Summary:
ZIP code 28054 covers the Gastonia, NC area and contains just two public schools—Ashbrook High, a large traditional 9–12 high school, and Warlick Academy, a much smaller 6–12 school—both part of Gaston County Schools, a district ranked 145th of 246 statewide.
Ashbrook High is the clear standout, with a four-year graduation rate of 89.1% that nearly matches the district (90.0%) and edges out the state (88.8%), all while serving a population where 99.78% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. Its statewide ranking has improved from the 14th percentile in 2023–2024 to the 25th percentile for 2025–2026, and Math I proficiency (42.9%) now sits slightly above the North Carolina average of 42.1%. However, outcomes remain uneven: Biology (50.8%) and English II (50.8%) trail the state by 8 and nearly 14 points respectively, while Math III proficiency (34.4%) lags the state by 34.5 points—a sign that early math gains are not carrying through to higher-level courses.
Warlick Academy paints a far more troubling picture. Its 23.9% four-year graduation rate is staggeringly below Ashbrook's 89.1%, and chronic absenteeism affects 61.5% of students—more than 2.5 times the state rate of 24.2%. Test proficiency is in the single digits or low teens across most subjects, with gaps of 36 to over 50 points behind district and state averages. These struggles persist despite Warlick spending more than double what Ashbrook spends per student ($18,894 vs. $8,726) and maintaining a lower student–teacher ratio (10.9 vs. 17.9). While Warlick's 6–12 grade span and high spending suggest it may serve an alternative or higher-need population, parents should view the extremely low graduation rate and absenteeism as urgent warning signs. Ashbrook clearly offers the stronger academic path in this ZIP code, but both schools face notable challenges tied to poverty and chronic absenteeism.
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