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Public School Review - Established 2003

Best Gaston County Public Preschools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 24 public preschools serving 10,363 students in Gaston County, NC.
The top-ranked public preschools in Gaston County, NC are North Belmont Elementary School, Cherryville Elementary School and W A Bess Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Gaston County, NC public preschools have an average math proficiency score of 45% (versus the North Carolina public pre school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 39% (versus the 46% statewide average). Pre schools in Gaston County have an average ranking of 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of North Carolina public pre schools.
Minority enrollment is 58% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the North Carolina public preschool average of 60% (majority Black and Hispanic).

Best Public Preschools in Gaston County (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
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: #22.
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: #33.
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: #44.
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: #55.
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: #66.
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: #77.
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: #88.
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: #99.
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: #1010.
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: #1111.
Carr Elementary School
(Math: 50% | Reading: 33%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
307 S Pine St
Dallas, NC 28034
(704) 922-3636
Gr: PK-5 | 665 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 58%
Rank: #1212.
Chapel Grove Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
5201 Lewis Road
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 836-9113
Gr: PK-5 | 382 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 47%
Rank: #1313.
Brookside Elementary School
(Math: 41% | Reading: 37%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
1925 Auten Rd.
Gastonia, NC 28054
(704) 866-6283
Gr: PK-5 | 512 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 67%
Rank: #1414.
Pleasant Ridge Elementary School
(Math: 42% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
1260 Floyd Lane
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 866-6096
Gr: PK-5 | 887 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 83%
Rank: #1515.
Gardner Park Elementary School
(Math: 36% | Reading: 39%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
738 Armstrong Park Road
Gastonia, NC 28054
(704) 866-6082
Gr: PK-5 | 560 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 77%
Rank: #1616.
Edward D Sadler Jr Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
3950 West Franklin Boulevard
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 862-5895
Gr: PK-5 | 374 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 85%
Rank: #1717.
Sherwood Elementary School
(Math: 29% | Reading: 28%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
1744 Dixon Road
Gastonia, NC 28054
(704) 866-6609
Gr: PK-5 | 553 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 84%
Rank: #1818.
Lingerfeldt Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
1601 Madison Street
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 866-6094
Gr: PK-5 | 450 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 89%
Rank: #1919.
Woodhill Elementary School
(Math: 24% | Reading: 23%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
1027 Woodhill Drive
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 866-6295
Gr: PK-5 | 577 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 92%
Rank: #2020.
H H Beam Elementary School
(Math: 20% | Reading: 18%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
200 Davis Park Road
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 866-6618
Gr: PK-5 | 591 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 79%
Rank: #2121.
Webb Street School
Special Education School
(Math: 11-19% | Reading: 11-19%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
1623 N Webb Street
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 864-9667
Gr: PK-12 | 163 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 51%
Rank: n/an/a
Bessemer City Primary
1320 North 12th Street
Bessemer City, NC 28016
(704) 836-9109
Gr: PK-2 | 445 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 62%
Rank: n/an/a
J B Page Primary School
215 Ewing Drive
Belmont, NC 28012
(704) 836-9116
Gr: PK-1 | 396 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 29%
Rank: n/an/a
Springfield Primary
900 S Main Street
Stanley, NC 28164
(704) 836-9106
Gr: PK-2 | 352 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 45%

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked public preschools in Gaston County, NC?
The top-ranked public preschools in Gaston County, NC include North Belmont Elementary School, Cherryville Elementary School and W A Bess Elementary School.
How many public preschools are located in Gaston County?
23 public preschools are located in Gaston County.
What is the racial composition of students in Gaston County?
Gaston County public preschools minority enrollment is 58% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the North Carolina public preschools average of 60% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Which public preschools in Gaston County are often viewed compared to one another?

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