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Dallas Graded and High SchoolDallas Graded and High School · Photo: RoxylovesHistory · CC BY-SA 3.0
B−
Schools in Dallas · Gaston County Schools

Dallas’s public schools score below 55% of North Carolina districts on tests and graduation

The grade covers the public school district serving Dallas, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within North Carolina, not nationally.

#178of 290 North Carolina townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From North Carolina state tests taken in spring 2022, when 100% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
46%
▼ 4 pts vs NC 50%
2021–22
Math proficiency
49%
▼ 2 pts vs NC 51%
2021–22
Graduate on time
85%
▼ 2 pts vs NC 86%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$11.8K
▼ 9% vs NC $13.0K
FY2024
Students per teacher
16.0
NC 16.0
Schools in town
1
17,319 students on the public path
In brief

Dallas’s schools, in brief

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 46% of tested students were proficient in reading and 49% in math, against 50% and 51% statewide; 100% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

85% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86% across North Carolina. Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $11,848 per student, against $13,045 across North Carolina (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then 11 middle and 12 high schools

Which school depends on the address at the later steps. See the path ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Dallas’s grade

B− Test scoresC+ Graduation

B−: better than 45% of North Carolina school districts, #178 of 290 North Carolina towns. Both inputs trail the North Carolina average; test scores are the closer of the two to typical.

North Carolina school districts we grade (325)Better than 45%
Lower resultsHigher results
North Carolina towns with similar household incomes (334)Better than 44%
C+B−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 15,612 test results and a graduating class of 2,442 could put Dallas anywhere from C+ to B−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Dallas’s students in the tested grades sat them (15,021 in math, 16,202 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Dallas, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–5Carr ElementaryGaston County SchoolsC+
6–811 middle schoolsDepends on your addressC− to A
9–1212 high schoolsDepends on your addressC to A+

Dallas’s public schools are run by Gaston County Schools, which also serves Belmont, Bessemer City, Cherryville and Cramerton and others. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Test scores · 2021–22

Below the state in reading

Reading46%
State average 49.9% · 16202 students tested
Math49%
State average 50.8% · 15021 students tested

Dallas vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the North Carolina towns that share Dallas’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
DallasB−Gaston County Schools
GastoniaB−Gaston County Schools

Every school in Dallas

24 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with North Carolina’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Dallasby address
Also serving Dallasin other towns
Cramerton Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Cramerton
A
959 students19:1Rate it →
Southwest Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Gastonia
C
832 students15:1Rate it →
Belmont Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Belmont
A−
770 students18:1Rate it →
Holbrook Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Lowell
C+
712 students14:1Rate it →
W P Grier Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Gastonia
C−
659 students16:1Rate it →
W C Friday Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
C+
618 students18:1Rate it →
Stanley Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Stanley
B
602 students16:1Rate it →
Mount Holly Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Mount Holly
B−
570 students15:1Rate it →
Bessemer City Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Bessemer City
C
497 students17:1Rate it →
John Chavis Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Cherryville
B−
412 students15:1Rate it →
York Chester Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Gastonia
C−
398 students16:1Rate it →
Ashbrook High
High · Grades 9–12 · Gastonia
B+
1,386 students18:1Rate it →
Hunter Huss High
High · Grades 9–12 · Gastonia
C+
1,165 students19:1Rate it →
Forestview High
High · Grades 9–12 · Gastonia
A
1,133 students18:1Rate it →
North Gaston High
High · Grades 9–12
B−
1,061 students17:1Rate it →
South Point High
High · Grades 9–12 · Belmont
A
989 students18:1Rate it →
Stuart W Cramer High
High · Grades 9–12 · Belmont
A
953 students18:1Rate it →
East Gaston High
High · Grades 9–12 · Mount Holly
A
917 students19:1Rate it →
Bessemer City High
High · Grades 9–12 · Bessemer City
C
590 students19:1Rate it →
Highland Sch of Technology
High · Grades 9–12 · Gastonia
A+
538 students14:1Rate it →
Cherryville High
High · Grades 9–12 · Cherryville
A−
484 students15:1Rate it →
Gaston Early College High School
High · Grades 9–12
A+
235 students22:1Rate it →
Gaston Early College of Medical Sciences
High · Grades 9–12
174 students22:1Rate it →

Questions about Dallas’s schools

Are Dallas’s schools good?

On North Carolina’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Dallas children attend score below 55% of North Carolina’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B− Schools grade, #178 of 290 North Carolina towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 44%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Dallas in?

Gaston County Schools, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 30,995 students in 56 schools (2024–25).

Where do Dallas kids go to high school?

One of 12 high schools, depending on your address: Ashbrook High, Hunter Huss High, Forestview High, North Gaston High, South Point High, Stuart W Cramer High, East Gaston High, Bessemer City High, Highland Sch of Technology, Cherryville High, Gaston Early College High School and Gaston Early College of Medical Sciences.

What is Dallas’s graduation rate?

85% of the class of 2023 in Gaston County Schools graduated in four years, against 86% across North Carolina.

How much does Dallas spend per student?

$11,848 in Gaston County Schools (FY2024), against $13,045 across North Carolina. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Dallas families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Dallas → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within North Carolina. Stars are from neighbors.