Southwest Middle

Summary:

Southwest Middle is a public middle school located in Gastonia, North Carolina, serving grades 6-8 with a total enrollment of 804 students. The school is part of the Gaston County Schools district, which is ranked 158 out of 242 districts in North Carolina and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Southwest Middle faces significant challenges compared to state and district averages, as well as nearby schools like Belmont Middle and Cramerton Middle. The school has a more diverse student population, with a higher percentage of African American (34.83%) and Hispanic (33.33%) students. However, it consistently underperforms academically, with proficiency rates in Mathematics, Reading, and Science well below state averages. Additionally, over 99% of Southwest Middle students receive free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high level of economic disadvantage.

These challenges are reflected in Southwest Middle's overall performance, as the school has consistently ranked in the bottom half of North Carolina middle schools, with a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger for most of the past 10 years. The school's performance is particularly low for White, Special Education, and Low Socioeconomic Status student groups, ranking in the bottom 25% of North Carolina middle schools for these subgroups. While the school's Gifted and Talented program is a bright spot, addressing the significant disparities in student achievement, particularly for underrepresented racial groups and students from low-income backgrounds, should be a priority for Southwest Middle and the Gaston County Schools district.


Detail:

Public 6-8

 1 Roadrunner Drive
       Gastonia, NC  28052-6299


(704) 866-6290

District: Gaston County Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
685th of 793 North Carolina Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $8,802 Help


Students who attend Southwest Middle usually attend:

High:    Hunter Huss High

Feeder schools for Southwest Middle:

Elementary:    Chapel Grove Elementary
    H H Beam Elementary
    Pleasant Ridge Elementary

Student/teacher ratio:  15.7 Help
Number of students:  804

Racial breakdown:

African American:
34.8%
Hispanic:
33.3%
White:
25.4%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  99.6% Help


 See top rated North Carolina middle schools

 Compare Southwest Middle to nearby middle schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Southwest Middle ranks worse than 86.4% of middle schools in North Carolina. It also ranks 10th among 11 ranked middle schools in the Gaston County Schools District. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 17.29. (See more...)
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Student population at Southwest Middle is diverse. Racial makeup is: African American (34.8%), Hispanic (33.3%), White (25.4%). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details 99.6% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the highest percentage in the Gaston County Schools District. (See more...)
Teachers
Help
Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Southwest Middle is 15.7, which is the 3rd best among 11 middle schools in the Gaston County Schools District. (See more...)
Help
Compare Southwest Middle employs 51 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Southwest Middle is $8,802, which is the 4th highest among 11 middle schools in the Gaston County Schools District.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Southwest Middle:

SchoolDigger ranks Southwest Middle 685th of 793 North Carolina public middle schools. (See Southwest Middle in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Multi-racial students:
English Language Learner students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Gifted and Talented students:
Male students:
African American students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Gaston County Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Gaston County Schools 158th of 242 North Carolina school districts. (See district ranking list.)


What do you think?

Your rating for Southwest Middle?

Rank History for Southwest Middle

Help
Compare

Rank History for all students at Southwest Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2006 33.45 455th 598 23.9%
2007 22.60 515th 606 15.0%
2008 17.03 536th 620 13.5%
2009 26.06 519th 630 17.6%
2010 26.72 528th 640 17.5%
2011 34.38 484th 648 25.3%
2012 33.90 494th 662 25.4%
2013 33.92 457th 673 32.1%
2014 15.40 545th 627 13.1%
2015 22.78 561st 705 20.4%
2016 22.61 547th 692 21.0%
2017 26.46 520th 694 25.1%
2018 34.04 475th 691 31.3%
2019 38.25 481st 737 34.7%
2021 34.06 478th 741 35.5%
2022 28.22 577th 786 26.6%
2023 26.70 589th 784 24.9%
2024 17.29 685th 793 13.6%
See the entire list of North Carolina Middle School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Southwest Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 37.04 159th 221 28.1%
2019 37.29 160th 237 32.5%
2021 36.14 162nd 248 34.7%
2022 31.38 207th 283 26.9%
2023 34.83 212th 302 29.8%
2024 31.32 227th 306 25.8%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Middle Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Southwest Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 46.12 58th 151 61.6%
2019 51.34 68th 211 67.8%
2021 45.72 96th 236 59.3%
2022 57.13 82nd 312 73.7%
2023 51.82 103rd 318 67.6%
2024 27.22 287th 356 19.4%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Middle Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Southwest Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 17.36 460th 473 2.7%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Middle Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Southwest Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 37.61 394th 604 34.8%
2019 42.72 383rd 639 40.1%
2021 46.64 302nd 633 52.3%
2022 34.01 465th 689 32.5%
2023 40.13 443rd 735 39.7%
2024 25.99 601st 743 19.1%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Middle Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Homeless students at Southwest Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 60.29 21st 71 70.4%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Middle Schools for Homeless Students!

