- Enrollment
- 1,386
- Students per teacher
- 24.8:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Gastonia, NC
W a Bess Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for W a Bess Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 38/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 370162002156
👥 S:T ratio 25
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 56
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
W a Bess Elementary School earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 85% of North Carolina schools.
- #7 of 15
- schools in Gastonia · Resource Index
- 38
- Resource Index · Typical
- 18.7:1
- large classes for North Carolina
- 41.6%
- free-lunch eligible
W a Bess Elementary School has class sizes larger than 85% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, W a Bess Elementary School ranks #7 of 15 schools in Gastonia, NC.
School address
District: Gaston County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370162002156 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+19 students YoY
W a Bess Elementary School held near 641 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+19 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 36.9 → 40.4 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+19 students YoY 370162002156 · Gastonia, NC Other · MID · TRAD
674 enr · 18.7:1 · 41.6% lunch · RII 38
Nearest enrollment peer: Ashbrook High (1,386 students)
W a Bess Elementary School held near 641 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+19 headcount). Teacher FTE added 36.9 → 40.4 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
W a Bess Elementary School 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
W a Bess Elementary School
674 students
What this shows W a Bess Elementary School reports 674 students on the CCD universe file.
How W a Bess Elementary School compares
W a Bess Elementary School 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 | 18.7:1 | ▲ 18% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 41.6% | ▼ 37% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 674 | top 27% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.7:1
Leaner classes than 21% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
674
Bigger than 79% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
41.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 37% 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
18.7:1
students per teacher
- 18% above state mean
Top 85% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 15% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
17.7%
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 674 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
24
in-school suspensions + 16 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 3.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 51.2%
African American 18.0%
Hispanic or Latino 16.2%
Asian 8.3%
Two or More 5.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 51.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 66.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 66.9, W a Bess Elementary School 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 W a Bess Elementary School 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 | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| South Point High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to W a Bess Elementary School'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
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
Sherwood Elementary
Standard public school
553 students 19.1:1 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 (~674 students)
Frequently asked questions about W a Bess Elementary School
How many students attend W a Bess Elementary School?
W a Bess Elementary School has 674 students enrolled. It is a public school in Gastonia, NC. CCD year-over-year: 622 (2022-23) → 641 (2023-24), nearly flat (+19).
What is the student-teacher ratio at W a Bess Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at W a Bess Elementary School is 18.7:1, which is 18% higher than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 19% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at W a Bess Elementary School?
41.6% of students at W a Bess Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of W a Bess Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at W a Bess Elementary School is White at 51.2% of enrollment, in Gastonia, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 66.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for W a Bess Elementary School?
W a Bess Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 38/100 (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 W a Bess Elementary School rank among schools in Gastonia?
By Resource Investment Index, W a Bess Elementary School ranks #7 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 W a Bess Elementary School, 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.