Gaston Early College High School

Summary:

Gaston Early College High School is a public high school in Dallas, North Carolina, serving grades 9-13 with a student population of 230. This school stands out as a high-performing institution within the Gaston County Schools district, consistently ranking among the top 10 high schools in the state and delivering exceptional academic outcomes for its diverse student body.

Gaston Early College High School's academic performance is truly remarkable, with proficiency rates in end-of-course tests significantly exceeding the district and state averages. In the 2022-2023 school year, the school achieved 98.1% proficiency in Biology, 100% proficiency in English II and Math I, and 99.9% proficiency in Math III. This outstanding performance has earned the school a statewide ranking of 1 out of 626 high schools, placing it in the top 0.2% in North Carolina. The school's success extends across diverse student groups, including female, male, African American, Hispanic, White, low socioeconomic status, and gifted and talented students.

Compared to nearby high schools in the Gaston County Schools district, such as Stuart W Cramer High, Forestview High, and Ashbrook High, Gaston Early College High School stands out with its exceptional academic performance and statewide recognition. This success is particularly noteworthy given the school's relatively low per-student spending and higher student-teacher ratio compared to some of its high-performing counterparts, such as Highland School of Technology.

Detail:

Public 9-12

201 Hwy 321 South
Dallas, NC 28034

(704) 922-2405

District: Gaston County Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $7,351

Student/teacher ratio: 23.0

Number of students: 230

Racial breakdown:

White:

57.8%

Hispanic:

20.9%

African American:

13.9%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 40.9%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Gaston Early College High School is not ranked due for the most recent year due to insufficient test score data. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 96.78. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details Student population at Gaston Early College High School is diverse. Racial makeup is: White (57.8%), Hispanic (20.9%), African American (13.9%). (See more...)

Compare Details 40.9% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Gaston Early College High School is 23. 9 high schools in the Gaston County Schools District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)

Compare Gaston Early College High School employs 10 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Gaston Early College High School is $7,351, which is the lowest among 12 high schools in the Gaston County Schools District!

Schooldigger Rankings:

Gaston Early College High School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

Gaston County Schools:

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

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Rank History for Gaston Early College High School

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Rank History for all students at Gaston Early College High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NC State Percentile
2021	97.64	10^th	594	98.3%
2022	97.10	5^th	621	99.2%
2023	96.78	1^st	626	99.8%

See the entire list of North Carolina High School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Gaston Early College High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NC State Percentile
2022	99.11	8^th	544	98.5%
2023	98.47	5^th	597	99.2%
2024	98.79	1^st	613	99.8%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Gaston Early College High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NC State Percentile
2022	95.57	12^th	594	98.0%
2023	96.54	3^rd	588	99.5%
2024	96.25	6^th	602	99.0%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at Gaston Early College High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NC State Percentile
2022	67.84	128^th	398	67.8%
2023	81.26	27^th	403	93.3%
2024	78.83	20^th	403	95.0%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Gifted and Talented Students!

Rank History for Male students at Gaston Early College High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NC State Percentile
2022	97.67	3^rd	585	99.5%
2023	96.56	12^th	602	98.0%
2024	96.94	2^nd	607	99.7%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at Gaston Early College High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NC State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2022	99.44	6^th	430	98.6%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Gaston Early College High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NC State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2022	98.42	12^th	436	97.2%
2023	98.66	6^th	449	98.7%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Gaston Early College High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NC State Percentile
2022	93.67	27^th	534	94.9%
2023	95.61	2^nd	537	99.6%
2024	95.02	5^th	553	99.1%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina High 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.

