Enrollment
284
North Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Gaston, NC
Gaston Stem Leadership Academy
Federal NCES profile for Gaston Stem Leadership Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 49/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 370342001410
👥 S:T ratio 54
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 72
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Gaston Stem Leadership Academy earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 90% of North Carolina schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most North Carolina schools.
- #1 of 3
- public schools in Gaston · Resource Index
- 49
- Resource Index · Higher
- 11.4:1
- small classes for North Carolina
- 99.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Gaston Stem Leadership Academy has class sizes smaller than 90% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Gaston Stem Leadership Academy ranks #1 of 3 public schools in Gaston, NC.
School address
District: Northampton County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370342001410 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
25.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
11.4:1
vs 15.8:1 North Carolina avg
-28% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
99.0%
vs 66.0% North Carolina avg
+50% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Gaston Stem Leadership Academy compares with North Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at Gaston Stem Leadership Academy
Gaston Stem Leadership Academy is a high-poverty, mid-sized combined-grade school in Gaston, North Carolina, enrolling 284 students.
Classes run notably small here: at 11.4:1, Gaston Stem Leadership Academy is leaner than roughly 90% of North Carolina schools and 28% under the state's 15.8:1 norm, more adult attention per pupil than most peers.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 99.0% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 284 puts it in the smaller third of North Carolina schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 2,698 scored North Carolina schools.
Against 314 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #47.
Its student body is predominantly African American (87% of enrollment), among the less diverse in the state (diversity index 24/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 142 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 60.2% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Northampton County Schools spends $20,192 per pupil, 68% above the North Carolina average, a better-resourced district than most.
Its district draws 28.1% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 68 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 284 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Among Gaston's public schools, it stands alongside Kipp Gaston College Preparatory (1,143 students): Gaston Stem Leadership Academy is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (11.4:1 vs 16.6:1).
Northampton County Schools also operates Central Elementary (283 students) and Northampton County High School (265 students) alongside Gaston Stem Leadership Academy.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Gaston Stem Leadership Academy compares
Gaston Stem Leadership Academy on the metrics families compare, against North Carolina and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs North Carolina | North Carolina avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 11.4:1 | ▼ 28% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 99.0% | ▲ 50% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 284 | top 79% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.4:1
Leaner classes than 80% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
284
Bigger than 30% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
99.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 50% 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
11.4:1
students per teacher
- 28% below state mean
Top 10% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 90% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
60.2%
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
$20,192
per pupil, district-wide
- above North Carolina avg of $12,017
Well above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting substantially higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 142 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 68 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 23.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
African American 87.0%
White 5.3%
Two or More 4.2%
Hispanic or Latino 3.5%
Largest group: African American at 87.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 23.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 23.7, Gaston Stem Leadership Academy is less mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Northampton County Schools, which includes Gaston Stem Leadership Academy.
$20,192
Per student
+68%
vs North Carolina
Avg $12,017
+22%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 16.9%
State 55.0%
Federal 28.1%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Gaston Stem Leadership Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Northampton County High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Conway Middle | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Northampton Early College | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Northampton Virtual Academy | Smaller | Lower economic need | No ratio data |
Comparisons are relative to Gaston Stem Leadership Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 283
- Students per teacher
- 11.8:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 265
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 259
- Students per teacher
- 13.6:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 148
- Students per teacher
- 21.1:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 12
- Students per teacher
- -
- Resource Index
- 35/100
Similar other schools in Gaston
1 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of North Carolina, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~284 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Gaston Stem Leadership Academy's federal record.
- Compare Gaston Stem Leadership Academy against another school. Compare schools
- Northampton County Schools's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Gaston Stem Leadership Academy
How many students attend Gaston Stem Leadership Academy?
Gaston Stem Leadership Academy has 284 students enrolled. It is a public school in Gaston, NC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Gaston Stem Leadership Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Gaston Stem Leadership Academy is 11.4:1, which is 28% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 27% 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 Gaston Stem Leadership Academy?
99.0% of students at Gaston Stem Leadership Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Gaston Stem Leadership Academy?
The largest demographic group at Gaston Stem Leadership Academy is African American at 87.0% of enrollment, in Gaston, NC.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Gaston Stem Leadership Academy?
Gaston Stem Leadership Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 49/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Gaston Stem Leadership Academy rank among public schools in Gaston?
By Resource Investment Index, Gaston Stem Leadership Academy ranks #1 of 3 public schools in Gaston, 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 Gaston on the city page.
Is Gaston Stem Leadership Academy a good school?
Gaston Stem Leadership Academy earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 90% of North Carolina schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most North Carolina schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Northampton County Schools?
Besides Gaston Stem Leadership Academy, Northampton County Schools also operates Central Elementary (283 students), Northampton County High School (265 students), and Conway Middle (259 students). See the Northampton County Schools district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.