Rank History for Female students at Southwest Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 36.35 457th 656 30.3%
2019 40.86 436th 684 36.3%
2021 33.63 463rd 706 34.4%
2022 27.76 549th 733 25.1%
2023 22.17 602nd 731 17.6%
2024 17.39 647th 738 12.3%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Middle Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Southwest Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 36.82 290th 475 38.9%
2019 25.27 433rd 504 14.1%
2021 37.74 302nd 478 36.8%
2022 30.32 324th 449 27.8%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Middle Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at Southwest Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 71.07 58th 416 86.1%
2021 55.50 239th 448 46.7%
2022 69.34 83rd 450 81.6%
2023 71.98 68th 452 85.0%
2024 62.98 172nd 461 62.7%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Middle Schools for Gifted and Talented Students!

Rank History for Male students at Southwest Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 30.02 489th 665 26.5%
2019 32.26 497th 697 28.7%
2021 33.79 469th 711 34.0%
2022 27.05 561st 748 25.0%
2023 29.82 540th 747 27.7%
2024 16.10 663rd 751 11.7%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Middle Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at Southwest Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 47.70 247th 494 50.0%
2019 54.62 185th 519 64.4%
2021 44.69 256th 533 52.0%
2022 38.31 318th 550 42.2%
2023 39.10 327th 559 41.5%
2024 24.44 467th 560 16.6%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Middle Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Southwest Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 41.93 289th 472 38.8%
2019 30.58 383rd 493 22.3%
2021 47.53 259th 522 50.4%
2022 45.98 288th 541 46.8%
2023 40.88 345th 553 37.6%
2024 27.56 443rd 564 21.5%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Middle Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Southwest Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 27.84 483rd 596 19.0%
2019 35.68 441st 624 29.3%
2021 26.80 497th 632 21.4%
2022 18.94 581st 658 11.7%
2023 14.69 608th 656 7.3%
2024 9.88 626th 652 4.0%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina Middle Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Southwest Middle Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 





Data source: North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)
100%

0%

0%

0%

0%

  

Reviews:
by a student
Monday, October 23, 2017

Open Quote Its not as bad as people make it seem Close Quote



Enrollment information for Southwest Middle

Help
Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 741 181 1 1 1 n/a n/a 0 925
1989 645 149 2 4 0 n/a n/a 0 800
1990 567 149 1 2 0 n/a n/a 0 719
1991 576 187 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 763
1992 546 214 0 1 0 n/a n/a 3 764
1993 561 231 1 2 0 n/a n/a 0 795
1994 518 246 4 3 0 n/a n/a 0 771
1995 403 234 2 6 0 n/a n/a 0 645
1996 403 234 2 6 0 n/a n/a 0 645
1997 414 226 3 4 0 n/a n/a 0 647
1998 544 219 11 8 1 n/a n/a 0 783
1999 577 233 9 18 0 n/a n/a 0 837
2000 548 230 6 23 1 n/a n/a 0 808
2001 516 281 2 27 1 n/a n/a 0 827
2002 599 275 9 36 1 n/a n/a 0 920
2003 599 275 9 36 1 n/a n/a 0 920
2004 605 288 9 31 1 n/a n/a 0 934
2005 604 285 5 60 2 n/a n/a 0 956
2006 499 248 4 67 3 n/a n/a 0 821
2007 448 228 3 54 3 n/a n/a 16 752
2008 439 226 0 67 3 n/a n/a 17 752
2009 433 269 1 86 1 n/a n/a 0 790
2010 423 285 3 106 1 n/a n/a 0 818
2011 416 283 6 115 2 0 28 0 850
2012 397 251 7 115 4 0 34 0 808
2013 389 269 7 115 3 0 35 0 818
2014 403 256 3 129 4 0 24 0 819
2015 399 283 4 147 3 0 31 0 867
2016 333 290 2 142 2 0 30 0 799
2017 327 265 1 151 1 0 35 0 780
2018 324 282 0 185 1 0 33 0 825
2019 313 258 1 214 2 0 49 0 837
2020 292 260 1 218 3 0 67 0 841
2021 271 276 1 227 3 0 56 0 834
2022 220 277 3 228 2 0 42 0 772
2023 204 280 3 268 2 0 47 0 804

