- Enrollment
- 1,386
- Students per teacher
- 24.8:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Gastonia, NC
Gardner Park Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Gardner Park Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 50/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 370162000683
👥 S:T ratio 41
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 44
📋 Attendance 45
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Gardner Park Elementary earns 50/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Carolina median.
- #3 of 15
- schools in Gastonia · Resource Index
- 50
- Resource Index · Higher
- 14.7:1
- students per teacher
- 99.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Gardner Park Elementary has class sizes near the North Carolina median. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Gardner Park Elementary ranks #3 of 15 schools in Gastonia, NC.
School address
District: Gaston County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370162000683 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+28 students YoY
Gardner Park Elementary grew from 521 students in 2022-23 to 549 in 2023-24 (+5.4%).
Teacher FTE added 38.5 → 40.3 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+28 students YoY 370162000683 · Gastonia, NC Other · MID · TRAD
560 enr · 14.7:1 · 99.4% lunch · RII 50
Nearest enrollment peer: Ashbrook High (1,386 students)
Gardner Park Elementary grew from 521 students in 2022-23 to 549 in 2023-24 (+5.4%). Teacher FTE added 38.5 → 40.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Gardner Park Elementary 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
Gardner Park Elementary
560 students
What this shows Gardner Park Elementary reports 560 students on the CCD universe file.
How Gardner Park Elementary compares
Gardner Park Elementary is a growing campus on CCD: 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 | 14.7:1 | ▼ 7% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 99.4% | ▲ 51% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 560 | top 40% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.7:1
Leaner classes than 50% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
560
Bigger than 69% 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
14.7:1
students per teacher
- 7% below state mean
Top 45% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 55% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
21.8%
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 280 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
44
in-school suspensions + 30 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 7.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 13.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 34.5%
African American 33.2%
White 22.5%
Two or More 7.9%
Asian 1.8%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 34.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 71.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 71.4, Gardner Park Elementary 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 Gardner Park Elementary 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 | Higher S:T ratio |
| South Point High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Gardner Park Elementary'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
Similar other schools in Gastonia
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Piedmont Community Charter School
Standard public school
1,963 students 16.9:1 students per teacher
Pleasant Ridge Elementary
Standard public school
887 students 15.8:1 students per teacher
W a Bess Elementary School
Standard public school
674 students 18.7:1 students per teacher
H H Beam Elementary
Standard public school
591 students 21.9:1 students per teacher
Woodhill Elementary
Standard public school
577 students 19.2:1 students per teacher
Sherwood Elementary
Standard public school
553 students 19.1:1 students per teacher
Nationwide other 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 (~560 students)
Frequently asked questions about Gardner Park Elementary
How many students attend Gardner Park Elementary?
Gardner Park Elementary has 560 students enrolled. It is a public school in Gastonia, NC. CCD year-over-year: 521 (2022-23) → 549 (2023-24), up 28.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Gardner Park Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Gardner Park Elementary is 14.7:1, which is 7% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 6% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Gardner Park Elementary?
99.4% of students at Gardner Park Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Gardner Park Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Gardner Park Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 34.5% of enrollment, in Gastonia, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 71.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Gardner Park Elementary?
Gardner Park Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 50/100 (higher 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 Gardner Park Elementary rank among schools in Gastonia?
By Resource Investment Index, Gardner Park Elementary ranks #3 of 15 schools in Gastonia, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Gastonia on the city page.
What other schools are in Gaston County Schools?
Besides Gardner Park Elementary, 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.