For the 2026 school year, there are 24 public schools serving 15,602 students in Gastonia, NC (there are 9 private schools, serving 2,089 private students). 88% of all K-12 students in Gastonia, NC are educated in public schools (compared to the NC state average of 93%).
The top-ranked public schools in Gastonia, NC are Highland School Of Technology, Hawks Nest Steam Academy and Forestview High School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Gastonia, NC public schools have an average math proficiency score of 43% (versus the North Carolina public school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 41% (versus the 50% statewide average). Schools in Gastonia have an average ranking of 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of North Carolina public schools.
Minority enrollment is 68% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the North Carolina public school average of 58% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Best Public Schools in Gastonia, NC (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Highland School Of Technology
Magnet School
(Math: ≥95% | Reading: ≥95%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
1600 N Morris Street
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 810-8816
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 810-8816
Gr: 9-12 | 538 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 39%
Rank: #22.
Hawks Nest Steam Academy
Magnet School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
3430 Robinwood Rd
Gastonia, NC 28054
(704) 866-8467
Gastonia, NC 28054
(704) 866-8467
Gr: K-5 | 356 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 42%
Rank: #33.
Forestview High School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
5545 Union Road
Gastonia, NC 28056
(704) 861-2625
Gastonia, NC 28056
(704) 861-2625
Gr: 9-12 | 1,133 student Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 54%
Rank: #44.
New Hope Elementary School
(Math: 70% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
137 Stowe Road
Gastonia, NC 28056
(704) 836-9112
Gastonia, NC 28056
(704) 836-9112
Gr: K-5 | 571 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 29%
Rank: #55.
W A Bess Elementary School
(Math: 69% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
4340 Beaty Road
Gastonia, NC 28056
(704) 866-6075
Gastonia, NC 28056
(704) 866-6075
Gr: PK-5 | 674 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 49%
Rank: #66.
Piedmont Community Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 65% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
2596 Robinwood Road
Gastonia, NC 28054
(704) 853-2428
Gastonia, NC 28054
(704) 853-2428
Gr: K-12 | 1,963 student Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 51%
Rank: #77.
Ashbrook High School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
2222 S New Hope Road
Gastonia, NC 28054
(704) 866-6600
Gastonia, NC 28054
(704) 866-6600
Gr: 9-12 | 1,386 student Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 82%
Rank: #88.
Robinson Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
3122 S Union Road
Gastonia, NC 28056
(704) 866-6607
Gastonia, NC 28056
(704) 866-6607
Gr: PK-5 | 420 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 56%
Rank: #99.
Gaston Virtual Academy
Magnet School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
1 Learning Place
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 836-9125
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 836-9125
Gr: K-12 | 283 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 46%
Rank: #1010.
Chapel Grove Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
5201 Lewis Road
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 836-9113
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 836-9113
Gr: PK-5 | 382 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 47%
Rank: #1111.
Hunter Huss High School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
1518 Edgefield Avenue
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 866-6610
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 866-6610
Gr: 9-12 | 1,165 student Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 82%
Rank: #1212.
Brookside Elementary School
(Math: 41% | Reading: 37%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
1925 Auten Rd.
Gastonia, NC 28054
(704) 866-6283
Gastonia, NC 28054
(704) 866-6283
Gr: PK-5 | 512 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 67%
Rank: #1313.
Pleasant Ridge Elementary School
(Math: 42% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
1260 Floyd Lane
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 866-6096
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 866-6096
Gr: PK-5 | 887 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 83%
Rank: #1414.
Gardner Park Elementary School
(Math: 36% | Reading: 39%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
738 Armstrong Park Road
Gastonia, NC 28054
(704) 866-6082
Gastonia, NC 28054
(704) 866-6082
Gr: PK-5 | 560 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 77%
Rank: #1515.
Southwest Middle School
(Math: 37% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
1 Roadrunner Drive
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 866-6290
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 866-6290
Gr: 6-8 | 832 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 78%
Rank: #1616.
Edward D Sadler Jr Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
3950 West Franklin Boulevard
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 862-5895
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 862-5895
Gr: PK-5 | 374 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 85%
Rank: #1717.
York Chester Middle School
(Math: 35% | Reading: 30%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
601 S Clay Street
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 836-9609
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 836-9609
Gr: 6-8 | 398 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 82%
Rank: #1818.
Sherwood Elementary School
(Math: 29% | Reading: 28%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
1744 Dixon Road
Gastonia, NC 28054
(704) 866-6609
Gastonia, NC 28054
(704) 866-6609
Gr: PK-5 | 553 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 84%
Rank: #1919.
Lingerfeldt Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
1601 Madison Street
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 866-6094
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 866-6094
Gr: PK-5 | 450 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 89%
Rank: #2020.
W P Grier Middle School
(Math: 24% | Reading: 28%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
1622 E Garrison Boulevard
Gastonia, NC 28054
(704) 836-9604
Gastonia, NC 28054
(704) 836-9604
Gr: 6-8 | 659 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 90%
Rank: #2121.
Woodhill Elementary School
(Math: 24% | Reading: 23%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
1027 Woodhill Drive
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 866-6295
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 866-6295
Gr: PK-5 | 577 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 92%
Rank: #2222.
H H Beam Elementary School
(Math: 20% | Reading: 18%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
200 Davis Park Road
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 866-6618
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 866-6618
Gr: PK-5 | 591 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 79%
Rank: #2323.
Webb Street School
Special Education School
(Math: 11-19% | Reading: 11-19%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
1623 N Webb Street
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 864-9667
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 864-9667
Gr: PK-12 | 163 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 51%
Rank: #2424.
Warlick Academy
Alternative School
(Math: ≤5% | Reading: 15-19%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
1316 Spencer Mountain Road
Gastonia, NC 28054
(704) 836-9608
Gastonia, NC 28054
(704) 836-9608
Gr: 6-12 | 175 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 72%
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top-ranked public schools in Gastonia, NC?
The top-ranked public schools in Gastonia, NC include Highland School Of Technology, Hawks Nest Steam Academy and Forestview High School.
How many public schools are located in Gastonia?
24 public schools are located in Gastonia.
What percentage of students in Gastonia go to public school?
88% of all K-12 students in Gastonia are educated in public schools (compared to the NC state average of 93%).
What is the racial composition of students in Gastonia?
Gastonia public schools minority enrollment is 68% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the North Carolina public schools average of 58% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Which public schools in Gastonia are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public schools in Gastonia include: Hunter Huss High School vs. Ashbrook High School, W P Grier Middle School vs. Southwest Middle School, New Hope Elementary School vs. W A Bess Elementary School
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