- Enrollment
- 1,386
- Students per teacher
- 24.8:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Gastonia, NC
Southwest Middle
Federal NCES profile for Southwest Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 37/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 370162000712
👥 S:T ratio 35
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 45
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Southwest Middle earns 37/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Carolina median.
- #3 of 3
- middle schools in Gastonia · Resource Index
- 37
- Resource Index · Typical
- 16.3:1
- students per teacher
- 99.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Southwest Middle has class sizes near the North Carolina median. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Southwest Middle ranks #3 of 3 middle schools in Gastonia, NC.
School address
District: Gaston County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370162000712 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+5 students YoY
Southwest Middle held near 809 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+5 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 51.1 → 53.3 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+5 students YoY 370162000712 · Gastonia, NC Middle · MID · TRAD
832 enr · 16.3:1 · 99.6% lunch · RII 37
Nearest enrollment peer: Ashbrook High (1,386 students)
Southwest Middle held near 809 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+5 headcount). Teacher FTE added 51.1 → 53.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Southwest Middle 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
Southwest Middle
832 students
What this shows Southwest Middle reports 832 students on the CCD universe file.
How Southwest Middle compares
Southwest Middle 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 | 16.3:1 | ▲ 3% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 99.6% | ▲ 51% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 832 | top 16% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.3:1
Leaner classes than 36% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
832
Bigger than 87% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
99.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 51% above the North Carolina average of 66.0%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
16.3:1
students per teacher
- 3% above state mean
Top 66% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 34% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
42.4%
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 277 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
212
in-school suspensions + 204 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 25.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 50.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 36.3%
African American 33.7%
White 22.5%
Two or More 6.9%
Asian 0.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 36.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 69.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 69.9, Southwest Middle is more mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
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 Southwest Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ashbrook High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Hunter Huss High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Forestview High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| North Gaston High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| South Point High | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Southwest Middle'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 middle schools in Gastonia
2 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Nationwide middle 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 (~832 students)
Frequently asked questions about Southwest Middle
How many students attend Southwest Middle?
Southwest Middle has 832 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Gastonia, NC. CCD year-over-year: 804 (2022-23) → 809 (2023-24), nearly flat (+5).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Southwest Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Southwest Middle is 16.3:1, which is 3% higher than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 4% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Southwest Middle?
99.6% of students at Southwest Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Southwest Middle?
The largest demographic group at Southwest Middle is Hispanic or Latino at 36.3% of enrollment, in Gastonia, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 69.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Southwest Middle?
Southwest Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 37/100 (typical 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 Southwest Middle rank among middle schools in Gastonia?
By Resource Investment Index, Southwest Middle ranks #3 of 3 middle 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 middle schools in Gastonia on the city page.
What other schools are in Gaston County Schools?
Besides Southwest Middle, 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.