	198 of 1390	85.8%	★★★★☆
2013	70.2	352 of 1403	74.9%	★★★★☆
2012	82.2	156 of 1388	88.8%	★★★★☆
2011	87.3	82 of 1381	94.1%	★★★★★
2010	86.9	91 of 1363	93.3%	★★★★★
2009	91.3	26 of 1354	98.1%	★★★★★
2008	90.3	61 of 1324	95.4%	★★★★★
2007	88.6	43 of 1293	96.7%	★★★★★
2006	85.2	104 of 1276	91.8%	★★★★★

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	89.9	49 of 903	94.6%	★★★★★
2025	69.3	200 of 918	78.2%	★★★★☆
2024	55.0	364 of 924	60.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	70.9	197 of 933	78.9%	★★★★☆
2022	75.1	138 of 927	85.1%	★★★★☆
2021	90.9	45 of 896	95.0%	★★★★★

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	58.2	72 of 134	46.3%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2022	53.7	215 of 634	66.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	69.1	105 of 646	83.7%	★★★★☆
2019	75.0	112 of 878	87.2%	★★★★☆
2018	44.3	458 of 897	48.9%	★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	65.3	117 of 519	77.5%	★★★★☆
2025	71.0	89 of 563	84.2%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	75.8	276 of 1447	80.9%	★★★★☆
2025	69.0	379 of 1451	73.9%	★★★★☆
2024	61.9	518 of 1455	64.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	69.3	399 of 1459	72.7%	★★★★☆
2022	77.6	266 of 1458	81.8%	★★★★☆
2021	82.8	185 of 1440	87.2%	★★★★☆
2019	85.5	131 of 1424	90.8%	★★★★★
2018	84.5	143 of 1405	89.8%	★★★★☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	65.9	218 of 743	70.7%	★★★★☆
2025	52.8	457 of 710	35.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	47.1	514 of 669	23.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	52.8	398 of 582	31.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	64.3	166 of 500	66.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	54.0	300 of 494	39.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	65.7	103 of 612	83.2%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	57.1	364 of 981	62.9%	★★★☆☆
2025	56.8	372 of 961	61.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	66.6	249 of 951	73.8%	★★★★☆
2023	86.9	67 of 915	92.7%	★★★★★
2022	96.5	14 of 893	98.4%	★★★★★
2021	93.0	39 of 843	95.4%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	82.5	125 of 1434	91.3%	★★★★★
2025	62.5	439 of 1437	69.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	51.6	659 of 1450	54.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	71.7	293 of 1437	79.6%	★★★★☆
2022	77.7	171 of 1366	87.5%	★★★★☆
2021	80.5	145 of 1329	89.1%	★★★★☆
2019	86.3	87 of 1361	93.6%	★★★★★
2018	80.4	149 of 1332	88.8%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	76.2	285 of 1451	80.4%	★★★★☆
2025	69.4	393 of 1450	72.9%	★★★★☆
2024	56.3	626 of 1464	57.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	74.6	305 of 1461	79.1%	★★★★☆
2022	72.3	351 of 1464	76.0%	★★★★☆
2021	69.5	393 of 1444	72.8%	★★★★☆
2019	79.6	223 of 1430	84.4%	★★★★☆
2018	79.6	217 of 1413	84.6%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	35.9	535 of 815	34.4%	★★☆☆☆
2025	55.0	269 of 821	67.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	40.0	452 of 801	43.6%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	59.6	458 of 1146	60.0%	★★★☆☆
2025	55.1	520 of 1172	55.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	41.6	734 of 1166	37.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	52.7	577 of 1183	51.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	59.1	467 of 1194	60.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	58.1	467 of 1172	60.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	71.4	299 of 1183	74.7%	★★★★☆
2018	75.5	259 of 1178	78.0%	★★★★☆

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)

African American (2026)95th percentile+13 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)91st percentile+9 vs school

Female (2026)81st percentile~ school

Male (2026)80th percentile~ school

English Language Learner (2026)77th percentile-4 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2026)71st percentile-11 vs school

Disabled (2022)66th percentile-15 vs school

Hispanic (2026)63rd percentile-19 vs school

White (2026)60th percentile-22 vs school

Asian (2026)46th percentile-36 vs school

Special Education (2026)34th percentile-48 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Science78%+11 vs state

