The only school district in Gaston County had rising enrollment in the 2023-24 school year, according to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.
There were 29,714 students in Gaston County Schools, 0.4% higher than the year before.
The enrollment numbers in Gaston County amplified the state’s increasing trend, showing a sharper increase in student numbers than the state average.
Gaston County Schools has a main office in Gastonia and is the only school district within Gaston County.
Despite steady enrollment, North Carolina schools continue to face significant funding challenges. The state’s per-student spending remains nearly $5,000 below the national average, limiting resources for teachers, classrooms, and student support programs. In fact, North Carolina ranks 48th out of 50 states in per-student funding (after adjusting for regional costs).
Staffing shortages have also become a growing concern, with teacher turnover rising to 11.5% in the most recent school year. Low salaries and high workloads make it difficult to retain experienced educators, potentially increasing class sizes and affecting learning quality.
| School | Total Enrollment in 2023-24 | Total Enrollment in 2022-23 | Total % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Piedmont Community Charter School | 1,907 | 1,856 | 2.7% |
| Mountain Island Charter School | 1,728 | 1,687 | 2.4% |
| Ashbrook High School | 1,296 | 1,260 | 2.9% |
| Hunter Huss High School | 1,087 | 1,056 | 2.9% |
| Forestview High School | 1,079 | 1,057 | 2.1% |
| North Gaston High School | 1,037 | 1,083 | -4.2% |
| South Point High School | 964 | – | – |
| Stuart W. Cramer High School | 939 | 935 | 0.4% |
| Cramerton Middle School | 915 | – | – |
| East Gaston High School | 881 | 855 | 3% |
| Pleasant Ridge Elementary School | 879 | 873 | 0.7% |
| Southwest Middle School | 813 | 812 | 0.1% |
| Holbrook Middle School | 775 | 772 | 0.4% |
| Belmont Middle School | 767 | – | – |
| Community Public Charter | 742 | 599 | 23.9% |
| Belmont Central Elementary School | 693 | 682 | 1.6% |
| W. A. Bess Elementary School | 649 | 621 | 4.5% |
| Carr Elementary School | 615 | 629 | -2.2% |
| W. C. Friday Middle School | 609 | 603 | 1% |
| Stanley Middle School | 605 | 664 | -8.9% |
| W. P. Grier Middle School | 587 | 613 | -4.2% |
| H. H. Beam Elementary School | 553 | 521 | 6.1% |
| Gardner Park Elementary School | 546 | 513 | 6.4% |
| Mount Holly Middle School | 544 | 549 | -0.9% |
| New Hope Elementary School | 539 | 508 | 6.1% |
| Highland School of Technology | 526 | 510 | 3.1% |
| Bessemer City High School | 524 | 536 | -2.2% |
| Brookside Elementary School | 500 | 515 | -2.9% |
| Ida Rankin Elementary School | 496 | 487 | 1.8% |
| Bessemer City Middle School | 494 | 504 | -2% |
| Woodhill Elementary School | 491 | 466 | 5.4% |
| Cherryville High School | 490 | 482 | 1.7% |
| Sherwood Elementary School | 479 | 503 | -4.8% |
| Pinewood Elementary School | 461 | 464 | -0.6% |
| Costner Elementary School | 454 | 477 | -4.8% |
| Bessemer City Primary School | 416 | 393 | 5.9% |
| John Chavis Middle School | 404 | 411 | -1.7% |
| Lingerfeldt Elementary School | 404 | 388 | 4.1% |
| Robinson Elementary School | 398 | 386 | 3.1% |
| Cherryville Elementary School | 379 | 369 | 2.7% |
| York Chester Middle School | 377 | 421 | -10.5% |
| Lowell Elementary School | 371 | 404 | -8.2% |
| Bessemer City Central Elementary School | 359 | 405 | -11.4% |
| Chapel Grove Elementary School | 356 | 340 | 4.7% |
| Hawks Nest STEAM Academy | 355 | 352 | 0.9% |
| J. B. Page Primary School | 336 | 337 | -0.3% |
| Kiser Elementary School | 336 | 331 | 1.5% |
| Edward D. Sadler Jr. Elementary School | 329 | 301 | 9.3% |
| North Belmont Elementary School | 323 | 310 | 4.2% |
| Tryon Elementary School | 316 | 314 | 0.6% |
| Gaston Virtual Academy | 293 | 417 | -29.7% |
| Springfield Primary School | 284 | 283 | 0.4% |
| Ridgeview Charter School | 280 | – | – |
| Catawba Heights Elementary School | 255 | 258 | -1.2% |
| Warlick Academy | 232 | 176 | 31.8% |
| Gaston Early College High School | 231 | 227 | 1.8% |
| W. B. Beam Intermediate School | 190 | 200 | -5% |
| McAdenville Elementary School | 179 | 177 | 1.1% |
| Webb Street School | 152 | 150 | 1.3% |
| Gaston Early College of Medical Sciences | 152 | 112 | 35.7% |
