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Mount Holly NC DowntownPhoto: SunDawn · CC BY-SA 4.0
B−
Schools in Mount Holly · Gaston County Schools

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

The grade covers the public school district serving Mount Holly, 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
4
11,474 students on the public path
In brief

Mount Holly’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 282 North Carolina towns with household incomes within a quarter of Mount Holly’s, its schools beat 36%, lower than their 45% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

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 ↓

Three elementary schools, then one middle and 12 high schools

Which school depends on the address at every step. 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 Mount Holly’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 (282)Better than 36%
C+B−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 15,612 test results and a graduating class of 2,442 could put Mount Holly anywhere from C+ to B−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Mount Holly’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 Mount Holly, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–53 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressB− to B+
6–8Mount Holly MiddleGaston County SchoolsB−
9–1212 high schoolsDepends on your addressC to A+

Mount Holly’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.

Gaston County SchoolsGrades PK–12 · 56 schools · 30,995 students, up 4% since 2020–21 · 16.0 per teacher (NC 16.0)
$11,848NC $13,045 · FY2024
B−
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

Mount Holly vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Mount HollyB−Gaston County Schools
BelmontB−Gaston County Schools

Every school in Mount Holly

16 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 Mount Hollyby address
Ida Rankin Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
B
533 students14:1Rate it →
Pinewood Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5
B+
508 students15:1Rate it →
Catawba Heights Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Belmont
B−
238 students12:1Rate it →
Mount Holly Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8
B−
570 students15:1Rate it →
Also serving Mount Hollyin other towns
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 · Dallas
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
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 · Dallas
A+
235 students22:1Rate it →
Gaston Early College of Medical Sciences
High · Grades 9–12 · Dallas
174 students22:1Rate it →

Questions about Mount Holly’s schools

Are Mount Holly’s schools good?

On North Carolina’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Mount Holly 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 36%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Mount Holly in?

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

Where do Mount Holly 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 Mount Holly’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 Mount Holly 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 Mount Holly families are saying about school.

Town Square →
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Looking for colleges? Colleges near Mount Holly → 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.