- Enrollment
- 1,386
- Students per teacher
- 24.8:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Bessemer City, NC
Bessemer City Middle
Federal NCES profile for Bessemer City Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 35/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 370162000694
👥 S:T ratio 24
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 37
📋 Attendance 8
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Bessemer City Middle earns 35/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 87% of North Carolina schools.
- #2 of 5
- public schools in Bessemer City · Resource Index
- 35
- Resource Index · Typical
- 19.1:1
- large classes for North Carolina
- 99.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Bessemer City Middle has class sizes larger than 87% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Bessemer City Middle ranks #2 of 5 public schools in Bessemer City, NC.
School address
District: Gaston County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370162000694 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+2 students YoY
Bessemer City Middle held near 502 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+2 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 26.9 → 26.4 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+2 students YoY 370162000694 · Bessemer City, NC Middle · SMALL · TRAD
497 enr · 19.1:1 · 99.4% lunch · RII 35
Nearest enrollment peer: Ashbrook High (1,386 students)
Bessemer City Middle held near 502 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+2 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 26.9 → 26.4 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Bessemer City Middle 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 497
Bessemer City Middle
497 students
What this shows Bessemer City Middle reports 497 students on the CCD universe file.
How Bessemer City Middle compares
Bessemer City Middle 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 | 19.1:1 | ▲ 21% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 99.4% | ▲ 51% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 497 | top 49% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19.1:1
Leaner classes than 19% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
497
Bigger than 61% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
99.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 51% above the North Carolina average of 66.0%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
19.1:1
students per teacher
- 21% above state mean
Top 87% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 13% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
36.6%
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
Counselors1.6 FTE
Per 313 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
89
in-school suspensions + 175 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 17.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 53.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 41.2%
African American 27.4%
Hispanic or Latino 23.7%
Two or More 7.0%
Asian 0.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: White at 41.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 69.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 69.4, Bessemer City Middle is more mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
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 Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ashbrook High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Hunter Huss High | Larger | Lower 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 Middle'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 middle 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 (~497 students)
Frequently asked questions about Bessemer City Middle
How many students attend Bessemer City Middle?
Bessemer City Middle has 497 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Bessemer City, NC. CCD year-over-year: 500 (2022-23) → 502 (2023-24), nearly flat (+2).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Bessemer City Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Bessemer City Middle is 19.1:1, which is 21% higher than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 22% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Bessemer City Middle?
99.4% of students at Bessemer City Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Bessemer City Middle?
The largest demographic group at Bessemer City Middle is White at 41.2% of enrollment, in Bessemer City, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 69.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Bessemer City Middle?
Bessemer City Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 35/100 (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 Middle rank among public schools in Bessemer City?
By Resource Investment Index, Bessemer City Middle ranks #2 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 Middle, 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.