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Public School Review - Established 2003

Best Gaston County Public Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 58 public schools serving 35,144 students in Gaston County, NC (there are 14 private schools, serving 2,895 private students). 92% of all K-12 students in Gaston County, NC are educated in public schools (compared to the NC state average of 93%).
The top-ranked public schools in Gaston County, NC are Highland School Of Technology, Gaston Early College High School and South Point High School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Gaston County, NC public schools have an average math proficiency score of 51% (versus the North Carolina public school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 47% (versus the 50% statewide average). Schools in Gaston County have an average ranking of 6/10, which is in the top 50% of North Carolina public schools.
Minority enrollment is 52% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the North Carolina public school average of 58% (majority Black and Hispanic).

Best Public Schools in Gaston County (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Highland School Of Technology
Magnet School
(Math: ≥95% | Reading: ≥95%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
1600 N Morris Street
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 810-8816
Gr: 9-12 | 538 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 39%
Rank: #22.
Gaston Early College High School
(Math: ≥90% | Reading: ≥90%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
201 Hwy 321 South, Gaston Coll
Dallas, NC 28034
(704) 922-2405
Gr: 9-13 | 199 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 44%
Rank: #33.
South Point High School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 77%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
906 South Point Road
Belmont, NC 28012
(704) 836-9612
Gr: 9-12 | 989 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 32%
Rank: #44.
Hawks Nest Steam Academy
Magnet School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
3430 Robinwood Rd
Gastonia, NC 28054
(704) 866-8467
Gr: K-5 | 356 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 42%
Rank: #55.
Cramerton Middle School
(Math: 76% | Reading: 73%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
601 Cramer Mountain Road
Cramerton, NC 28032
(704) 836-9603
Gr: 6-8 | 959 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 39%
Rank: #66.
Mountain Island Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 76% | Reading: 67%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
13440 Lucia Riverbend Highway
Mount Holly, NC 28120
(704) 827-8840
Gr: K-12 | 1,782 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 48%
Rank: #77.
Stuart W Cramer High School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
101 Lakewood Rd
Belmont, NC 28012
(704) 866-5700
Gr: 9-12 | 953 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 45%
Rank: #88.
Belmont Central Elementary School
(Math: 74% | Reading: 66%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
310 Eagle Road
Belmont, NC 28012
(704) 836-9137
Gr: 2-5 | 693 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 29%
Rank: #99.
East Gaston High School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
1744 Lane Road
Mount Holly, NC 28120
(704) 836-9613
Gr: 9-12 | 917 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 39%
Rank: #1010.
North Belmont Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
210 School Street
Belmont, NC 28012
(704) 836-9135
Gr: PK-5 | 371 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 54%
Rank: #1111.
Cherryville Elementary School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
700 East Academy Street
Cherryville, NC 28021
(704) 836-9115
Gr: PK-3 | 378 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 23%
Rank: #1212.
Forestview High School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
5545 Union Road
Gastonia, NC 28056
(704) 861-2625
Gr: 9-12 | 1,133 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 54%
Rank: #1313.
New Hope Elementary School
(Math: 70% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
137 Stowe Road
Gastonia, NC 28056
(704) 836-9112
Gr: K-5 | 571 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 29%
Rank: #1414.
Cherryville High School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
313 Ridge Avenue
Cherryville, NC 28021
(704) 836-9605
Gr: 9-12 | 484 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 28%
Rank: #1515.
W A Bess Elementary School
(Math: 69% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
4340 Beaty Road
Gastonia, NC 28056
(704) 866-6075
Gr: PK-5 | 674 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 49%
Rank: #1616.
Piedmont Community Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 65% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
2596 Robinwood Road
Gastonia, NC 28054
(704) 853-2428
Gr: K-12 | 1,963 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 51%
Rank: #1717.
Belmont Middle School
(Math: 59% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
