Best High Schools in Zip Code 28012

Zip code 28012 (Belmont, North Carolina) is home to two public high schools serving grades 9–12 — South Point High and Stuart W Cramer High — both part of Gaston County Schools. They share nearly identical enrollments, per-pupil spending around $8,750, and similar student–teacher ratios, but differ sharply in demographics and results. South Point High consistently earns 4-star ratings and ranks in the top quartile of North Carolina high schools (171st of 662, 74th percentile in 2025–2026). Stuart W Cramer High holds a 3-star rating (313th of 662, 53rd percentile) while serving a student body in which 99.69% qualify for free/reduced lunch, versus 36.1% at South Point High.

Academically, South Point High is the clear leader, with a 94.6% graduation rate, chronic absenteeism of just 15.7%, and proficiency above both district and state averages in all four End-of-Course subjects. Stuart W Cramer High graduates 92.4% of students and also exceeds district averages in every EOC subject. Notably, Stuart W Cramer High outperformed South Point High in Math I (64.6% vs. 61.2%) in the latest year, leaping from 49.7% the year before. Both schools made large, similar gains in Biology, improving by roughly 22 points.

Both schools sit well above their district overall: Gaston County Schools ranks in the 41st percentile statewide with a 2-star rating, compared with South Point High's 74th percentile and Stuart W Cramer High's 53rd percentile. Stuart W Cramer High's chronic absenteeism rate of 24.3% mirrors the state average, while South Point High's 15.7% is much lower. Given nearly identical funding and staffing, the stark economic difference between the two student bodies best explains the performance gap. In short, South Point High is the top academic choice in zip code 28012; Stuart W Cramer High deserves recognition for its strong 92.4% graduation rate and above-average core proficiency, a notable outcome given its high level of student economic need.