- Enrollment
- 1,386
- Students per teacher
- 24.8:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Gastonia, NC
Gaston Virtual Academy
Federal NCES profile for Gaston Virtual Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 54/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 370162003433
👥 S:T ratio 65
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 81
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Gaston Virtual Academy earns 54/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 96% of North Carolina schools.
- #1 of 15
- schools in Gastonia · Resource Index
- 54
- Resource Index · Higher
- 8.8:1
- small classes for North Carolina
- 52.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Gaston Virtual Academy has class sizes smaller than 96% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Gaston Virtual Academy ranks #1 of 15 schools in Gastonia, NC.
School address
District: Gaston County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370162003433 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-139 students YoY
Gaston Virtual Academy shrank from 462 students in 2022-23 to 323 in 2023-24 (-30.1%).
Teacher FTE lost 32.1 → 26.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-139 students YoY 370162003433 · Gastonia, NC Other · SMALL · TRAD
283 enr · 8.8:1 · 52.2% lunch · RII 54
Nearest enrollment peer: Ashbrook High (1,386 students)
Gaston Virtual Academy shrank from 462 students in 2022-23 to 323 in 2023-24 (-30.1%). Teacher FTE lost 32.1 → 26.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Gaston Virtual Academy 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 283
Gaston Virtual Academy
283 students
What this shows Gaston Virtual Academy reports 283 students on the CCD universe file.
How Gaston Virtual Academy compares
Gaston Virtual Academy is a shrinking 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 | 8.8:1 | ▼ 44% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 52.2% | ▼ 21% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 283 | top 79% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
8.8:1
Leaner classes than 93% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
283
Bigger than 30% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
52.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 21% below 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
8.8:1
students per teacher
- 44% below state mean
Top 4% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 96% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
68.6%
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
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 94 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 53.7%
African American 29.0%
Hispanic or Latino 9.9%
Two or More 5.7%
Asian 1.8%
Largest group: White at 53.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 61.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 61.4, Gaston Virtual Academy is more mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
AP courses offered 2
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 Gaston Virtual Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ashbrook High | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Hunter Huss High | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Forestview High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| North Gaston High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| South Point High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Gaston Virtual Academy'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
Gardner Park Elementary
Standard public school
560 students 14.7:1 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 (~283 students)
Frequently asked questions about Gaston Virtual Academy
How many students attend Gaston Virtual Academy?
Gaston Virtual Academy has 283 students enrolled. It is a public school in Gastonia, NC. CCD year-over-year: 462 (2022-23) → 323 (2023-24), down 139.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Gaston Virtual Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Gaston Virtual Academy is 8.8:1, which is 44% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 44% 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 Virtual Academy?
52.2% of students at Gaston Virtual Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Gaston Virtual Academy?
The largest demographic group at Gaston Virtual Academy is White at 53.7% of enrollment, in Gastonia, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 61.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Gaston Virtual Academy?
Gaston Virtual Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 54/100 (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 Gaston Virtual Academy rank among schools in Gastonia?
By Resource Investment Index, Gaston Virtual Academy ranks #1 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 Gaston Virtual Academy, 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.