1020 South Point Road
Belmont, NC 28012
(704) 836-9611
Gr: 6-8 | 770 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 34%
Rank: #1818.
Pinewood Elementary School
(Math: 59% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
1925 N Main Street
Mount Holly, NC 28120
(704) 836-9138
Gr: PK-5 | 508 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 47%
Rank: #1919.
Ida Rankin Elementary School
(Math: 60% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
301 W Central Avenue
Mount Holly, NC 28120
(704) 836-9136
Gr: PK-5 | 533 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 50%
Rank: #2020.
Stanley Middle School
(Math: 55% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
317 Hovis Road
Stanley, NC 28164
(704) 836-9600
Gr: 6-8 | 602 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 41%
Rank: #2121.
North Gaston High School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
1133 Ratchford Road
Dallas, NC 28034
(704) 922-5285
Gr: 9-12 | 1,061 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 56%
Rank: #2222.
Catawba Heights Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
101 Ivey Street
Belmont, NC 28012
(704) 836-9119
Gr: PK-5 | 238 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 50%
Rank: #2323.
Mount Holly Middle School
(Math: 52% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
124 S Hawthorne Street
Mount Holly, NC 28120
(704) 836-9610
Gr: 6-8 | 570 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 51%
Rank: #2424.
W B Beam Intermediate School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
401 East First Street
Cherryville, NC 28021
(704) 836-9114
Gr: 4-5 | 191 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 33%
Rank: #2525.
Ashbrook High School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
2222 S New Hope Road
Gastonia, NC 28054
(704) 866-6600
Gr: 9-12 | 1,386 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 82%
Rank: #2626.
Lowell Elementary School
(Math: 55% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
1500 Power Drive
Lowell, NC 28098
(704) 836-9118
Gr: PK-5 | 367 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 52%
Rank: #2727.
Costner Elementary School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
353 Old 277 Loop Hwy
Dallas, NC 28034
(704) 922-3522
Gr: PK-5 | 430 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 35%
Rank: #2828.
Community Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
185 Mariposa Road
Stanley, NC 28164
(704) 931-4418
Gr: K-10 | 858 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 16%
Rank: #2929.
Mcadenville Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
275 E Wesleyan Drive
Mc Adenville, NC 28101
(704) 836-9117
Gr: K-5 | 190 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 51%
Rank: #3030.
John Chavis Middle School
(Math: 46% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
103 South Chavis Drive
Cherryville, NC 28021
(704) 836-9606
Gr: 6-8 | 412 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 28%
Rank: #3131.
W C Friday Middle School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
1221 Ratchford Drive
Dallas, NC 28034
(704) 922-5297
Gr: 6-8 | 618 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 53%
Rank: #3232.
Bessemer City High School
(Math: 40-49% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
119 Yellow Jacket Lane
Bessemer City, NC 28016
(704) 836-9601
Gr: 9-12 | 590 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 56%
Rank: #3333.
Robinson Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
3122 S Union Road
Gastonia, NC 28056
(704) 866-6607
Gr: PK-5 | 420 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 56%
Rank: #3434.
Tryon Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
2620 Tryon Courthouse Road
Bessemer City, NC 28016
(704) 836-9107
Gr: PK-5 | 336 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 32%
Rank: #3535.
Kiser Elementary School
(Math: 40% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
311 E College Street
Stanley, NC 28164
(704) 836-9105
Gr: 3-5 | 328 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 40%
Show 23 more public schools in Gaston County, NC (out of 58 total schools)
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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked public schools in Gaston County, NC?
The top-ranked public schools in Gaston County, NC include Highland School Of Technology, Gaston Early College High School and South Point High School.
How many public schools are located in Gaston County?
63 public schools are located in Gaston County.
What percentage of students in Gaston County go to public school?
92% of all K-12 students in Gaston County are educated in public schools (compared to the NC state average of 93%).
What is the racial composition of students in Gaston County?
Gaston County public schools minority enrollment is 52% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the North Carolina public schools average of 58% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Which public schools in Gaston County are often viewed compared to one another?

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