Mathematics77%+13 vs state

Reading65%+9 vs state

★

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Schools Near W A Bess 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 Vaccination Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				EOG Mathematics (2026)			EOG Reading (2026)			EOG Science (2026)	Vaccination (2025-26)		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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	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 3rd Grade	EOG Mathematics 4th Grade	EOG Mathematics 5th Grade	EOG Reading 3rd Grade	EOG Reading 4th Grade	EOG Reading 5th Grade	EOG Science 5th Grade	Vaccination: Kindergartners up to date on all required vaccines	Vaccination: Exemption rate	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
W A Bess Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4340 Beaty Road	Gastonia	28056	Gaston County	Gaston County Schools	No	No	No	No	(704) 866-6075	674	40	16.9	—	345 (51.2%)	121 (18.0%)	109 (16.2%)	56 (8.3%)	4 (0.6%)	1 (0.1%)	38 (5.6%)	77.7	270^th of 1492 public elementary schools	81.9%		70.5	381^st of 1490 public elementary schools	74.4%	111	78.6	79.2	72.2	62.6	67.7	66.1	78.3	98.2%	0%	$8,590	$655	$7,934
Hawks Nest STEAM Academy	Public, Magnet	K-5	3430 Robinwood Rd	Gastonia	28054	Gaston County	Gaston County Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(704) 866-8467	356	24	14.7	36.0%	204 (57.3%)	82 (23.0%)	36 (10.1%)	15 (4.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	18 (5.1%)	89.2	126^th of 1492 public elementary schools	91.6%		88.7	125^th of 1490 public elementary schools	91.6%	1	86.7	88.3	78.0	81.7	76.7	69.5	83.1	100%	0%	$9,235	$809	$8,426
Robinson Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3122 S Union Road	Gastonia	28056	Gaston County	Gaston County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 866-6607	420	30	13.8	—	185 (44.0%)	129 (30.7%)	70 (16.7%)	7 (1.7%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (6.7%)	40	904^th of 1492 public elementary schools	39.4%		36	981^st of 1490 public elementary schools	34.2%	77	49.2	53.7	55.0	47.5	48.8	47.5	77.5	97%	3%	$8,960	$931	$8,030
New Hope Elementary	Public	K-5	137 Stowe Road	Gastonia	28056	Gaston County	Gaston County Schools	No	No	No	No	(704) 836-9112	571	34	16.7	34.3%	405 (70.9%)	60 (10.5%)	59 (10.3%)	18 (3.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (4.9%)	82.6	207^th of 1492 public elementary schools	86.1%		83.4	197^th of 1490 public elementary schools	86.8%	10	84.3	85.9	78.3	70.6	76.8	66.1	71.3	92.1%	5.6%	$8,471	$727	$7,744
Gardner Park Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	738 Armstrong Park Road	Gastonia	28054	Gaston County	Gaston County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 866-6082	560	39	14.4	—	126 (22.5%)	186 (33.2%)	193 (34.5%)	10 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	44 (7.9%)	18.7	1303^rd of 1492 public elementary schools	12.7%		18.5	1308^th of 1490 public elementary schools	12.2%	5	36.7	54.0	35.5	35.8	47.8	34.4	52.7	92.5%	1.1%	$9,619	$1,304	$8,314
Sherwood Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1744 Dixon Road	Gastonia	28054	Gaston County	Gaston County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 866-6609	553	34	16.3	—	86 (15.6%)	239 (43.2%)	164 (29.7%)	11 (2.0%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	51 (9.2%)	30.2	1091^st of 1492 public elementary schools	26.9%		10.6	1410^th of 1490 public elementary schools	5.4%	319	56.2	63.5	40.0	34.2	54.1	41.4	52.9	93.8%	0%	$8,790	$1,325	$7,465
H H Beam Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	200 Davis Park Road	Gastonia	28052	Gaston County	Gaston County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 866-6618	591	39	15.0	—	122 (20.6%)	174 (29.4%)	255 (43.1%)	3 (0.5%)	3 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	33 (5.6%)	4.9	1467^th of 1492 public elementary schools	1.7%		3.9	1476^th of 1490 public elementary schools	0.9%	9	39.3	30.9	31.8	25.6	25.8	28.4	36.4	85.4%	2.1%	$9,849	$1,567	$8,282
Lingerfeldt Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1601 Madison Street	Gastonia	28052	Gaston County	Gaston County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 866-6094	450	27	16.5	—	49 (10.9%)	247 (54.9%)	119 (26.4%)	3 (0.7%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (6.4%)	10.5	1413^th of 1492 public elementary schools	5.3%		5.4	1468^th of 1490 public elementary schools	1.5%	55	32.0	22.7	52.5	22.7	22.7	37.7	54.1	97.2%	0%	$9,976	$1,609	$8,367
McAdenville Elementary	Public	K-5	275 E Wesleyan Drive	Mc Adenville	28101	Gaston County	Gaston County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 836-9117	190	11	17.3	—	94 (49.5%)	31 (16.3%)	44 (23.2%)	3 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (9.5%)	83.3	202^nd of 1492 public elementary schools	86.5%		72.6	354^th of 1490 public elementary schools	76.2%	152	81.3	86.7	79.3	56.3	73.3	72.4	89.7	100%	0%	$12,737	$1,535	$11,202
Pleasant Ridge Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1260 Floyd Lane	Gastonia	28052	Gaston County	Gaston County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 866-6096	887	56	15.9	—	150 (16.9%)	388 (43.7%)	282 (31.8%)	7 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	60 (6.8%)	32.1	1053^rd of 1492 public elementary schools	29.4%		26	1154^th of 1490 public elementary schools	22.6%	101	49.6	63.9	57.7	31.7	49.0	40.3	61.3	94.7%	0%	$8,924	$1,150	$7,774

Frequently Asked Questions about W A Bess Elementary School

What is the racial makeup of W A Bess Elementary School?

Students at W A Bess Elementary School are 51% White, 18% African American, 16% Hispanic, 8% Asian, 6% Two or more races.

What schools do graduates of W A Bess Elementary School attend?

Students who attend W A Bess Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Cramerton Middle
High : Forestview High

What district is W A Bess Elementary School in?

Gaston County Schools

Is W A Bess Elementary School a good school?

W A Bess Elementary School ranks 270^th of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

How many students attend W A Bess Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 674 students attended W A Bess Elementary School.

Rate W A Bess Elementary School!

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Latest North Carolina data All new data »

2020–21 through 2025–26 immunization ratesNewOct 19, 2026

2022–23 immunization rates (updated)NewOct 19, 2026

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

2025–26 EOC & EOG test scoresSep 2, 2026

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.