- Pleasant Ridge Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 887 students
- Belmont Central Elementary — Grades 2–5 · 693 students
- W A Bess Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 674 students
- Carr Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 665 students
- H H Beam Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 591 students
- Woodhill Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 577 students
- New Hope Elementary — Grades K–5 · 571 students
- Gardner Park Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 560 students
- Sherwood Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 553 students
- Ida Rankin Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 533 students
- Brookside Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 512 students
- Pinewood Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 508 students
- Lingerfeldt Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 450 students
- Bessemer City Primary — Grades PK–2 · 445 students
- Costner Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 430 students
- Robinson Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 420 students
- J B Page Primary School — Grades PK–1 · 396 students
- Bessemer City Central Elem — Grades 3–5 · 392 students
- Chapel Grove Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 382 students
- Cherryville Elementary — Grades PK–3 · 378 students
- Edward D Sadler Jr Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 374 students
- North Belmont Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 371 students
- Lowell Elementary — Grades PK–5 · 367 students
- Hawks Nest STEAM Academy — Grades K–5 · 356 students
- Springfield Primary — Grades PK–2 · 352 students
- + 5 more elementary schools
- Cramerton Middle — Grades 6–8 · 959 students
- Southwest Middle — Grades 6–8 · 832 students
- Belmont Middle — Grades 6–8 · 770 students
- Holbrook Middle — Grades 6–8 · 712 students
- W P Grier Middle School — Grades 6–8 · 659 students
- W C Friday Middle School — Grades 6–8 · 618 students
- Stanley Middle — Grades 6–8 · 602 students
- Mount Holly Middle — Grades 6–8 · 570 students
- Bessemer City Middle — Grades 6–8 · 497 students
- John Chavis Middle School — Grades 6–8 · 412 students
- York Chester Middle — Grades 6–8 · 398 students
- Ashbrook High — Grades 9–12 · 1,386 students
- Hunter Huss High — Grades 9–12 · 1,165 students
- Forestview High — Grades 9–12 · 1,133 students
- North Gaston High — Grades 9–12 · 1,061 students
- South Point High — Grades 9–12 · 989 students
- Stuart W Cramer High — Grades 9–12 · 953 students
- East Gaston High — Grades 9–12 · 917 students
- Bessemer City High — Grades 9–12 · 590 students
- Highland Sch of Technology — Grades 9–12 · 538 students
- Cherryville High — Grades 9–12 · 484 students
- Gaston Early College High School — Grades 9 · 235 students
- Gaston Early College of Medical Sciences — Grades 9–12 · 174 students
- Gaston Virtual Academy — Grades K–12 · 283 students
- Warlick Academy — Grades 6–12 · 175 students
- Webb Street School — Grades PK–12 · 163 students
with district
| Metric | Gaston County Schools | National Average | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student Enrollment | — | 3,700 | Data not available |
| Number of Schools | 55 | 6 | Varies by district |
| Per-Pupil Spending | $10,300/yr (est.) | $13,700/yr | State avg est. |
| District Type | Supervisory Union | Public District | — |
| Overall Rating | 6/10 — Average | — | Near average |
About Gaston County Schools
ZIP 28032 in Gaston, North Carolina falls within the boundaries of Gaston County Schools. Its 6/10 rating is roughly in line with the North Carolina average across the funding and enrollment measures NCES tracks. The district covers Pre-K – 13. Review the funding and enrollment data above, then contact the district to confirm which schools serve your exact address before you commit to a move.
Funding and Resources
Gaston County Schools reports per-pupil expenditure of approximately $10,300 per year, placing it near the North Carolina state average of approximately $10,500 and below the national average nationally (U.S. average: $13,700/year). Below-average funding can mean larger class sizes, fewer elective offerings, and limited extracurricular programs. Families with specialized needs should verify specific program availability directly with the district. Per-pupil spending directly affects teacher compensation, class sizes, elective course offerings, technology access, and the depth of student support services — making it one of the most meaningful structural indicators of district capacity.
District Scale and Program Breadth
With multiple schools, Gaston County Schools operates as a district of unknown size serving students from Pre-K – 13. Contact Gaston County Schools to learn about available programs and services.
Understanding the 6/10 Rating
Gaston County Schools has earned an overall SchoolDistrictFinder rating of 6/10, placing it in the average tier. Our ratings are built from NCES Common Core of Data and measure structural factors: per-pupil expenditure, student-teacher ratio, enrollment stability, and school count. They do not incorporate test scores or graduation rates, which are not consistently available across all 13,500+ US districts in the NCES dataset.
Gaston County Schools falls in the middle of the performance spectrum with an average rating. Average districts provide foundational public education with functional academic programs, though they may not match the resource breadth of higher-rated districts in the same region. Many families find that average-rated districts deliver solid day-to-day education, particularly when parents stay engaged and involved. If you're considering this area, look beyond the overall rating: visit schools, talk to current parents, and research the specific school your child would attend. Average districts often have individual schools that significantly outperform the district mean.
Enrollment for Families in Zip Code 28032
Children in zip code 28032 are assigned to Gaston County Schools for public school enrollment, covering grades Pre-K – 13. School assignments are address-specific — your elementary, middle, and high school placements depend on your exact street address within zip code 28032, not just your neighborhood. Two homes on opposite ends of the same zip code may be assigned to different schools within the same district.
To confirm your specific school assignments, contact Gaston County Schools at (704)866-6100 or visit www.gaston.k12.nc.us. Typical enrollment documents include proof of residency (lease or deed plus a utility bill), your child’s birth certificate, current immunization records, and prior school records. If your child has an IEP or 504 plan, bring that documentation to enrollment — North Carolina districts are required to continue services within a reasonable period. Fall enrollment windows typically open in late winter or early spring; contact the district for exact dates and required steps.
School Districts and Home Values in Gaston
School district quality is one of the most consistent factors in residential home pricing. Because Gaston County Schools serves zip code 28032, district assignment still factors into home-pricing comparisons between zip code 28032 and neighboring areas. District boundaries are address-specific — verify the exact district assignment for any property you’re seriously considering rather than assuming based on the neighborhood. A single block can place two adjacent homes in different districts with different ratings and different annual property tax implications.
Use the property tax estimator on this page to calculate estimated annual tax obligations based on your target purchase price. In North Carolina, property taxes are a primary funding source for public schools — your tax payments directly support Gaston County Schools programs and staff. Understanding both district quality and the associated tax burden is essential financial due diligence before committing to any home in zip code 28032.
Data Sources and Accuracy
All district information on this page is sourced from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024–2025, the U.S. Department of Education’s annual census of all public school districts — the same dataset used by researchers, journalists, and policymakers to analyze American public education. District boundaries, school assignments, phone numbers, and per-pupil expenditure figures are updated annually when NCES publishes new data, typically in spring. Always verify your specific school assignment and enrollment requirements directly with Gaston County Schools before making any housing or enrollment decision based on zip code 28032 data.