Below Average
#2260 of 2,648 schools in NC
Southwest Middle
Middle School · Gaston County Schools · Gastonia, NC
A Gaston County Schools middle school where students score 15 points below what's typical for similar communities.
1 Roadrunner Drive, Gastonia, NC 28052
- Math 31% vs NC 54% (2025)
- Reading 31% vs NC 53% (2025)
- 15.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Southwest Middle score 31% 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 31 points across the 17-year record (2009–2025) and has held near 31% recently.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 38% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 36% (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 35 test records from NC state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
99.6%
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 Southwest 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 26Car-Dependent
- Bike 31Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High4,390/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Gastonia), 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
$46,015
Median home value
$173,500
Median rent
$1,058/mo
College educated
16.3%
Homeownership
52.8%
Poverty rate
22.3%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 28052; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victory Christian AcademyPrivate · tuition | 7.1private | PK–12 | 1.2 mi | 126 | Compare → |
| Gaston Virtual AcademyEnrollment path unverified | 5.9 | K–12 | 1.5 mi | 323 | Compare → |
| York Chester MiddleEnrollment path unverified | 5.3 | 6–8 | 1.9 mi | 381 | Compare → |
| Webb Street SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 5.0 | PK–12 | 2.3 mi | 161 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Gaston County Schools
- Schools in district
- 56
- Rank in district
- #41 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
Southwest Middle is listed in Gaston County Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Southwest Middle
Southwest Middle is a public middle school in Gastonia, NC, part of Gaston County Schools, serving approximately 809 students in grades 6th-8th with a 15.3:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.3 out of 10 and ranks #2,260 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 38% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 36% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Southwest Middle
What grades does Southwest Middle serve?
Southwest Middle serves students in grades 6th through 8th.
How many students attend Southwest Middle?
Southwest Middle has an enrollment of approximately 809 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Southwest Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Southwest Middle is 15.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Southwest Middle rank in NC?
Southwest Middle ranks #2,260 of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is Southwest Middle's MySchoolScout rating?
Southwest Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.3 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 Southwest Middle?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Southwest Middle has 38% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 36% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Southwest Middle a charter school?
No, Southwest Middle is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Southwest Middle a Title I school?
No, Southwest Middle is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Southwest Middle?
99.6% of students at Southwest 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
- 809
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 15.3:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 53
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Gaston County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 39.4%
- Phone
- (704) 866-6290
- Area population (ZIP 28052)
- 36,896
- Area average commute
- 25.9 min
- Area median age
- 34.6
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 28052; 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
Related reading
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.