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Gates County Senior High

Q: Is Gates County Senior High a good school?

Gates County Senior High ranks 454 th of 662 North Carolina high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

454^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 662 North Carolina High Schools

Better than 31% of North Carolina high schools

Summary

Gates County Senior High in Gatesville, NC, is the traditional public high school in the Gates County Schools district, serving 432 students in grades 9–12 from the surrounding rural area. The school currently holds a 2-star rating and ranks in the lower half of North Carolina high schools statewide, reflecting a steady decline from a decade ago when it consistently earned 3–4 stars and ranked in the 60th–70th percentile range.

Despite its modest academic ratings, the school’s graduation rate of 92.0% stands above the state average of 88.8% and far above the 81.8% at nearby Hertford County High. This strength, however, contrasts with test scores that fall below state averages in every End-of-Course subject. Families may be surprised to learn that Gates serves a relatively moderate-income population—54.6% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch—yet performs below two Hertford County specialty schools serving nearly universal poverty. Both Hertford County Early College and Cs Brown High - STEM Program post significantly higher proficiency rates and state rankings, suggesting school-level programming can make a substantial difference.

Looking within the building, academic outcomes vary widely across student groups. Male students, White students, low-income students, and those identified as Gifted and Talented each rank in the bottom fifth of the state, while female students and African American students perform closer to the state median. The school’s chronic absenteeism rate of 28.8% has improved from last year but still exceeds the state average of 24.2%. Additionally, the student-teacher ratio rose sharply from 14.5:1 to 18.6:1 in a single year—a practical consideration for families who value individual attention. For parents exploring options in northeastern North Carolina, Gates County Senior High offers a moderate-sized, stable setting with a high graduation rate, but its downward academic trend and uneven results across student groups warrant direct conversations with school leadership.

432

Students ?

18.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$13,228

Per pupil spending ?

54.6%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

088 Hwy 158 West
Gatesville, NC 27938-9438

(252) 357-0720

District: Gates County Schools

Feeder schools for Gates County Senior High:

Elementary:	Buckland Elementary
	Gatesville Elementary
	T S Cooper Elementary
Middle:	Central Middle School

Racial breakdown:

White:

58.6%

African American:

33.3%

Two or more races:

5.6%

See top rated North Carolina high schools

Compare Gates County Senior High to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 64th percentile in 2016 → 31st in 2026

Strengths

✓92% graduate in 4 years — above the North Carolina average (89%)

Worth a look

!Test scores below the North Carolina average (50% vs 60% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 33 percentile points since 2016

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school50%

District avg50%

North Carolina avg60%

454^th of 662

North Carolina public high schools ?

Bottom 31%▼ down 32 pts since 2016

From top 36% (2016) to bottom 31% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

119^th of 246Gates 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	33.2	454 of 662	31.4%	★★☆☆☆
2025	34.4	418 of 641	34.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	29.5	454 of 640	29.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	37.0	382 of 626	39.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	38.7	362 of 621	41.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	38.7	341 of 594	42.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	47.8	227 of 514	55.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	62.9	130 of 469	72.3%	★★★★☆
2017	54.2	164 of 476	65.5%	★★★☆☆
2016	47.2	183 of 507	63.9%	★★★☆☆
2015	49.0	188 of 531	64.6%	★★★☆☆
2014	39.6	217 of 451	51.9%	★★★☆☆
2013	37.1	258 of 505	48.9%	★★☆☆☆
2012	45.7	270 of 502	46.2%	★★☆☆☆
2011	47.5	307 of 506	39.3%	★★☆☆☆
2010	47.9	300 of 499	39.9%	★★☆☆☆
2009	50.8	248 of 490	49.4%	★★☆☆☆
2008	54.9	205 of 477	57.0%	★★★☆☆
2007	43.8	283 of 453	37.5%	★★☆☆☆
2006	55.8	184 of 431	57.3%	★★★☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	34.3	304 of 450	32.4%	★★☆☆☆
2025	32.3	293 of 440	33.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	29.6	307 of 437	29.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	29.7	304 of 434	30.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	41.9	213 of 430	50.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	32.2	215 of 364	40.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	49.1	121 of 369	67.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	57.0	96 of 359	73.3%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2022	30.7	219 of 330	33.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	40.7	173 of 334	48.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	51.1	130 of 364	64.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	43.6	160 of 349	54.2%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	45.0	353 of 629	43.9%	★★☆☆☆
2025	38.2	381 of 610	37.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	37.2	377 of 602	37.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	40.8	344 of 588	41.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	42.8	335 of 594	43.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	43.6	224 of 475	52.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	52.1	185 of 475	61.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	74.2	84 of 449	81.3%	★★★★☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	23.7	369 of 407	9.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	34.7	317 of 412	23.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	13.8	387 of 403	4.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	42.5	294 of 403	27.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	30.7	333 of 398	16.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	36.2	256 of 337	24.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	83.8	2 of 325	99.4%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	20.2	536 of 620	13.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	29.9	444 of 606	26.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	29.8	432 of 613	29.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	38.2	338 of 597	43.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	32.8	350 of 544	35.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	36.3	222 of 432	48.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	39.3	220 of 446	50.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	57.3	110 of 424	74.1%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	21.8	511 of 624	18.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	29.4	432 of 601	28.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	22.8	477 of 607	21.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	32.6	403 of 602	33.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	34.8	373 of 585	36.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	33.5	280 of 481	41.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	40.3	264 of 488	45.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	47.0	226 of 463	51.2%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	35.3	239 of 372	35.8%	★★☆☆☆
2025	34.4	222 of 352	36.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	58.8	89 of 349	74.5%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	23.2	455 of 551	17.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	30.4	403 of 542	25.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	24.2	446 of 553	19.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	37.0	354 of 537	34.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	32.0	379 of 534	29.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	37.4	244 of 439	44.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	38.4	258 of 444	41.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	64.7	129 of 427	69.8%	★★★★☆

