Best Public Schools in Gaston, SC

The city of Gaston, South Carolina is home to two middle schools: Frances F. Mack Intermediate and Sandhills Middle. Both schools are struggling academically, with significantly lower test scores compared to state averages and low rankings among South Carolina middle schools.

According to the data, neither Frances F. Mack Intermediate nor Sandhills Middle can be considered standout schools. Both institutions have proficiency rates in English Language Arts and Mathematics that fall well below state benchmarks. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, only 36.7% of 5th graders at Frances F. Mack Intermediate were proficient or better in ELA, compared to the state average of 55.7%. Similarly, just 22.3% of 6th graders at the school were proficient or better in Mathematics, compared to the state average of 38.4%. Sandhills Middle also exhibits low proficiency rates, with only 29.4% of 7th graders and 26.3% of 8th graders scoring proficient or better in ELA, far below the state averages of 50.2% and 50.3%, respectively.

Despite the relatively high per-student spending and low student-teacher ratios at both schools, the data suggests a disconnect between funding and academic outcomes. Both Frances F. Mack Intermediate and Sandhills Middle are rated 1 out of 5 stars by Lexington 04 district, indicating they are among the lowest-performing schools in the state. This underscores the need for a more comprehensive approach to addressing the challenges faced by these institutions, beyond simply increasing resources.