- Enrollment
- 1,386
- Students per teacher
- 24.8:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Gastonia, NC
W P Grier Middle School
Federal NCES profile for W P Grier Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 38/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 370162000687
👥 S:T ratio 27
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 56
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
W P Grier Middle School earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 83% of North Carolina schools.
- #2 of 3
- middle schools in Gastonia · Resource Index
- 38
- Resource Index · Typical
- 18.3:1
- large classes for North Carolina
- 99.5%
- free-lunch eligible
W P Grier Middle School has class sizes larger than 83% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, W P Grier Middle School ranks #2 of 3 middle schools in Gastonia, NC.
School address
District: Gaston County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370162000687 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-23 students YoY
W P Grier Middle School held near 587 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-23 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 36.1 → 30.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-23 students YoY 370162000687 · Gastonia, NC Middle · MID · TRAD
659 enr · 18.3:1 · 99.5% lunch · RII 38
Nearest enrollment peer: Ashbrook High (1,386 students)
W P Grier Middle School held near 587 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-23 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 36.1 → 30.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
W P Grier Middle 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 P Grier Middle School
659 students
What this shows W P Grier Middle School reports 659 students on the CCD universe file.
How W P Grier Middle School compares
W P Grier Middle 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 | 18.3:1 | ▲ 16% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 99.5% | ▲ 51% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 659 | top 28% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.3:1
Leaner classes than 23% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
659
Bigger than 77% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
99.5%
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
18.3:1
students per teacher
- 16% above state mean
Top 83% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 17% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
47.2%
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 220 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
219
in-school suspensions + 290 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 33.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 77.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 52.8%
Hispanic or Latino 29.1%
White 9.6%
Two or More 6.8%
Asian 1.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: African American at 52.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 62.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 62.2, W P Grier Middle 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 P Grier Middle School 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 | Similar S:T ratio |
| South Point High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to W P Grier Middle 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 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 (~659 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~18.3:1)
Frequently asked questions about W P Grier Middle School
How many students attend W P Grier Middle School?
W P Grier Middle School has 659 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Gastonia, NC. CCD year-over-year: 610 (2022-23) → 587 (2023-24), nearly flat (-23).
What is the student-teacher ratio at W P Grier Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at W P Grier Middle School is 18.3:1, which is 16% higher than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 17% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at W P Grier Middle School?
99.5% of students at W P Grier Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of W P Grier Middle School?
The largest demographic group at W P Grier Middle School is African American at 52.8% of enrollment, in Gastonia, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 62.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for W P Grier Middle School?
W P Grier Middle 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 P Grier Middle School rank among middle schools in Gastonia?
By Resource Investment Index, W P Grier Middle School ranks #2 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 W P Grier Middle 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.