W A Bess Elementary School (Ranked Top 30% for 2025-26)

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W A Bess Elementary School

4340 Beaty Road
Gastonia, NC 28056

( shown in map)

Top 30%

Serving 641 students in grades Prekindergarten-5, W A Bess Elementary School ranks in the top 30% of all schools in North Carolina for overall test scores (math proficiency is top 20%, and reading proficiency is top 20%).

The percentage of students achieving is 69% (which is higher than the North Carolina state average of 51%). The percentage of students achieving is 56% (which is higher than the North Carolina state average of 50%).

The student-teacher ratio of 16:1 is higher than the North Carolina state level of 15:1.

Minority enrollment is 43% of the student body (majority Hispanic and Black), which is lower than the North Carolina state average of 57% (majority Black).

Quick Facts (2025-26)

Grades: Prekindergarten-5
Enrollment: 641 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 16:1
Minority Enrollment: 43%
: Top 30% in NC
: 69% (Top 20%)
: 56% (Top 50%)
: 75-79% (Top 20%)
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), NC Dept. of Education

Top Rankings

W A Bess Elementary School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in North Carolina for:

School Overview

W A Bess Elementary School's student population of 641 students has grown by 12% over five school years.

The teacher population of 40 teachers has grown by 21% over five school years.

Awards

Blue Ribbon School - Selected in 2006, 2022

Grades Offered

Grades Prekindergarten-5
(No virtual instruction)

View Data

Distribution of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	W A Bess Elementary School
Kind	105
1	113
2	109
3	111
4	91
5	112

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Total Students

641 students

View Data

Total Students Trends Over Years (1987-2023)
Year	W A Bess Elementary School
2023	622
2022	597
2021	572
2020	572
2019	572
2018	604
2017	604
2016	592
2015	551
2014	579
2013	623
2012	648
2011	665
2010	677
2009	687
2008	672
2007	672
2006	640
2005	617
2004	591
2003	580
2002	603
2001	625
2000	639
1999	671
1998	666
1997	653
1996	598
1995	547
1994	535
1993	507
1992	483
1991	465
1990	483
1989	482
1988	467
1987	425

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Gender %

Total Classroom Teachers

40 teachers

View Data

Total Classroom Teachers Trends Over Years (1990-2023)
Year	W A Bess Elementary School
2023	37
2022	38
2021	36
2020	33
2019	33
2018	34
2017	34
2016	32
2015	33
2014	33
2013	34
2012	34
2011	35
2010	36
2009	37
2008	37
2006	30
2005	30
2004	30
2003	35
2002	35
2001	35
2000	35
1999	35
1998	35
1997	36
1996	31
1995	28
1994	28
1993	25
1992	27
1991	28
1990	26

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School Rankings

W A Bess Elementary School ranks within the top 30% of all 2,617 schools in North Carolina (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).

The of W A Bess Elementary School is 0.62, which is less than the diversity score at state average of 0.71. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.

This School

State Level (NC)

#649 out of 2617 schools
(Top 30%)

View Data

Overall School Rank Trends Over Years (2012-2023)
Year	W A Bess Elementary School
2023	#649
2022	#649
2021	#633
2019	#384
2018	#228
2017	#481
2016	#505
2015	#391
2014	#456
2013	#486
2012	#390

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(21-22)

69%

51%

View Data

Math Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2011-2022)
Year	W A Bess Elementary School	North Carolina	Gaston County Schools
2022	69%	51%	49%
2021	57%	42%	44%
2019	61%	42%	40%
2018	66%	48%	39%
2017	64%	47%	41%
2016	64%	47%	40%
2015	65%	44%	36%
2014	64%	43%	34%
2013	57%	42%	36%
2012	93%	82%	80%
2011	95%	82%	81%

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56%

50%

View Data

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2011-2022)
Year	W A Bess Elementary School	North Carolina	Gaston County Schools
2022	56%	50%	46%
2021	56%	47%	42%
2019	61%	46%	41%
2018	62%	47%	39%
2017	56%	46%	40%
2016	56%	47%	41%
2015	58%	46%	40%
2014	52%	46%	40%
2013	52%	45%	40%
2012	83%	73%	71%
2011	89%	70%	69%

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75-79%

63%

View Data

Science Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2021-2022)
Year	W A Bess Elementary School	North Carolina	Gaston County Schools
2022	77%	63%	61%
2021	82%	61%	60%

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Student-Teacher Ratio

16:1

15:1

View Data

Student-Teacher Ratio Comparison Over Years (1990-2023)
Year	W A Bess Elementary School	North Carolina	Gaston County Schools
2023	17:1	15:1	17:1
2022	16:1	14:1	16:1
2021	16:1	14:1	16:1
2020	17:1	15:1	16:1
2019	17:1	15:1	16:1
2018	18:1	16:1	17:1
2017	18:1	15:1	17:1
2016	19:1	16:1	17:1
2015	17:1	16:1	17:1
2014	18:1	15:1	16:1
2013	18:1	15:1	17:1
2012	19:1	15:1	17:1
2011	19:1	15:1	17:1
2010	19:1	15:1	17:1
2009	19:1	15:1	16:1
2008	18:1	15:1	16:1
2006	21:1	14:1	17:1
2005	21:1	14:1	17:1
2004	20:1	15:1	16:1
2003	17:1	15:1	15:1
2002	17:1	15:1	16:1
2001	18:1	15:1	15:1
2000	18:1	15:1	15:1
1999	19:1	15:1	15:1
1998	19:1	15:1	15:1
1997	18:1	16:1	16:1
1996	19:1	16:1	16:1
1995	20:1	16:1	16:1
1994	19:1	16:1	16:1
1993	20:1	16:1	17:1
1992	18:1	16:1	16:1
1991	17:1	16:1	16:1
1990	19:1	17:1	16:1

