Hawks Nest STEAM Academy

Q: Is Hawks Nest STEAM Academy a good school?

Hawks Nest STEAM Academy ranks 183 rd of 1505 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Hawks Nest STEAM Academy is a high-performing public magnet elementary school in Gastonia, North Carolina, serving 347 students from kindergarten to 5th grade. This school consistently ranks among the top elementary schools in the state, with a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger and exceptional academic performance that outpaces the Gaston County Schools district and the state of North Carolina.

Hawks Nest STEAM Academy boasts a diverse student population, with a higher percentage of White (57.93%) and Asian (2.88%) students compared to nearby schools. The school also has a relatively low percentage of free and reduced lunch recipients at 36.89%, significantly lower than the surrounding schools, which range from 84.24% to 99.65%. Additionally, Hawks Nest STEAM Academy maintains a favorable student-teacher ratio of 15.6, providing a more enriched learning environment for its students.

While the academic performance at Hawks Nest STEAM Academy is exceptional, the nearby schools, such as Woodhill Elementary, New Hope Elementary, and Gardner Park Elementary, have much higher percentages of students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. This suggests that Hawks Nest STEAM Academy may be providing a more enriched educational environment and resources that contribute to its exceptional academic outcomes, even for students from low-income families.

Detail:

Public, Magnet K-5

3430 Robinwood Rd
Gastonia, NC 28054

(704) 866-8467

District: Gaston County Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
183^rd of 1,505 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $9,235

Student/teacher ratio: 15.6

Number of students: 347

Racial breakdown:

White:

57.9%

African American:

23.6%

Hispanic:

9.2%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 36.9%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Hawks Nest STEAM Academy ranks better than 87.8% of elementary schools in North Carolina. It also ranks 2^nd among 26 ranked elementary schools in the Gaston County Schools District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 84.53. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (57.9%), African American (23.6%), Hispanic (9.2%). (See more...)

Compare Details 36.9% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Hawks Nest STEAM Academy is 15.6. 16 elementary schools in the Gaston County Schools District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)

Compare Hawks Nest STEAM Academy employs 22.2 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Hawks Nest STEAM Academy is $9,235, which is the 14^th highest among 26 elementary schools in the Gaston County Schools District.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Hawks Nest STEAM Academy:

SchoolDigger ranks Hawks Nest STEAM Academy 183^rd of 1505 North Carolina public elementary schools. (See Hawks Nest STEAM Academy in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Gifted and Talented students:

Male students:

African American students:

White students:

Gaston County Schools:

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

Average Parent Rating:

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Rank History for Hawks Nest STEAM Academy

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Rank History for all students at Hawks Nest STEAM Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	NC State Percentile
2019	87.48	131^st	1473	91.1%
2021	95.38	47^th	1489	96.8%
2022	92.03	90^th	1514	94.1%
2023	89.42	118^th	1502	92.1%
2024	84.53	183^rd	1505	87.8%

See the entire list of North Carolina Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Hawks Nest STEAM Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	NC State Percentile
2018	83.11	117^th	1332	91.2%
2019	87.84	69^th	1361	94.9%
2021	97.41	11^th	1329	99.2%
2022	98.16	7^th	1366	99.5%
2023	88.13	70^th	1437	95.1%
2024	83.35	112^th	1450	92.3%

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

Rank History for Female students at Hawks Nest STEAM Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	NC State Percentile
2018	84.35	144^th	1405	89.8%
2019	89.13	82^nd	1424	94.2%
2021	92.66	75^th	1440	94.8%
2022	88.99	106^th	1458	92.7%
2023	89.19	103^rd	1459	92.9%
2024	83.09	178^th	1455	87.8%

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

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at Hawks Nest STEAM Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	NC State Percentile
2019	46.33	486^th	612	20.6%
2021	71.77	88^th	494	82.2%
2022	69.52	95^th	500	81.0%
2023	54.17	371^st	582	36.3%
2024	69.91	67^th	669	90.0%

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

Rank History for Male students at Hawks Nest STEAM Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	NC State Percentile
2018	85.15	156^th	1413	89.0%
2019	85.31	159^th	1430	88.9%
2021	94.37	49^th	1444	96.6%
2022	92.61	66^th	1464	95.5%
2023	84.75	157^th	1461	89.3%
2024	82.78	192^nd	1464	86.9%

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

Rank History for African American students at Hawks Nest STEAM Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	NC State Percentile
2018	88.18	42^nd	927	95.5%
2019	90.38	45^th	949	95.3%
2021	99.87	1^st	896	99.9%
2022	94.62	21^st	927	97.7%
2023	85.06	78^th	933	91.6%
2024	80.67	105^th	924	88.6%

