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Excellent

#20 of 404 private schools in NC

Top 5% of private schools

St Michael Catholic School

Elementary School

704 SAINT MICHAELS LN, Gastonia, NC 28052

Private Estimated Score

Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on 25 schools in Gastonia. Learn more

Enrollment

103

Student-Teacher

7.4:1

Score

8.1

Grades

Pre-K – 8th

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

In Gastonia

#1 of 5

public schools

North Carolina elementary schools

#4 of 124

About St Michael Catholic School

ST MICHAEL CATHOLIC SCHOOL serves 103 students from prekindergarten through eighth grade in Gastonia, North Carolina. This elementary school maintains an exceptionally low student-teacher ratio of 7.4:1 with 14 full-time equivalent teachers, allowing for highly personalized attention in small classroom settings. The school has earned impressive recognition, ranking #9 out of 404 schools statewide and placing in the 98th percentile with a MySchoolScout rating of 8.7 out of 10.

This outstanding performance reflects the school's commitment to academic excellence despite its intimate size. Located on Saint Michaels Lane, the school serves a diverse community where the median household income is $44,448 and median home value is $152,800. The surrounding area has a college-educated population of 15% with bachelor's degrees or higher, and faces economic challenges with a poverty rate of 22.1% among the ZIP code's 35,894 residents.

The small enrollment creates a tight-knit learning environment where teachers can focus intensively on individual student needs and development. This personalized approach appears to be paying dividends in the school's exceptional state ranking performance. ST MICHAEL CATHOLIC SCHOOL operates within Gastonia's small city setting, providing families with a highly-rated educational option in a community-focused environment.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 103 students, St Michael Catholic School is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.

With a student-teacher ratio of 7.4:1, St Michael Catholic School offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.

As a private school, St Michael Catholic School operates independently from the local public school district. Families considering this school should inquire about tuition costs, financial aid availability, and the admissions process. Private schools are not required to follow the same curriculum standards as public schools, which can be either an advantage or a consideration depending on your priorities.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How St Michael Catholic School compares to 21 public schools serving similar grades in Gastonia, NC

Student-Teacher Ratio
7.4:1
This School
vs
15.7:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
103
This School
vs
537
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
8.1
This School
vs
5.2
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 53.4% vs 0%
Hispanic 33% vs 0%
Black 8.7% vs 0%
Asian 4.9% vs 0%
St Michael Catholic School Gastonia Public Avg

Nearby Elementary Schools

School Rating
St Michael Catholic School (this school) 8.1
Pleasant Ridge Elementary 5.5
Lingerfeldt Elementary 5.0
York Chester Middle 5.6
Southwest Middle 3.7
Webb Street School 6.5
H H Beam Elementary 3.6
Gaston Virtual Academy 5.9
Ridgeview Charter School 1.9
Woodhill Elementary 4.6
Sherwood Elementary 5.9
W P Grier Middle School 3.2
Piedmont Community Charter School 4.4
Robinson Elementary 5.2
Hawks Nest STEAM Academy 8.1
Edward D Sadler Jr Elementary School 4.9
Gardner Park Elementary 5.2
Chapel Grove Elementary 6.2
Brookside Elementary 5.6
Warlick Academy 4.9
W A Bess Elementary School 5.7

Showing 20 of 21 schools. View all schools in Gastonia

Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.

Score Breakdown

What This Rating Measures

This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in NC.

Classroom Attention
? Student-teacher ratio calibrated against other private schools. Lower ratios mean more individual attention. (30% of overall score)
A- 8.0 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 7.4:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
B 6.4 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 7 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,232
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
A 9.4 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 60%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
A- 8.3 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 103
View data sources

Score basis: Private school model

Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data

Components scored: 4 of 5

Ranking pool: Private schools in NC

Test Scores

Test score data not yet available for this school.

