- Enrollment
- 825
- Students per teacher
- 19.6:1
- Resource Index
- 20/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Gadsden, AL
Gaston High School
Federal NCES profile for Gaston High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 26/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 010138000496
👥 S:T ratio 16
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 24
📋 Attendance 36
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Gaston High School earns 26/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 91% of Alabama schools.
- #11 of 11
- schools in Gadsden · Resource Index
- 26
- Resource Index · Lower
- 21.1:1
- large classes for Alabama
- 69.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Gaston High School has class sizes larger than 91% of Alabama schools. Computed live against every Alabama school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Gaston High School ranks #11 of 11 schools in Gadsden, AL.
School address
District: Etowah County · Alabama
NCES ID 010138000496 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-6 students YoY
Gaston High School held near 362 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-6 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 19.0 → 20.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-6 students YoY 010138000496 · Gadsden, AL Other · SMALL · TRAD
380 enr · 21.1:1 · 69.8% lunch · RII 26
Nearest enrollment peer: Southside High School (825 students)
Gaston High School held near 362 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-6 headcount). Teacher FTE added 19.0 → 20.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Alabama schools → · Find another →
Gaston High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Southside High
Southside High School
825 students
- John S Jones E
John S Jones Elementary School
745 students
- Rainbow Middle
Rainbow Middle School
634 students
- Hokes Bluff El
Hokes Bluff Elementary School
610 students
- Southside Elem
Southside Elementary School
585 students
- This school
Gaston High School
380 students
What this shows Gaston High School reports 380 students on the CCD universe file.
How Gaston High School compares
Gaston High School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Alabama and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Alabama | Alabama avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 21.1:1 | ▲ 19% | 17.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 69.8% | ▲ 19% | 58.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 380 | top 68% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
21.1:1
Leaner classes than 13% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
380
Bigger than 44% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
69.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 19% above the Alabama average of 58.8%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
21.1:1
students per teacher
- 19% above state mean
Top 91% in Alabama - lower ratio than 9% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
25.5%
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
$11,215
per pupil, district-wide
- below Alabama avg of $13,538
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 380 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
37
in-school suspensions + 28 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 9.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 17.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 7 expulsions.
Student demographics
White 80.0%
Two or More 8.2%
African American 5.3%
Hispanic or Latino 5.3%
Asian 0.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: White at 80.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 34.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 34.8, Gaston High School is less mixed than the Alabama school average of 42.5.
Programs
District finance for Etowah County reports $11,215 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Gaston High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southside High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| John S Jones Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Rainbow Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Hokes Bluff Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Southside Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Gaston High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 745
- Students per teacher
- 16.2:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 634
- Students per teacher
- 19.8:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 610
- Students per teacher
- 17.4:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 585
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
Similar other schools in Gadsden
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Adams Elementary School
Standard public school
433 students 17.3:1 students per teacher
W E Striplin Elementary School
Standard public school
400 students 20:1 students per teacher
Floyd Elementary School
Standard public school
384 students 24:1 students per teacher
Eura Brown Elementary School
Standard public school
340 students 16.2:1 students per teacher
Gaston Elementary School
Standard public school
290 students 18.1:1 students per teacher
Thompson Elementary School
Standard public school
288 students 26.2:1 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 (~380 students)
Frequently asked questions about Gaston High School
How many students attend Gaston High School?
Gaston High School has 380 students enrolled. It is a public school in Gadsden, AL. CCD year-over-year: 368 (2022-23) → 362 (2023-24), nearly flat (-6).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Gaston High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Gaston High School is 21.1:1, which is 19% higher than the Alabama average of 17.7:1 and 34% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Gaston High School?
69.8% of students at Gaston High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alabama average of 58.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Gaston High School?
The largest demographic group at Gaston High School is White at 80.0% of enrollment, in Gadsden, AL.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Gaston High School?
Gaston High School has a Resource Investment Index of 26/100 (lower 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 Gaston High School rank among schools in Gadsden?
By Resource Investment Index, Gaston High School ranks #11 of 11 schools in Gadsden, AL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Gadsden on the city page.
What other schools are in Etowah County?
Besides Gaston High School, Etowah County also operates Southside High School (825 students), John S Jones Elementary School (745 students), and Rainbow Middle School (634 students). See the Etowah County district page for the complete list.