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American Indian

View Data

American Indian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1995-2022)
Year	W A Bess Elementary School	North Carolina
2022	1%	1%
2021	1%	1%
2020	1%	1%
2019	1%	1%
2009	1%	2%
2008	1%	2%
2000	1%	2%
1996	1%	2%
1995	1%	2%

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Asian

View Data

Asian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1995-2023)
Year	W A Bess Elementary School	North Carolina	Gaston County Schools
2023	5%	4%	3%
2022	4%	4%	3%
2021	4%	4%	3%
2020	3%	3%	2%
2019	3%	3%	2%
2018	3%	3%	2%
2017	3%	3%	2%
2016	3%	3%	1%
2015	2%	3%	2%
2014	3%	3%	1%
2013	3%	3%	2%
2012	2%	3%	1%
2011	2%	2%	2%
2010	2%	3%	2%
2009	2%	2%	2%
2008	1%	3%	2%
2007	2%	3%	2%
2006	1%	2%	2%
2005	1%	2%	2%
2004	1%	2%	2%
2003	1%	2%	2%
2002	1%	2%	1%
2001	1%	2%	1%
2000	1%	2%	1%
1995	1%	1%	2%

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Hispanic

17%

21%

View Data

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2003-2023)
Year	W A Bess Elementary School	North Carolina	Gaston County Schools
2023	14%	20%	19%
2022	12%	20%	17%
2021	9%	19%	16%
2020	8%	18%	15%
2019	8%	18%	15%
2018	10%	17%	13%
2017	10%	17%	13%
2016	8%	16%	12%
2015	6%	16%	11%
2014	4%	15%	10%
2013	4%	14%	10%
2012	3%	13%	10%
2011	2%	13%	9%
2010	1%	11%	8%
2009	1%	11%	8%
2008	2%	11%	8%
2007	3%	10%	7%
2006	2%	8%	6%
2005	1%	8%	6%
2004	2%	7%	5%
2003	1%	6%	4%

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Black

15%

25%

View Data

Black Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	W A Bess Elementary School	North Carolina	Gaston County Schools
2023	17%	25%	25%
2022	11%	25%	25%
2021	9%	25%	24%
2020	6%	25%	23%
2019	6%	25%	23%
2018	5%	26%	23%
2017	5%	26%	23%
2016	6%	26%	23%
2015	7%	26%	22%
2014	6%	26%	21%
2013	7%	26%	20%
2012	7%	26%	20%
2011	7%	26%	20%
2010	9%	31%	23%
2009	7%	31%	23%
2008	7%	29%	21%
2007	8%	29%	21%
2006	9%	32%	22%
2005	8%	31%	21%
2004	8%	31%	21%
2003	9%	31%	21%
2002	10%	31%	21%
2001	8%	31%	21%
2000	8%	31%	20%
1999	10%	31%	20%
1998	9%	30%	20%
1997	8%	31%	20%
1996	6%	31%	19%
1995	8%	30%	19%
1994	8%	30%	18%
1993	9%	30%	18%
1992	10%	30%	18%
1991	8%	30%	18%

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White

57%

43%

View Data

White Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	W A Bess Elementary School	North Carolina	Gaston County Schools
2023	59%	44%	47%
2022	68%	45%	49%
2021	72%	46%	52%
2020	75%	48%	55%
2019	75%	48%	55%
2018	76%	49%	58%
2017	76%	49%	58%
2016	80%	50%	61%
2015	82%	50%	62%
2014	84%	51%	64%
2013	83%	52%	64%
2012	86%	53%	66%
2011	86%	53%	66%
2010	88%	54%	67%
2009	89%	54%	67%
2008	88%	55%	69%
2007	87%	56%	70%
2006	88%	56%	70%
2005	90%	57%	71%
2004	89%	58%	72%
2003	88%	59%	73%
2002	88%	60%	74%
2001	90%	61%	75%
2000	90%	61%	77%
1999	90%	62%	77%
1998	91%	63%	78%
1997	92%	64%	78%
1996	93%	64%	79%
1995	90%	65%	79%
1994	91%	66%	80%
1993	90%	66%	81%
1992	90%	66%	81%
1991	92%	66%	81%

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Hawaiian

n/a

Two or more races

View Data

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2013-2023)
Year	W A Bess Elementary School	North Carolina	Gaston County Schools
2023	5%	6%	6%
2022	4%	5%	6%
2021	5%	5%	5%
2020	7%	5%	5%
2019	7%	5%	5%
2018	6%	4%	4%
2017	6%	4%	4%
2016	3%	4%	3%
2015	3%	4%	3%
2014	3%	4%	4%
2013	3%	4%	4%