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

White 53.4%
Hispanic 33.0%
Black 8.7%
Asian 4.9%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

704 SAINT MICHAELS LN, Gastonia, NC 28052

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering St Michael Catholic School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Hawks Nest STEAM Academy (rated 8.1/10, 3.0 miles away), with a very similar rating. Another option is Chapel Grove Elementary (rated 6.2/10, 3.9 miles away), a more accessible option. Additionally, FIRST WESLEYAN CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (rated 6.1/10, 2.0 miles away), a more accessible option. For more schools in Gastonia, see our Gastonia schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 3.9 mi
School Distance Rating
Lingerfeldt Elementary Gastonia 0.5 mi 5.0
Pleasant Ridge Elementary Gastonia 0.5 mi 5.5
VICTORY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Gastonia 0.5 mi 7.1
Hunter Huss High Gastonia 0.6 mi 3.1
York Chester Middle Gastonia 0.7 mi 5.6
Southwest Middle Gastonia 1.2 mi 3.7
Webb Street School Gastonia 1.4 mi 6.5
H H Beam Elementary Gastonia 1.6 mi 3.6
Ridgeview Charter School Gastonia 1.9 mi 1.9
Gaston Virtual Academy Gastonia 1.7 mi 5.9
FIRST WESLEYAN CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Gastonia 2.0 mi 6.1
Highland Sch of Technology Gastonia 2.4 mi 8.1
Woodhill Elementary Gastonia 2.4 mi 4.6
Sherwood Elementary Gastonia 2.5 mi 5.9
W P Grier Middle School Gastonia 2.5 mi 3.2
Robinson Elementary Gastonia 3.0 mi 5.2
Hawks Nest STEAM Academy Gastonia 3.0 mi 8.1
Piedmont Community Charter School Gastonia 2.8 mi 4.4
Edward D Sadler Jr Elementary School Gastonia 3.6 mi 4.9
Chapel Grove Elementary Gastonia 3.9 mi 6.2

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 28052 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$46,015

Median Home Value

$173,500

Median Rent

$1,058/mo

Population

36,896

College Educated

16.3%

Homeownership

52.8%

Avg Commute

25.9 min

Poverty Rate

22.3%

Median Age

34.6

Community Profile

The community surrounding St Michael Catholic School has a median household income of $46,015. It is a community where 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $173,500, with a median rent of $1,058/month. The area has a poverty rate of 22.3%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. The average commute for residents is 26 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
ASHEVILLE WALDORF SCHOOL Asheville, NC 8.1
Harkers Island Elementary Harkers Island, NC 8.1
MORGANTON DAY SCHOOL Morganton, NC 8.1
T C Henderson Lake Toxaway, NC 8.1
CHESTERBROOK ACADEMY-NORTH RALEIGH Raleigh, NC 8.0
Creswell Elementary Creswell, NC 8.0

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about St Michael Catholic School

What grades does St Michael Catholic School serve?

St Michael Catholic School serves students in grades Pre-K through 8th.

How many students attend St Michael Catholic School?

St Michael Catholic School has an enrollment of approximately 103 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at St Michael Catholic School?

The student-teacher ratio at St Michael Catholic School is 7.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does St Michael Catholic School rank in NC?

St Michael Catholic School is ranked #20 out of 404 private schools in NC.

What is St Michael Catholic School's MySchoolScout rating?

St Michael Catholic School has a composite rating of 8.1 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

Is St Michael Catholic School a private school?

Yes, St Michael Catholic School is a private coeducational school with a Roman Catholic affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is St Michael Catholic School a religious school?

St Michael Catholic School has a Roman Catholic religious affiliation.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
22 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
34 Somewhat Bikeable
City Safety
High (4,390/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Gastonia). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
Pre-K – 8th
Enrollment
103
Gender Split
64% M / 36% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
7.4:1
Teachers (FTE)
14
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Roman Catholic
School Day
7 hours
Days Per Year
176 days
Setting
Small City
County
GASTON
Data Year
2022–2023

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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