- Enrollment
- 1,386
- Students per teacher
- 24.8:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Bessemer City, NC
Bessemer City High
Federal NCES profile for Bessemer City High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 34/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 370162000668
👥 S:T ratio 24
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 41
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Bessemer City High earns 34/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 86% of North Carolina schools.
- #4 of 5
- public schools in Bessemer City · Resource Index
- 34
- Resource Index · Typical
- 19:1
- large classes for North Carolina
- 74.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Bessemer City High has class sizes larger than 86% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Bessemer City High ranks #4 of 5 public schools in Bessemer City, NC.
School address
District: Gaston County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370162000668 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-18 students YoY
Bessemer City High held near 548 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-18 headcount).
Teacher FTE held 31.5 → 31.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-18 students YoY 370162000668 · Bessemer City, NC High · MID · TRAD
590 enr · 19:1 · 74.7% lunch · RII 34
Nearest enrollment peer: Ashbrook High (1,386 students)
Bessemer City High held near 548 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-18 headcount). Teacher FTE held 31.5 → 31.6 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Bessemer City High in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Ashbrook High
Ashbrook High
1,386 students
- Hunter Huss Hi
Hunter Huss High
1,165 students
- Forestview Hig
Forestview High
1,133 students
- North Gaston H
North Gaston High
1,061 students
- South Point Hi
South Point High
989 students
- This school
Bessemer City High
590 students
What this shows Bessemer City High reports 590 students on the CCD universe file.
How Bessemer City High compares
Bessemer City High held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs North Carolina and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs North Carolina | North Carolina avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 19:1 | ▲ 20% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 74.7% | ▲ 13% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 590 | top 37% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19:1
Leaner classes than 20% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
590
Bigger than 72% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
74.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 13% above the North Carolina average of 66.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
19:1
students per teacher
- 20% above state mean
Top 86% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 14% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
53.6%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$12,190
per pupil, district-wide
- below North Carolina avg of $12,294
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 295 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
96
in-school suspensions + 159 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 16.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 43.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 43.9%
African American 25.1%
Hispanic or Latino 24.4%
Two or More 5.9%
Asian 0.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: White at 43.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 68.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 68.1, Bessemer City High is more mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
AP courses offered 4
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Gaston County Schools reports $12,190 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Bessemer City High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ashbrook High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Hunter Huss High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Forestview High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| North Gaston High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| South Point High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Bessemer City High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,165
- Students per teacher
- 25.3:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
- Enrollment
- 1,133
- Students per teacher
- 21:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 1,061
- Students per teacher
- 19.6:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 989
- Students per teacher
- 19:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
Nationwide high schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~590 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~19:1)
Frequently asked questions about Bessemer City High
How many students attend Bessemer City High?
Bessemer City High has 590 students enrolled. It is a high school in Bessemer City, NC. CCD year-over-year: 566 (2022-23) → 548 (2023-24), nearly flat (-18).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Bessemer City High?
The student-teacher ratio at Bessemer City High is 19:1, which is 20% higher than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 21% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Bessemer City High?
74.7% of students at Bessemer City High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Bessemer City High?
The largest demographic group at Bessemer City High is White at 43.9% of enrollment, in Bessemer City, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 68.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Bessemer City High?
Bessemer City High has a Resource Investment Index of 34/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Bessemer City High rank among public schools in Bessemer City?
By Resource Investment Index, Bessemer City High ranks #4 of 5 public schools in Bessemer City, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Bessemer City on the city page.
What other schools are in Gaston County Schools?
Besides Bessemer City High, Gaston County Schools also operates Ashbrook High (1,386 students), Hunter Huss High (1,165 students), and Forestview High (1,133 students). See the Gaston County Schools district page for the complete list.