Summary:
The 28120 zip code area is home to 5 schools, including 2 elementary schools, 1 middle school, 1 high school, and 1 alternative charter school. While the traditional public schools in the area tend to have lower test scores compared to state averages, the Mountain Island Charter School stands out as a high-performing institution, consistently outpacing the state and district in academic achievement.
The charter school's strong performance is evident across multiple subjects and grade levels. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, 87.4% of 4th graders at Mountain Island Charter School were proficient or better in math, compared to the state average of 58.9%. In contrast, the traditional public schools in the area, such as East Gaston High, tend to have lower test scores that fall below state averages, with only 45.4% of students proficient or better in English II.
The data also reveals significant differences in the student populations served by the schools. The elementary and middle schools in the Gaston County Schools district have very high free and reduced lunch rates, ranging from 98-99%, indicating a high level of economic disadvantage among the student body. In contrast, the Mountain Island Charter School has a much lower free and reduced lunch rate of 26.92%, suggesting a more economically diverse student population.
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