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

Rank History for White students at Hawks Nest STEAM Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	NC State Percentile
2018	75.63	258^th	1178	78.1%
2019	75.73	236^th	1183	80.1%
2021	89.23	67^th	1172	94.3%
2022	86.20	100^th	1194	91.6%
2023	81.59	162^nd	1183	86.3%
2024	78.33	219^th	1166	81.2%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina Elementary 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

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 1)

100%

Reviews:
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Enrollment information for Hawks Nest STEAM Academy

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2017	232	87	16	39	1	0	16	391
2018	212	68	17	39	1	0	11	348
2019	221	75	18	27	0	0	8	349
2020	217	72	17	24	0	0	9	339
2021	193	68	13	23	0	0	11	308
2022	212	76	8	25	0	1	18	340
2023	201	82	10	32	0	2	20	347

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 Hawks Nest STEAM Academy

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2017	391	23.9	16.3	42.5
2018	348	22.8	15.2	28.7
2019	349	22.3	15.6	27.2
2020	339	24.0	14.1	25.7
2021	308	25.1	12.2	19.8
2022	340	26.2	12.9	22.1
2023	347	22.2	15.6	36.9

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 Hawks Nest STEAM Academy

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2017	391	23.9	16.3	42.5
2018	348	22.8	15.2	28.7
2019	349	22.3	15.6	27.2
2020	339	24.0	14.1	25.7
2021	308	25.1	12.2	19.8
2022	340	26.2	12.9	22.1
2023	347	22.2	15.6	36.9

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 Hawks Nest STEAM Academy

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$809 (8.8%)	$8,426 (91.2%)	$9,234

Data source: North Carolina Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Hawks Nest STEAM Academy

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 131^st of 1473 Elementary schools	Ranks 118^th of 1502 Elementary schools	1%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade Mathematics (Hawks Nest STEAM Academy)	77.6	90	12.4%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Gaston County Schools)	56.4	55.9	0.5%
3rd Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)	64.3	61.1	3.2%
3rd Grade Reading (Hawks Nest STEAM Academy)	70.7	61.7	9%
3rd Grade Reading (Gaston County Schools)	51.8	40.6	11.2%
3rd Grade Reading (North Carolina)	56.8	48	8.8%
4th Grade Mathematics (Hawks Nest STEAM Academy)	72.2	69.5	2.7%
4th Grade Mathematics (Gaston County Schools)	49.5	47.5	2%
4th Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)	57.3	55.3	2%
4th Grade Reading (Hawks Nest STEAM Academy)	85.2	71.2	14%
4th Grade Reading (Gaston County Schools)	53.6	48.9	4.7%
4th Grade Reading (North Carolina)	57.3	55.3	2%
5th Grade Mathematics (Hawks Nest STEAM Academy)	84.2	82.5	1.7%
5th Grade Mathematics (Gaston County Schools)	52.5	48.6	3.9%
5th Grade Mathematics (North Carolina)	60.2	55.9	4.3%
5th Grade Reading (Hawks Nest STEAM Academy)	80.7	78.9	1.8%
5th Grade Reading (Gaston County Schools)	50.6	42.7	7.9%
5th Grade Reading (North Carolina)	54.6	48	6.6%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	349	347	0.6%
African American	75	82	9.3%
American Indian	0	0
Asian	18	10	44.4%
Hispanic	27	32	18.5%
Pacific Islander	0	2
White	221	201	9%
Two or More Races	8	20	150%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	27.2%	36.9%	9.7%

