- Enrollment
- 1,386
- Students per teacher
- 24.8:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Gastonia, NC
York Chester Middle
Federal NCES profile for York Chester Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 43/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 370162002195
👥 S:T ratio 28
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 73
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
York Chester Middle earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 82% of North Carolina schools.
- #1 of 3
- middle schools in Gastonia · Resource Index
- 43
- Resource Index · Typical
- 18.1:1
- large classes for North Carolina
- 98.4%
- free-lunch eligible
York Chester Middle has class sizes larger than 82% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, York Chester Middle ranks #1 of 3 middle schools in Gastonia, NC.
School address
District: Gaston County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370162002195 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-50 students YoY
York Chester Middle shrank from 431 students in 2022-23 to 381 in 2023-24 (-11.6%).
Teacher FTE added 22.4 → 24.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-50 students YoY 370162002195 · Gastonia, NC Middle · SMALL · TRAD
398 enr · 18.1:1 · 98.4% lunch · RII 43
Nearest enrollment peer: Ashbrook High (1,386 students)
York Chester Middle shrank from 431 students in 2022-23 to 381 in 2023-24 (-11.6%). Teacher FTE added 22.4 → 24.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
York Chester 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 398
York Chester Middle
398 students
What this shows York Chester Middle reports 398 students on the CCD universe file.
How York Chester Middle compares
York Chester Middle is a shrinking campus on CCD: 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 | 18.1:1 | ▲ 15% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 98.4% | ▲ 49% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 398 | top 64% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.1:1
Leaner classes than 24% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
398
Bigger than 47% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
98.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 49% above 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
18.1:1
students per teacher
- 15% above state mean
Top 82% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 18% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
41.5%
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 133 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
127
in-school suspensions + 157 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 31.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 71.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 47.2%
Hispanic or Latino 30.4%
White 18.1%
Two or More 4.3%
Largest group: African American at 47.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 65.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 65.0, York Chester 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 York Chester 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 | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to York Chester 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 (~398 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~18.1:1)
Frequently asked questions about York Chester Middle
How many students attend York Chester Middle?
York Chester Middle has 398 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Gastonia, NC. CCD year-over-year: 431 (2022-23) → 381 (2023-24), down 50.
What is the student-teacher ratio at York Chester Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at York Chester Middle is 18.1:1, which is 15% higher than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 15% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at York Chester Middle?
98.4% of students at York Chester Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of York Chester Middle?
The largest demographic group at York Chester Middle is African American at 47.2% of enrollment, in Gastonia, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 65.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for York Chester Middle?
York Chester Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 43/100 (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 York Chester Middle rank among middle schools in Gastonia?
By Resource Investment Index, York Chester Middle ranks #1 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 York Chester 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.