Enrollment
283
North Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
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 →
Teachers (FTE)
32.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
8.8:1
vs 15.8:1 North Carolina avg
-44% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
52.2%
vs 66.0% North Carolina avg
-21% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Gaston Virtual Academy compares with North Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at Gaston Virtual Academy
Gaston Virtual Academy is a higher-need, mid-sized combined-grade school in Gastonia, North Carolina, enrolling 283 students.
Classes run notably small here: at 8.8:1, Gaston Virtual Academy is leaner than roughly 96% of North Carolina schools and 44% under the state's 15.8:1 norm, more adult attention per pupil than most peers.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 52.2% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 283 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 229 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #38.
Its student body is led by White (54%) and African American (29%) (diversity index 61/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 94 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 68.6% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 19.4% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Gastonia's public schools, it stands alongside Piedmont Community Charter School (1,963 students): Gaston Virtual Academy is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (8.8:1 vs 16.9:1).
Gaston County Schools also operates Ashbrook High (1,386 students) and Hunter Huss High (1,165 students) alongside Gaston Virtual 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 Virtual Academy compares
Gaston Virtual 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 | 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 (what these measure)
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
$11,409
per pupil, district-wide
- below North Carolina avg of $12,017
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.
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
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
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Gaston County Schools, which includes Gaston Virtual Academy.
$11,409
Per student
-5%
vs North Carolina
Avg $12,017
-31%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 16.3%
State 64.3%
Federal 19.4%
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 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
- 1,386
- Students per teacher
- 24.8:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- 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
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 (~283 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Gaston Virtual Academy's federal record.
- Compare Gaston Virtual Academy against another school. Compare schools
- Gaston 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 Virtual Academy
How many students attend Gaston Virtual Academy?
Gaston Virtual Academy has 283 students enrolled. It is a public school in Gastonia, NC.
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, AP course offerings, counselor availability, attendance rates. 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.
Is Gaston Virtual Academy a good school?
Gaston Virtual Academy earns 54/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 96% of 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 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.
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.