Data source: North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction

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Enrollment information for Gaston Early College High School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Two or More Races	Total
2011	83	15	0	6	1	0	105
2012	97	18	0	11	1	2	129
2013	70	19	0	11	1	5	106
2014	91	16	2	16	0	10	135
2015	114	17	4	23	0	12	170
2016	138	18	6	24	0	12	198
2017	159	19	6	29	0	13	226
2018	174	14	7	35	0	9	239
2019	166	17	7	42	0	5	237
2020	169	20	7	40	0	9	245
2021	151	28	6	45	0	5	235
2022	149	26	5	48	0	10	238
2023	133	32	7	48	0	10	230

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 Gaston Early College High School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2011	105	n/a	n/a	55.2
2012	129	6.0	21.2	55.8
2013	106	8.3	12.6	59.4
2014	135	8.3	16.1	57
2015	170	8.0	21.2	42.9
2016	198	9.0	22.0	41.9
2017	226	10.0	22.6	41.6
2018	239	10.0	23.9	39.3
2019	237	9.9	23.7	36.3
2020	245	9.7	25.1	33.1
2021	235	10.0	23.5	31.5
2022	238	10.0	23.8	23.9
2023	230	10.0	23.0	40.9

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 Gaston Early College High School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2011	105	n/a	n/a	55.2
2012	129	6.0	21.2	55.8
2013	106	8.3	12.6	59.4
2014	135	8.3	16.1	57
2015	170	8.0	21.2	42.9
2016	198	9.0	22.0	41.9
2017	226	10.0	22.6	41.6
2018	239	10.0	23.9	39.3
2019	237	9.9	23.7	36.3
2020	245	9.7	25.1	33.1
2021	235	10.0	23.5	31.5
2022	238	10.0	23.8	23.9
2023	230	10.0	23.0	40.9

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 Gaston Early College High School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$466 (6.3%)	$6,886 (93.7%)	$7,351

Data source: North Carolina Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Gaston Early College High School

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.

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
End of Course Biology (Gaston Early College High School)	94.2	98.1	3.9%
End of Course Biology (Gaston County Schools)	59.9	56.2	3.7%
End of Course Biology (North Carolina)	59.6	54.1	5.5%
End of Course Math I (Gaston Early College High School)	100	100
End of Course Math I (Gaston County Schools)	49.6	39	10.6%
End of Course Math I (North Carolina)	41.2	35.9	5.3%
End of Course Math III (Gaston Early College High School)	96.2	99.9	3.7%
End of Course Math III (Gaston County Schools)	43.5	58.7	15.2%
End of Course Math III (North Carolina)	46.8	58.3	11.5%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	237	230	3%
African American	17	32	88.2%
American Indian	0	0
Asian	7	7
Hispanic	42	48	14.3%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	166	133	19.9%
Two or More Races	5	10	100%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	36.3%	40.9%	4.6%

