For the 2025 school year, there are 49 public elementary schools serving 25,689 students in Gaston County, NC.
The top ranked public elementary schools in Gaston County, NC are Hawks Nest Steam Academy, Cramerton Middle School and Mountain Island Charter School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Gaston County, NC public elementary schools have an average math proficiency score of 49% (versus the North Carolina public elementary school average of 50%), and reading proficiency score of 46% (versus the 49% statewide average). Elementary schools in Gaston County have an average ranking of 5/10, which is in the bottom 50% of North Carolina public elementary schools.
Minority enrollment is 52% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the North Carolina public elementary school average of 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Best ÎÛÎÛÂþ» Elementary Schools in Gaston County (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
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
Grades: K-5
| 351 students
Rank: #22.
Cramerton Middle School
(Math: 76% | Reading: 73%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
601 Cramer Mountain Road
Cramerton, NC 28032
(704) 836-9603
Cramerton, NC 28032
(704) 836-9603
Grades: 6-8
| 919 students
Rank: #33.
Mountain Island Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 76% | Reading: 67%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
13440 Lucia Riverbend Highway
Mount Holly, NC 28120
(704) 827-8840
Mount Holly, NC 28120
(704) 827-8840
Grades: K-12
| 1,746 students
Rank: #44.
Belmont Central Elementary School
(Math: 74% | Reading: 66%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
310 Eagle Road
Belmont, NC 28012
(704) 836-9137
Belmont, NC 28012
(704) 836-9137
Grades: 2-5
| 687 students
Rank: #55.
North Belmont Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
210 School Street
Belmont, NC 28012
(704) 836-9135
Belmont, NC 28012
(704) 836-9135
Grades: PK-5
| 334 students
Rank: #66.
Cherryville Elementary School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
700 East Academy Street
Cherryville, NC 28021
(704) 836-9115
Cherryville, NC 28021
(704) 836-9115
Grades: PK-3
| 389 students
Rank: #77.
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
Grades: K-5
| 541 students
Rank: #88.
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
Grades: PK-5
| 641 students
Rank: #99.
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
Grades: K-12
| 1,940 students
Rank: #1010.
Belmont Middle School
(Math: 59% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
1020 South Point Road
Belmont, NC 28012
(704) 836-9611
Belmont, NC 28012
(704) 836-9611
Grades: 6-8
| 765 students
Rank: #1111.
Pinewood Elementary School
(Math: 59% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
1925 N Main Street
Mount Holly, NC 28120
(704) 836-9138
Mount Holly, NC 28120
(704) 836-9138
Grades: PK-5
| 477 students
Rank: #1212.
Ida Rankin Elementary School
(Math: 60% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
301 W Central Avenue
Mount Holly, NC 28120
(704) 836-9136
Mount Holly, NC 28120
(704) 836-9136
Grades: PK-5
| 510 students
Rank: #1313.
Stanley Middle School
(Math: 55% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
317 Hovis Road
Stanley, NC 28164
(704) 836-9600
Stanley, NC 28164
(704) 836-9600
Grades: 6-8
| 606 students
Rank: #1414.
Catawba Heights Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
101 Ivey Street
Belmont, NC 28012
(704) 836-9119
Belmont, NC 28012
(704) 836-9119
Grades: PK-5
| 253 students
Rank: #1515.
Mount Holly Middle School
(Math: 52% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
124 S Hawthorne Street
Mount Holly, NC 28120
(704) 836-9610
Mount Holly, NC 28120
(704) 836-9610
Grades: 6-8
| 552 students
Rank: #1616.
W B Beam Intermediate School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
401 East First Street
Cherryville, NC 28021
(704) 836-9114
Cherryville, NC 28021
(704) 836-9114
Grades: 4-5
| 189 students
Rank: #1717.
Lowell Elementary School
(Math: 55% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
1500 Power Drive
Lowell, NC 28098
(704) 836-9118
Lowell, NC 28098
(704) 836-9118
Grades: K-5
| 373 students
Rank: #1818.
Costner Elementary School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
353 Old 277 Loop Hwy
Dallas, NC 28034
(704) 922-3522
Dallas, NC 28034
(704) 922-3522
Grades: PK-5
| 453 students
Rank: #1919.
