For the 2025 school year, there are 23 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 59% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Best Public Preschools in Gaston County (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
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
Gr: PK-5 | 334 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 54%
Rank: #22.
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
Gr: PK-3 | 389 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 22%
Rank: #33.
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 | 641 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 43%
Rank: #44.
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
Gr: PK-5 | 477 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 44%
Rank: #55.
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
Gr: PK-5 | 510 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 48%
Rank: #66.
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
Gr: PK-5 | 253 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 49%
Rank: #77.
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
Gr: PK-5 | 453 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 33%
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 | 434 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 56%
Rank: #99.
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
Gr: PK-5 | 334 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 26%
Rank: #1010.
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
Gr: PK-5 | 617 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 54%
Rank: #1111.
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 | 391 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 42%
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 | 506 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 63%
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 | 882 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 79%
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 | 549 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 71%
Rank: #1515.
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 | 360 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 85%
Rank: #1616.
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 | 491 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 80%
Rank: #1717.
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 | 411 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 84%
Rank: #1818.
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 | 504 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 89%
Rank: #1919.
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 | 569 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 77%
Rank: #2020.
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 | 161 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 51%
Rank: n/an/a
1320 North 12th Street
Bessemer City, NC 28016
(704) 836-9109
Bessemer City, NC 28016
(704) 836-9109
Gr: PK-2 | 446 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 58%
Rank: n/an/a
215 Ewing Drive
Belmont, NC 28012
(704) 836-9116
Belmont, NC 28012
(704) 836-9116
Gr: PK-1 | 338 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 27%
Rank: n/an/a
900 S Main Street
Stanley, NC 28164
(704) 836-9106
Stanley, NC 28164
(704) 836-9106
Gr: PK-2 | 313 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 43%
Gaston County Public Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Quick Facts
1621 N Webb Street
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 866-6073
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 866-6073
Gr: PK-5 | 364 students Minority enrollment: 64%
1 Learning Place
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 866-6079
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 866-6079
Gr: PK-5 | 410 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1
Gaston College-east Campus 722
Belmont, NC 28012
(704) 866-6100
Belmont, NC 28012
(704) 866-6100
3430 Robinwood Rd
Gastonia, NC 28054
(704) 866-8467
Gastonia, NC 28054
(704) 866-8467
Gr: 4-5 | 172 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1
Highland Charter (Closed 2013)
Charter School
324 North Highland Stree
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 852-7047
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 852-7047
Gr: K-5 | 114 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 96%
135 Camp Sertoma Rd
Dallas, NC 28034
(704) 922-7832
Dallas, NC 28034
(704) 922-7832
Gr: 6-12
1900 W Davidson Avenue
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 866-6098
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 866-6098
Gr: PK-5 | 478 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 81%
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 59% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Which public preschools in Gaston County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public preschools in Gaston County include: Lingerfeldt Elementary School vs. Brookside Elementary School, Catawba Heights Elementary School vs. North Belmont Elementary School, Edward D Sadler Jr Elementary School vs. W A Bess Elementary School
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