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)

Female (2026)44th percentile+12 vs school

Special Education (2026)36th percentile+4 vs school

Disabled (2022)34th percentile-8 vs school

African American (2026)32nd percentile~ school

Male (2026)18th percentile-13 vs school

White (2026)17th percentile-14 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)14th percentile-18 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2026)9th percentile-22 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Math III62%-7 vs state

English II55%-10 vs state

Biology49%-10 vs state

Math I34%-8 vs state

★

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Schools Near Gates County Senior High

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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)				EOC Biology (2026)	EOC English II (2026)	EOC Math I (2026)	EOC Math III (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/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	EOC Biology End of Course	EOC English II End of Course	EOC Math I End of Course	EOC Math III End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Gates County Senior High	Public	9-12	088 Hwy 158 West	Gatesville	27938	Gates County	Gates County Schools	No	No	No	No	(252) 357-0720	432	23	18.6	54.6%	253 (58.6%)	144 (33.3%)	10 (2.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	24 (5.6%)	33.2	454^th of 662 public high schools	31.4%		34.4	418^th of 641 public high schools	34.8%	36	49.0	54.7	34.1	62.2	$13,228	$500	$12,728
Cs Brown High - STEM Program	Public	9-12	102 CSB Dr	Winton	27986	Hertford County	Hertford County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 358-2852	100	6	16.6	97.0%	6 (6.0%)	84 (84.0%)	3 (3.0%)	1 (1.0%)	1 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (5.0%)	60.1	254^th of 662 public high schools	61.6%		72.7	167^th of 641 public high schools	73.9%	87	71.0	62.5	47.8	81.8	$21,553	$437	$21,117
Hertford County High	Public	9-12	1500 W First St	Ahoskie	27910	Hertford County	Hertford County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 332-4096	447	31	14.3	—	27 (6.0%)	374 (83.7%)	29 (6.5%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	14 (3.1%)	26.3	507^th of 662 public high schools	23.4%		17	547^th of 641 public high schools	14.7%	40	26.9	35.5	32.7	65.3	$12,418	$1,659	$10,759
Hertford County Early College	Public	9-12	109 Community College Rd	Ahoskie	27910	Hertford County	Hertford County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(252) 332-7788	198	7	28.2	—	41 (20.7%)	124 (62.6%)	16 (8.1%)	7 (3.5%)	2 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (4.0%)	64.3	225^th of 662 public high schools	66.0%		76.6	148^th of 641 public high schools	76.9%	77	58.6	67.2	56.8	98.1	$9,167	$347	$8,820

Frequently Asked Questions about Gates County Senior High

What schools feed into Gates County Senior High?

Gates County Senior High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Buckland Elementary
Elementary : Gatesville Elementary
Elementary : T S Cooper Elementary
Middle : Central Middle School

How many students attend Gates County Senior High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 432 students attended Gates County Senior High.

What is the racial makeup of Gates County Senior High?

Students at Gates County Senior High are 59% White, 33% African American, 6% Two or more races, 2% Hispanic.

Is Gates County Senior High a good school?

Gates County Senior High ranks 454^th of 662 North Carolina high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What district is Gates County Senior High in?

Gates County Schools

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Schools in Gatesville, NC

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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.