Community ÎÛÎÛÂþ» Charter
Charter School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
185 Mariposa Road
Stanley, NC 28164
(704) 931-4418
Stanley, NC 28164
(704) 931-4418
Grades: K-9
| 755 students
Rank: #2020.
Mcadenville Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
275 E Wesleyan Drive
Mc Adenville, NC 28101
(704) 836-9117
Mc Adenville, NC 28101
(704) 836-9117
Grades: K-5
| 174 students
Rank: #2121.
John Chavis Middle School
(Math: 46% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
103 South Chavis Drive
Cherryville, NC 28021
(704) 836-9606
Cherryville, NC 28021
(704) 836-9606
Grades: 6-8
| 395 students
Rank: #2222.
W C Friday Middle School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
1221 Ratchford Drive
Dallas, NC 28034
(704) 922-5297
Dallas, NC 28034
(704) 922-5297
Grades: 6-8
| 612 students
Rank: #2323.
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
Grades: PK-5
| 434 students
Rank: #2424.
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
Grades: K-12
| 323 students
Rank: #2525.
Tryon Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
2620 Tryon Courthouse Road
Bessemer City, NC 28016
(704) 836-9107
Bessemer City, NC 28016
(704) 836-9107
Grades: PK-5
| 334 students
Rank: #2626.
Kiser Elementary School
(Math: 40% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
311 E College Street
Stanley, NC 28164
(704) 836-9105
Stanley, NC 28164
(704) 836-9105
Grades: 3-5
| 336 students
Rank: #2727.
Carr Elementary School
(Math: 50% | Reading: 33%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
307 S Pine St
Dallas, NC 28034
(704) 922-3636
Dallas, NC 28034
(704) 922-3636
Grades: PK-5
| 617 students
Rank: #2828.
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
Grades: PK-5
| 391 students
Rank: #2929.
Holbrook Middle School
(Math: 37% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
418 S Church Street
Lowell, NC 28098
(704) 836-9607
Lowell, NC 28098
(704) 836-9607
Grades: 6-8
| 786 students
Rank: #3030.
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
Grades: PK-5
| 506 students
Rank: #3131.
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
Grades: PK-5
| 882 students
Rank: #3232.
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
Grades: PK-5
| 549 students
Rank: #3333.
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
Grades: 6-8
| 809 students
Rank: #3434.
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
Grades: PK-5
| 360 students
Rank: #3535.
Bessemer City Middle School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 34%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
525 Ed Wilson Road
Bessemer City, NC 28016
(704) 836-9602
Bessemer City, NC 28016
(704) 836-9602
Grades: 6-8
| 502 students
Show 14 more public schools in Gaston County, NC (out of 49 total schools)
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Gaston County ÎÛÎÛÂþ» Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Grades
Students
1621 N Webb Street
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 866-6073
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 866-6073
Grades: PK-5
| 364 students
1 Learning Place
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 866-6079
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 866-6079
Grades: PK-5
| 410 students
Gaston College-east Campus 722
Belmont, NC 28012
(704) 866-6100
Belmont, NC 28012
(704) 866-6100
Grades: n/a
| n/a students
3430 Robinwood Rd
Gastonia, NC 28054
(704) 866-8467
Gastonia, NC 28054
(704) 866-8467
Grades: 4-5
| 172 students
Highland Charter (Closed 2013)
Charter School
324 North Highland Stree
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 852-7047
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 852-7047
Grades: K-5
| 114 students
135 Camp Sertoma Rd
Dallas, NC 28034
(704) 922-7832
Dallas, NC 28034
(704) 922-7832
Grades: 6-12
| n/a students
1900 W Davidson Avenue
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 866-6098
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 866-6098
Grades: PK-5
| 478 students
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top ranked public elementary schools in Gaston County, NC?
The top ranked public elementary schools in Gaston County, NC include Hawks Nest Steam Academy, Cramerton Middle School and Mountain Island Charter School.
How many public elementary schools are located in Gaston County?
49 public elementary schools are located in Gaston County.
What is the racial composition of students in Gaston County?
Gaston County public elementary schools minority enrollment is 52% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the North Carolina public elementary schools average of 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Which public elementary schools in Gaston County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public elementary schools in Gaston County include: Bessemer City Central Elementary School vs. Bessemer City Primary, Bessemer City Primary vs. Bessemer City Central Elementary School, Mount Holly Middle School vs. Stanley Middle School
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