Below Average
#2164 of 2,648 schools in NC
Bessemer City Middle
Middle School · Gaston County Schools · Bessemer City, NC
A Gaston County Schools middle school where students score 12 points below what's typical for similar communities.
525 Ed Wilson Road, Bessemer City, NC 28016
- Math 35% vs NC 54% (2025)
- Reading 36% vs NC 53% (2025)
- 19.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Bessemer City Middle score 35% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 47%).
2025 NC proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NC average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 6 points since 2020, reaching 36% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 34% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 35% (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
97.2%
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 Middle 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 8Car-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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gaston Virtual AcademyEnrollment path unverified | 5.9 | K–12 | 4.4 mi | 323 | Compare → |
| Webb Street SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 5.0 | PK–12 | 5.0 mi | 161 | Compare → |
| Belmont MiddleEnrollment path unverified | 7.0 | 6–8 | Not available | 765 | Compare → |
| Cramerton MiddleEnrollment path unverified | 8.0 | 6–8 | Not available | 919 | 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
- #37 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 Middle is listed in Gaston County Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Bessemer City Middle
Bessemer City Middle is a public middle school in Bessemer City, NC, part of Gaston County Schools, serving approximately 502 students in grades 6th-8th with a 19.3:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.6 out of 10 and ranks #2,164 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 34% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 35% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Bessemer City Middle
What grades does Bessemer City Middle serve?
Bessemer City Middle serves students in grades 6th through 8th.
How many students attend Bessemer City Middle?
Bessemer City Middle has an enrollment of approximately 502 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Bessemer City Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Bessemer City Middle is 19.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Bessemer City Middle rank in NC?
Bessemer City Middle ranks #2,164 of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is Bessemer City Middle's MySchoolScout rating?
Bessemer City Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.6 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 Middle?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Bessemer City Middle has 34% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 35% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Bessemer City Middle a charter school?
No, Bessemer City Middle is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Bessemer City Middle a Title I school?
No, Bessemer City Middle is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Bessemer City Middle?
97.2% of students at Bessemer City Middle 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
- 6th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 502
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 19.3:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 26
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize Suburb
- County
- Gaston County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 36.9%
- Phone
- (704) 836-9602
- 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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