- Enrollment
- 1,386
- Students per teacher
- 24.8:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Gastonia, NC
Highland Sch of Technology
Federal NCES profile for Highland Sch of Technology, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 56/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 370162002521
👥 S:T ratio 48
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 46
📋 Attendance 58
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Highland Sch of Technology earns 56/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 77% of North Carolina schools.
- #1 of 4
- high schools in Gastonia · Resource Index
- 56
- Resource Index · Higher
- 13.1:1
- small classes for North Carolina
- 23.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Highland Sch of Technology has class sizes smaller than 77% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Highland Sch of Technology ranks #1 of 4 high schools in Gastonia, NC.
School address
District: Gaston County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370162002521 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+14 students YoY
Highland Sch of Technology held near 528 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+14 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 41.0 → 39.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+14 students YoY 370162002521 · Gastonia, NC High · MID · TRAD
538 enr · 13.1:1 · 23.5% lunch · RII 56
Nearest enrollment peer: Ashbrook High (1,386 students)
Highland Sch of Technology held near 528 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+14 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 41.0 → 39.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Highland Sch of Technology 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 538
Highland Sch of Technology
538 students
What this shows Highland Sch of Technology reports 538 students on the CCD universe file.
How Highland Sch of Technology compares
Highland Sch of Technology held steady on CCD headcount: 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 | 13.1:1 | ▼ 17% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 23.5% | ▼ 64% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 538 | top 43% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.1:1
Leaner classes than 66% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
538
Bigger than 66% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
23.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 64% below the North Carolina average of 66.0%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
13.1:1
students per teacher
- 17% below state mean
Top 23% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 77% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
16.7%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
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 269 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
11
in-school suspensions + 22 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 6.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 60.8%
African American 15.1%
Hispanic or Latino 13.9%
Asian 5.8%
Two or More 4.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: White at 60.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 58.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 58.3, Highland Sch of Technology is more mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
AP courses offered 13
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 Highland Sch of Technology 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 | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| North Gaston High | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| South Point High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Highland Sch of Technology'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 high schools in Gastonia
3 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Nationwide high 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 (~538 students)
Frequently asked questions about Highland Sch of Technology
How many students attend Highland Sch of Technology?
Highland Sch of Technology has 538 students enrolled. It is a high school in Gastonia, NC. CCD year-over-year: 514 (2022-23) → 528 (2023-24), nearly flat (+14).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Highland Sch of Technology?
The student-teacher ratio at Highland Sch of Technology is 13.1:1, which is 17% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 17% 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 Highland Sch of Technology?
23.5% of students at Highland Sch of Technology are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Highland Sch of Technology?
The largest demographic group at Highland Sch of Technology is White at 60.8% of enrollment, in Gastonia, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 58.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Highland Sch of Technology?
Highland Sch of Technology has a Resource Investment Index of 56/100 (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 Highland Sch of Technology rank among high schools in Gastonia?
By Resource Investment Index, Highland Sch of Technology ranks #1 of 4 high 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 high schools in Gastonia on the city page.
What other schools are in Gaston County Schools?
Besides Highland Sch of Technology, 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.