Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 28012

Elementary schools in zip code 28012, serving the Belmont, NC area, include four schools within Gaston County Schools: Belmont Central Elementary, J B Page Primary School, North Belmont Elementary, and Catawba Heights Elementary. These schools collectively enroll about 1,698 students, but they differ widely in grade configuration, poverty rate, and academic outcomes.

Belmont Central Elementary is the clear academic standout. It ranks in the 88th percentile statewide (4 stars) and beats district and state averages in every tested subject and grade. It also has the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (10.4%) among the four. Notably, it achieves these results with the highest student/teacher ratio (19.4) and the lowest spending per student ($7,586). Catawba Heights Elementary is the most promising underdog: despite serving a nearly all low-income population, it posted the highest 5th-grade science proficiency (85.7%) in the group and has steadily improved its state rank over three years. North Belmont Elementary, however, is a concern—its state rank dropped from the 85th percentile (2023-24) to the 56th percentile (2025-26), with a 25.9-point plunge in 3rd-grade math proficiency. J B Page Primary School, serving PK-1, has no test-based rank but feeds into Belmont Central, and its low-income rate (34.6%) closely matches that school's (33.9%).

The biggest takeaway is the economic divide: Belmont Central and J B Page serve relatively lower-poverty populations (about 34% free/reduced lunch), while North Belmont and Catawba Heights serve nearly 99% low-income students. Spending is higher and class sizes are smaller in the high-poverty schools, yet test scores remain lower—showing that concentrated poverty is a significant hurdle. On a positive note, all four schools have chronic absenteeism rates far below the district (23.2%) and state (24.2%) averages. Large year-to-year score swings, such as Catawba Heights' 23.9-point jump in science, suggest that small cohort sizes—especially at Catawba Heights (238 students)—can dramatically affect results. For parents, Belmont Central is the academic anchor, while Catawba Heights is a school to watch for improvement.