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All Ethnic Groups

0.62

0.71

View Data

Diversity Score Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	W A Bess Elementary School	North Carolina	Gaston County Schools
2023	0.60	0.71	0.67
2022	0.51	0.70	0.65
2021	0.47	0.69	0.63
2020	0.43	0.68	0.61
2019	0.43	0.68	0.61
2018	0.41	0.67	0.58
2017	0.41	0.67	0.58
2016	0.35	0.66	0.57
2015	0.32	0.66	0.55
2014	0.29	0.65	0.54
2013	0.31	0.65	0.54
2012	0.26	0.64	0.52
2011	0.26	0.64	0.52
2010	0.22	0.61	0.49
2009	0.20	0.61	0.48
2008	0.22	0.61	0.48
2007	0.24	0.60	0.47
2006	0.22	0.58	0.45
2005	0.19	0.58	0.44
2004	0.20	0.57	0.43
2003	0.22	0.56	0.42
2002	0.22	0.55	0.41
2001	0.18	0.53	0.40
2000	0.19	0.53	0.37
1999	0.18	0.52	0.37
1998	0.17	0.52	0.36
1997	0.15	0.50	0.35
1996	0.13	0.50	0.35
1995	0.19	0.49	0.34
1994	0.17	0.48	0.33
1993	0.18	0.48	0.32
1992	0.18	0.48	0.32
1991	0.15	0.48	0.31

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Participates in the

Yes

Eligible for

45%

68%

View Data

Free Lunch Eligibility Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	W A Bess Elementary School	North Carolina	Gaston County Schools
2023	42%	57%	67%
2022	22%	47%	54%
2021	22%	49%	56%
2020	28%	52%	59%
2019	28%	52%	59%
2018	28%	53%	60%
2017	28%	53%	60%
2016	27%	52%	61%
2015	24%	52%	60%
2014	26%	47%	54%
2013	30%	47%	53%
2012	6%	45%	7%
2011	5%	43%	6%
2010	5%	40%	8%
2009	6%	28%	8%
2008	6%	25%	8%
2007	18%	35%	38%
2006	18%	35%	37%
2005	17%	37%	37%
2004	12%	36%	31%
2003	17%	27%	29%
2002	12%	30%	27%
2001	10%	29%	26%
2000	13%	31%	26%
1999	12%	31%	25%
1998	14%	31%	24%
1997	14%	30%	24%
1996	9%	30%	24%
1995	9%	29%	24%
1994	9%	29%	24%
1993	13%	29%	23%
1992	8%	22%	16%
1991	10%	31%	22%

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Eligible for

View Data

Reduced-Price Lunch Eligibility Comparison Over Years (2001-2023)
Year	W A Bess Elementary School	North Carolina	Gaston County Schools
2023	5%	3%	3%
2022	4%	2%	2%
2021	3%	3%	2%
2020	6%	4%	4%
2019	6%	4%	4%
2018	5%	4%	4%
2017	5%	4%	4%
2016	6%	5%	4%
2015	5%	5%	5%
2014	6%	7%	7%
2013	4%	7%	7%
2012	28%	8%	51%
2011	26%	8%	50%
2010	24%	9%	47%
2007	5%	8%	7%
2006	6%	7%	7%
2005	3%	8%	7%
2004	6%	8%	8%
2003	5%	7%	8%
2002	6%	8%	8%
2001	5%	7%	7%

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School Statewide Testing

School District Name

Gaston County Schools

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), NC Dept. of Education

Profile last updated: 02/09/2025

Frequently Asked Questions

What is W A Bess Elementary School's ranking?

W A Bess Elementary School is ranked #649 out of 2,617 schools, which ranks it among the top 30% of public schools in North Carolina.

What schools are W A Bess Elementary School often compared to?

W A Bess Elementary Schoolis often viewed alongside schools like New Hope Elementary School by visitors of our site.

What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?

69% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 51% NC state average), while 56% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 50% NC state average).

How many students attend W A Bess Elementary School?

641 students attend W A Bess Elementary School.

What is the racial composition of the student body?

57% of W A Bess Elementary School students are White, 17% of students are Hispanic, 15% of students are Black, 5% of students are Asian, 5% of students are Two or more races, and 1% of students are American Indian.

What is the student-teacher ratio of W A Bess Elementary School?

W A Bess Elementary School has a student ration of 16:1, which is higher than the North Carolina state average of 15:1.

What grades does W A Bess Elementary School offer ?

W A Bess Elementary School offers enrollment in grades Prekindergarten-5 (No virtual instruction).

What school district is W A Bess Elementary School part of?

W A Bess Elementary School is part of Gaston County Schools.

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Quick Facts (2025-26)

Grades: Prekindergarten-5
Enrollment: 641 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 16:1
Minority Enrollment: 43%
: Top 30%
: 69% (Top 20%)
: 56% (Top 50%)
: 75-79% (Top 20%)
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), NC Dept. of Education