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Average

#1952 of 2,648 schools in NC

W B Beam Intermediate School

Elementary School · Gaston County Schools · Cherryville, NC

A Gaston County Schools elementary school where students score 8 points above what's typical for similar communities.

401 East First Street, Cherryville, NC 28021

  • Math 57% vs NC 58% (2025)
  • Reading 54% vs NC 55% (2025)
  • 21:1 student-teacher ratio

Academics

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress4.6Below Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-1.93 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics7.3Very Good30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency56.7% (2025 NC)
Reading/ELA Proficiency53.6% (2025 NC)
Math vs. State Avg-2 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-4.2 pts
Overall Proficiency55% (2025 NC, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)47% (model expectation from 2025 NC)
vs. Expected+8.4 pts
Adjusted Percentile60th
Resources & Environment2.9Needs Improvement20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio21:1
District spending per student$12,190
Chronic Absenteeism24.3%

Students at W B Beam Intermediate School score 55% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 47%).

How we calculate scores →

2025 NC proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. NC average.

Math Proficiency57%(2025 NC)
School
State
58%(2025 NC)
ELA Proficiency54%(2025 NC)
School
State
55%(2025 NC)

Trend

↑ Recovering

Proficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 8 points since 2020, reaching 55% in 2025.

Show all 15 years
2009
Math
82%
ELA
77%
2010
Math
83%
ELA
78%
2011
Math
82%
ELA
75%
2012
Math
46%
ELA
41%
2013
Math
45%
ELA
41%
2014
Math
47%
ELA
42%
2015
Math
47%
ELA
37%
2016
Math
42%
ELA
37%
2017
Math
52%
ELA
42%
2018
Math
30%
ELA
35%
2019
Math
30%
ELA
35%
2020*
Math
47%
ELA
47%
2021*
Math
47%
ELA
47%
2022
Math
49%
2025
Math
57%
ELA
54%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 53% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 50% (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 33 test records from NC state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

98.4%

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 rate

The neighborhood

Where W B Beam Intermediate School 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 56Somewhat Walkable
  • Bike 45Somewhat Bikeable
  • City Safety: High3,185/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Cherryville), 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

$57,652

Median home value

$196,300

Median rent

$874/mo

College educated

22%

Homeownership

74.2%

Poverty rate

14%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 28021; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented ProgramAvailable
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students.·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Washington ElementaryEnrollment path unverified5.0PK–54.1 mi386Compare →
Tryon ElementaryEnrollment path unverified4.8PK–54.2 mi334Compare →
Hawks Nest Steam AcademyEnrollment path unverified9.4K–5Not available351Compare →
Ida Rankin Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified7.9PK–5Not available510Compare →

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
#33 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

W B Beam Intermediate School is listed in Gaston County Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About W B Beam Intermediate School

W B Beam Intermediate School is a public elementary school in Cherryville, NC, part of Gaston County Schools, serving approximately 189 students in grades 4th-5th with a 21:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 5.1 out of 10 and ranks #1,952 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 53% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 50% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about W B Beam Intermediate School

What grades does W B Beam Intermediate School serve?

W B Beam Intermediate School serves students in grades 4th through 5th.

How many students attend W B Beam Intermediate School?

W B Beam Intermediate School has an enrollment of approximately 189 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at W B Beam Intermediate School?

The student-teacher ratio at W B Beam Intermediate School is 21:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does W B Beam Intermediate School rank in NC?

W B Beam Intermediate School ranks #1,952 of 2,648 schools in NC.

What is W B Beam Intermediate School's MySchoolScout rating?

W B Beam Intermediate School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.1 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 W B Beam Intermediate School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, W B Beam Intermediate School has 53% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 50% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is W B Beam Intermediate School a charter school?

No, W B Beam Intermediate School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is W B Beam Intermediate School a Title I school?

No, W B Beam Intermediate School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for W B Beam Intermediate School?

98.4% of students at W B Beam Intermediate School 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
4th – 5th
Enrollment
189
Student-Teacher Ratio
21:1
Teachers (FTE)
9
Type
regular
Setting
Fringe Town
County
Gaston County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
24.3%
Area population (ZIP 28021)
13,668
Area average commute
29.6 min
Area median age
39.7
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 28021; 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

About our data · How we calculate scores

Related reading

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