Schools Near Hawks Nest STEAM Academy

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				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	EOG Mathematics 3rd Grade	EOG Mathematics 4th Grade	EOG Mathematics 5th Grade	EOG Mathematics 6th Grade	EOG Mathematics 7th Grade	EOG Reading 3rd Grade	EOG Reading 4th Grade	EOG Reading 5th Grade	EOG Reading 6th Grade	EOG Reading 7th Grade	EOG Science 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Hawks Nest STEAM Academy	Public, Magnet	K-5	3430 Robinwood Rd	Gastonia	28054	Gaston County	Gaston County Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(704) 866-8467	347	22	15.6	36.9%	201 (57.9%)	82 (23.6%)	32 (9.2%)	10 (2.9%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.6%)	20 (5.8%)	84.5	183^rd of 1505 public elementary schools	87.8%		89.4	118^th of 1502 public elementary schools	92.1%	65	81.7	70.0	67.8			66.7	76.7	72.9			78.0	$9,235	$809	$8,426
Robinson Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3122 S Union Road	Gastonia	28056	Gaston County	Gaston County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 866-6607	419	30	14.1	60.6%	187 (44.6%)	130 (31.0%)	65 (15.5%)	9 (2.1%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (6.4%)	36.1	991^st of 1505 public elementary schools	34.2%		33.8	1025^th of 1502 public elementary schools	31.8%	34	38.7	40.0	42.6			46.7	49.1	41.2			73.5	$8,960	$931	$8,030
H H Beam Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	200 Davis Park Road	Gastonia	28052	Gaston County	Gaston County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 866-6618	510	27	18.8	99.4%	122 (23.9%)	182 (35.7%)	175 (34.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (6.1%)	3.6	1490^th of 1505 public elementary schools	1.0%		5	1476^th of 1502 public elementary schools	1.7%	14	28.9	17.2	18.2			13.2	24.7	23.9			25.0	$9,849	$1,567	$8,282
Sherwood Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1744 Dixon Road	Gastonia	28054	Gaston County	Gaston County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 866-6609	514	29	17.7	84.2%	117 (22.8%)	205 (39.9%)	135 (26.3%)	12 (2.3%)	4 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	41 (8.0%)	10.6	1419^th of 1505 public elementary schools	5.7%		13.3	1364^th of 1502 public elementary schools	9.2%	55	38.4	25.6	25.3			32.9	30.0	31.3			39.8	$8,790	$1,325	$7,465
W A Bess Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4340 Beaty Road	Gastonia	28056	Gaston County	Gaston County Schools	No	No	No	No	(704) 866-6075	622	37	16.8	46.8%	365 (58.7%)	104 (16.7%)	85 (13.7%)	30 (4.8%)	3 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	34 (5.5%)	60.3	577^th of 1505 public elementary schools	61.7%		73	359^th of 1502 public elementary schools	76.1%	218	65.5	58.0	62.2			46.0	58.0	53.8			72.3	$8,590	$655	$7,934
Lingerfeldt Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1601 Madison Street	Gastonia	28052	Gaston County	Gaston County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 866-6094	408	30	13.7	99.3%	59 (14.5%)	232 (56.9%)	89 (21.8%)	2 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	24 (5.9%)	7.8	1447^th of 1505 public elementary schools	3.9%		9	1430^th of 1502 public elementary schools	4.8%	17	32.8	21.7	27.9			16.4	30.4	27.9			44.1	$9,976	$1,609	$8,367
Gardner Park Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	738 Armstrong Park Road	Gastonia	28054	Gaston County	Gaston County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 866-6082	521	39	13.5	99.4%	169 (32.4%)	171 (32.8%)	140 (26.9%)	8 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	32 (6.1%)	15.4	1357^th of 1505 public elementary schools	9.8%		21.3	1242^nd of 1502 public elementary schools	17.3%	115	32.3	33.8	38.3			29.0	32.4	34.0			52.1	$9,619	$1,304	$8,314
Pleasant Ridge Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1260 Floyd Lane	Gastonia	28052	Gaston County	Gaston County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(704) 866-6096	866	57	15.3	99.7%	197 (22.7%)	352 (40.6%)	253 (29.2%)	6 (0.7%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	57 (6.6%)	25	1191^st of 1505 public elementary schools	20.9%		32.3	1051^st of 1502 public elementary schools	30.0%	140	54.2	51.4	32.9			34.8	43.8	34.7			39.6	$8,924	$1,150	$7,774
Ridgeview Charter School	Public, Charter	K-8	207 W. Bradley St.	Gastonia	28052	Gaston County	Ridgeview Charter School	Yes	No	No	Yes	(704) 867-6635	254	18	14.2	92.1%	6 (2.4%)	186 (73.2%)	32 (12.6%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (10.2%)	5.8	1475^th of 1505 public elementary schools	2.0%		2.8	1496^th of 1502 public elementary schools	0.4%	21	8.3	22.7	17.5	9.7	5.6	21.6	45.5	20.0	22.6	11.1	20.0
New Hope Elementary	Public	K-5	137 Stowe Road	Gastonia	28056	Gaston County	Gaston County Schools	No	No	No	No	(704) 836-9112	520	30	17.5	32.7%	374 (71.9%)	55 (10.6%)	46 (8.8%)	17 (3.3%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (5.2%)	86.8	155^th of 1505 public elementary schools	89.7%		84.2	179^th of 1502 public elementary schools	88.1%	24	78.0	84.0	79.5			59.3	74.5	69.3			81.8	$8,471	$727	$7,744

Frequently Asked Questions about Hawks Nest STEAM Academy

What district is Hawks Nest STEAM Academy in?

Gaston County Schools

How many students attend Hawks Nest STEAM Academy?

In the 2022-23 school year, 347 students attended Hawks Nest STEAM Academy.

What is the racial makeup of Hawks Nest STEAM Academy?

Students at Hawks Nest STEAM Academy are 58% White, 24% African American, 9% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races, 3% Asian.

Is Hawks Nest STEAM Academy a good school?

Hawks Nest STEAM Academy ranks 183^rd of 1505 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

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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.