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Southwest Middle

Help
Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 925 53.0 17.4 16.2
1989 800 58.0 13.7 22.3
1990 719 58.0 12.3 20.4
1991 763 54.0 14.1 19.3
1992 764 53.0 14.4 15.4
1993 795 49.0 16.2 23.9
1994 771 49.0 15.7 26.3
1995 645 48.0 13.4 31.8
1996 645 48.0 13.4 31.8
1997 647 48.0 13.5 34.5
1998 783 57.0 13.7 27.1
1999 837 57.0 14.7 39.5
2000 808 57.0 14.2 42.7
2001 827 57.0 14.5 46.6
2002 920 57.0 16.1 49.5
2003 920 57.0 16.1 49.5
2004 934 53.0 17.6 54.9
2005 956 53.0 18.0 55.6
2006 821 53.0 15.5 58.6
2007 752 48.7 15.4 63.3
2008 752 47.7 15.8 9
2009 790 46.9 16.8 10.6
2010 818 43.4 18.8 72.2
2011 850 54.0 15.7 75.1
2012 808 50.2 16.0 77
2013 818 48.5 16.8 79.6
2014 819 47.8 17.1 78.1
2015 867 48.0 18.0 99
2016 799 50.0 15.9 97.2
2017 780 47.2 16.5 99.6
2018 825 47.4 17.3 98.4
2019 837 51.7 16.1 99.6
2020 841 54.7 15.3 99.6
2021 834 53.1 15.6 99.6
2022 772 52.5 14.6 99.6
2023 804 51.0 15.7 99.6

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Southwest Middle

Help
Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 925 53.0 17.4 16.2
1989 800 58.0 13.7 22.3
1990 719 58.0 12.3 20.4
1991 763 54.0 14.1 19.3
1992 764 53.0 14.4 15.4
1993 795 49.0 16.2 23.9
1994 771 49.0 15.7 26.3
1995 645 48.0 13.4 31.8
1996 645 48.0 13.4 31.8
1997 647 48.0 13.5 34.5
1998 783 57.0 13.7 27.1
1999 837 57.0 14.7 39.5
2000 808 57.0 14.2 42.7
2001 827 57.0 14.5 46.6
2002 920 57.0 16.1 49.5
2003 920 57.0 16.1 49.5
2004 934 53.0 17.6 54.9
2005 956 53.0 18.0 55.6
2006 821 53.0 15.5 58.6
2007 752 48.7 15.4 63.3
2008 752 47.7 15.8 9
2009 790 46.9 16.8 10.6
2010 818 43.4 18.8 72.2
2011 850 54.0 15.7 75.1
2012 808 50.2 16.0 77
2013 818 48.5 16.8 79.6
2014 819 47.8 17.1 78.1
2015 867 48.0 18.0 99
2016 799 50.0 15.9 97.2
2017 780 47.2 16.5 99.6
2018 825 47.4 17.3 98.4
2019 837 51.7 16.1 99.6
2020 841 54.7 15.3 99.6
2021 834 53.1 15.6 99.6
2022 772 52.5 14.6 99.6
2023 804 51.0 15.7 99.6

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Southwest Middle

Help

YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $1,244 (14.1%) $7,558 (85.9%) $8,802

Data source: North Carolina Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Southwest Middle

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 481st of 737 Middle schoolsRanks 589th of 784 Middle schools
 9.9%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
6th Grade Mathematics (Southwest Middle)52.535.3
 17.2%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Gaston County Schools)62.450.2
 12.2%
   6th Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)58.852.3
 6.5%
6th Grade Reading (Southwest Middle)46.431.4
 15%
   6th Grade Reading (Gaston County Schools)57.147.1
 10%
   6th Grade Reading (North Carolina)6049.3
 10.7%
7th Grade Mathematics (Southwest Middle)51.237.6
 13.6%
   7th Grade Mathematics (Gaston County Schools)58.446.1
 12.3%
   7th Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)58.450.1
 8.3%
7th Grade Reading (Southwest Middle)43.834.1
 9.7%
   7th Grade Reading (Gaston County Schools)55.348.3
 7%
   7th Grade Reading (North Carolina)58.850.2
 8.6%
8th Grade Mathematics (Southwest Middle)53.630.7
 22.9%
   8th Grade Mathematics (Gaston County Schools)54.343.3
 11%
   8th Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)52.644.8
 7.8%
8th Grade Reading (Southwest Middle)49.439.9
 9.5%
   8th Grade Reading (Gaston County Schools)51.151.2
 0.1%
   8th Grade Reading (North Carolina)55.651
 4.6%
8th Grade Science (Southwest Middle)73.563.6
 9.9%
   8th Grade Science (Gaston County Schools)78.667.7
 10.9%
   8th Grade Science (North Carolina)78.670.3
 8.3%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students837804
 3.9%
African American258280
 8.5%
American Indian22
Asian13
 200%
Hispanic214268
 25.2%
Pacific Islander00
White313204
 34.8%
Two or More Races4947
 4.1%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients99.6%99.6%
 0%


Schools Near Southwest Middle









Frequently Asked Questions about Southwest Middle

Students who attend Southwest Middle usually go on to attend Hunter Huss High

Students at Southwest Middle are 35% African American, 33% Hispanic, 25% White, 6% Two or more races.

In the 2022-23 school year, 804 students attended Southwest Middle.

Southwest Middle ranks in the bottom 13.6% of North Carolina middle schools.


Rate Southwest Middle!



Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for Southwest Middle!




SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





Diagnostics

None retrieved from Database in 61 milliseconds.