Needs Improvement
#2485 of 2,648 schools in NC
Bessemer City Central Elem
Elementary School · Gaston County Schools · Bessemer City, NC
A Gaston County Schools elementary school where students score 19 points below what's typical for similar communities.
1400 Puett's Chapel Road, Bessemer City, NC 28016
- Math 31% vs NC 59% (2025)
- Reading 25% vs NC 53% (2025)
- 15.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Bessemer City Central Elem score 28% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 46%).
2025 NC proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NC average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 35 points across the 17-year record (2009–2025) and has held near 28% recently.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 33% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 30% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 36 test records from NC state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
99.2%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where Bessemer City Central Elem sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Open the Charlotte map →
Getting around & local context
- Walk 5Car-Dependent
- Bike 11Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High1,953/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Bessemer City), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$52,058
Median home value
$187,600
Median rent
$880/mo
College educated
12.1%
Homeownership
69%
Poverty rate
12.2%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 28016; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edward D Sadler JR Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 5.6 | PK–5 | 3.0 mi | 360 | Compare → |
| Costner ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 5.2 | PK–5 | 3.3 mi | 453 | Compare → |
| Tryon ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 4.8 | PK–5 | 3.9 mi | 334 | Compare → |
| Webb Street SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 5.0 | PK–12 | 4.4 mi | 161 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Gaston County Schools
- Schools in district
- 56
- Rank in district
- #49 of 56
- District spending per student
- $12,190NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 14.1%Census SAIPE · 2024
Bessemer City Central Elem is listed in Gaston County Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Bessemer City Central Elem
Bessemer City Central Elem is a public elementary school in Bessemer City, NC, part of Gaston County Schools, serving approximately 355 students in grades 3rd-5th with a 15.4:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 3.5 out of 10 and ranks #2,485 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 33% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 30% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Bessemer City Central Elem
What grades does Bessemer City Central Elem serve?
Bessemer City Central Elem serves students in grades 3rd through 5th.
How many students attend Bessemer City Central Elem?
Bessemer City Central Elem has an enrollment of approximately 355 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Bessemer City Central Elem?
The student-teacher ratio at Bessemer City Central Elem is 15.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Bessemer City Central Elem rank in NC?
Bessemer City Central Elem ranks #2,485 of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is Bessemer City Central Elem's MySchoolScout rating?
Bessemer City Central Elem has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.5 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Bessemer City Central Elem?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Bessemer City Central Elem has 33% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 30% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Bessemer City Central Elem a charter school?
No, Bessemer City Central Elem is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Bessemer City Central Elem a Title I school?
No, Bessemer City Central Elem is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Bessemer City Central Elem?
99.2% of students at Bessemer City Central Elem qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 3rd – 5th
- Enrollment
- 355
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 15.4:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 23
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize Suburb
- County
- Gaston County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 29.9%
- Phone
- (704) 836-9108
- Area population (ZIP 28016)
- 12,882
- Area average commute
- 25.9 min
- Area median age
- 46.4
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 NC · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 NC · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 28016; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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