Summary:
High Schools located in zip code 28056 are represented by a single institution: Forestview High in Gastonia, NC, serving grades 9 through 12 within Gaston County Schools. With an enrollment of about 1,133 students, Forestview serves an almost entirely economically disadvantaged population — 99.74% qualify for free or reduced-price lunch — making its academic performance especially noteworthy.
In the most recent testing year, Forestview outperformed its district in all four End-of-Course subjects: Biology, English II, Math I, and Math III. The school also posted significant year-over-year gains, particularly in Math I (from 37% to 51.5% proficient) and Biology (from 43.7% to 57% proficient), with improvement outpacing state averages in every subject. Math I is a standout strength, with a 51.5% proficiency rate that is nearly 10 points above the North Carolina state average. English II remains a relative weakness, with 58.5% proficiency falling below the state's 64.6%, though still above the district's 57.5%. Forestview's graduation rate of 88.5% is essentially at the state average of 88.8% and just below the district's 90.0%, an encouraging sign given the high level of economic disadvantage.
A major area of concern is chronic absenteeism: 30.9% of Forestview students are chronically absent, compared to 23.2% for the district and 24.2% for the state. This means roughly one in three students misses enough school to jeopardize academic progress. While the school's state rank slipped slightly to the 43rd percentile (2 stars) for 2025–2026, its improving test scores suggest that if absenteeism can be reduced, Forestview has real potential to climb beyond its mid-tier statewide position. For parents, Forestview is a high-poverty school that is beating expectations relative to its district, but it still faces challenges in attendance and statewide competitiveness.
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