Schools Near Gaston Early College High School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				EOC Biology (2024)	EOC English II (2024)	EOC Math I (2024)	EOC Math III (2024)	EOG Mathematics (2024)	EOG Reading (2024)	EOG Science (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	EOC Biology End of Course	EOC English II End of Course	EOC Math I End of Course	EOC Math III End of Course	EOG Mathematics 7th Grade	EOG Reading 7th Grade	EOG Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Gaston Early College High School	Public	9-12	201 Hwy 321 South	Dallas	28034	Gaston County	Gaston County Schools	No	No	No	No	(704) 922-2405	230	10	23.0	40.9%	133 (57.8%)	32 (13.9%)	48 (20.9%)	7 (3.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (4.3%)								(n/a)				100.0				$7,351	$466	$6,886
Gaston Early College of Medical Sciences	Public	9-12	300 Rhodes Perimeter Drive	Dallas	28034	Gaston County	Gaston County Schools	No	No	No	No	(704) 923-8480	113	7	16.1	52.2%	49 (43.4%)	27 (23.9%)	20 (17.7%)	9 (8.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (7.1%)	95.5	23^rd of 640 public high schools	96.4%		96	10^th of 626 public high schools	98.4%	13	91.5	94.7	96.5	100.0
North Gaston High	Public	9-12	1133 Ratchford Road	Dallas	28034	Gaston County	Gaston County Schools	No	No	No	No	(704) 922-5285	1,134	55	20.6	63.3%	554 (48.9%)	270 (23.8%)	233 (20.5%)	12 (1.1%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.2%)	62 (5.5%)	32.5	424^th of 640 public high schools	33.8%		34.4	401^st of 626 public high schools	35.9%	23	52.3	42.4	33.5	48.4				$8,686	$748	$7,938
Highland School of Technology	Public, Magnet	9-12	1600 N Morris Street	Gastonia	28052	Gaston County	Gaston County Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(704) 810-8816	514	41	12.5	28.0%	323 (62.8%)	71 (13.8%)	72 (14.0%)	30 (5.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (3.5%)	96.6	6^th of 640 public high schools	99.1%					(n/a)		100.0	100.0	100.0				$10,033	$715	$9,318
Warlick Academy	Public	6-12	1316 Spencer Mountain Road	Gastonia	28054	Gaston County	Gaston County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 836-9608	175	15	11.4	98.3%	50 (28.6%)	96 (54.9%)	10 (5.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (10.9%)	2	633^rd of 640 public high schools	1.1%					(n/a)	5.9	15.8			6.9	10.3	8.3	$18,894	$2,248	$16,646
Hunter Huss High	Public	9-12	1518 Edgefield Avenue	Gastonia	28052	Gaston County	Gaston County Schools	No	No	No	No	(704) 866-6610	1,120	46	24.0	79.7%	244 (21.8%)	461 (41.2%)	351 (31.3%)	1 (0.1%)	5 (0.4%)	2 (0.2%)	56 (5.0%)	17.8	532^nd of 640 public high schools	16.9%		19.6	510^th of 626 public high schools	18.5%	22	32.1	29.2	34.0	31.0				$9,702	$791	$8,910
Bessemer City High	Public	9-12	119 Yellow Jacket Lane	Bessemer City	28016	Gaston County	Gaston County Schools	No	No	No	No	(704) 836-9601	566	32	17.9	79.9%	260 (45.9%)	157 (27.7%)	115 (20.3%)	2 (0.4%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	29 (5.1%)	23.9	491^st of 640 public high schools	23.3%		32.2	416^th of 626 public high schools	33.5%	75	31.9	37.2	40.4	40.7				$9,616	$754	$8,862
Ashbrook High	Public	9-12	2222 S New Hope Road	Gastonia	28054	Gaston County	Gaston County Schools	No	No	No	No	(704) 866-6600	1,303	56	23.1	71.7%	309 (23.7%)	566 (43.4%)	333 (25.6%)	22 (1.7%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	71 (5.4%)	15.5	550^th of 640 public high schools	14.1%		23	495^th of 626 public high schools	20.9%	55	30.2	38.2	22.8	31.8				$8,726	$738	$7,988
East Gaston High	Public	9-12	1744 Lane Road	Mount Holly	28120	Gaston County	Gaston County Schools	No	No	No	No	(704) 836-9613	883	48	18.3	48.2%	607 (68.7%)	108 (12.2%)	124 (14.0%)	3 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	40 (4.5%)	53.1	281^st of 640 public high schools	56.1%		49.3	294^th of 626 public high schools	53.0%	13	56.9	54.3	56.3	59.5				$10,078	$870	$9,208
Stuart W Cramer High	Public	9-12	101 Lakewood Rd	Belmont	28012	Gaston County	Gaston County Schools	No	No	No	No	(704) 866-5700	964	52	18.5	44.6%	572 (59.3%)	184 (19.1%)	127 (13.2%)	22 (2.3%)	3 (0.3%)	2 (0.2%)	54 (5.6%)	47.7	313^th of 640 public high schools	51.1%		42.5	333^rd of 626 public high schools	46.8%	20	42.4	61.7	53.8	58.0				$8,748	$608	$8,139

Frequently Asked Questions about Gaston Early College High School

What is the racial makeup of Gaston Early College High School?

Students at Gaston Early College High School are 58% White, 21% Hispanic, 14% African American, 4% Two or more races, 3% Asian.

How many students attend Gaston Early College High School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 230 students attended Gaston Early College High School.

What district is Gaston Early College High School in?

Gaston County Schools

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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.