W A Bess Elementary School

gaston.k12.nc.us/bess

622 Students

Elementary School Pre-K - 5th

School Overview

W.A. Bess Elementary School, located in Gastonia, North Carolina, is a part of the Gaston County Schools district. Serving students in the local community, the school focuses on providing a comprehensive educational foundation that emphasizes academic growth, character development, and student engagement. It is known for maintaining a community-oriented environment where staff and faculty work to support the diverse learning needs of their elementary-aged students.

The school is committed to preparing its students for future success by integrating technology into the classroom and fostering a supportive atmosphere for both learning and extracurricular growth. Parents and community members are encouraged to be involved in the educational process, helping to maintain a strong partnership between the home and the school. For those seeking specific information regarding current academic calendars, school policies, or enrollment details, the school’s official district website serves as the primary resource for updates and community communications.

622

Total Students

36.9

Full-Time Teachers

16.9

Student/Teacher Ratio

107.9%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for W A Bess Elementary School
Demographic	Student Count
White	365
Hispanic	85
Black	104
Asian	30
Two or More	34
American Indian	3
Pacific Islander	1

White
365 (58.7 %)
Black
104 (16.7 %)
Hispanic
85 (13.7 %)
Two or More
34 (5.5 %)
Asian
30 (4.8 %)
American Indian
3 (0.5 %)
Pacific Islander
1 (0.2 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Gaston County Schools
Phone:	(704)866-6075
Website:	http://gaston.k12.nc.us/bess
Grade Range:	Pre-K - 5th
Total Students:	622
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	36.9
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	16.9
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes participating without using any Provision or the CEO
Qualified Free Lunch:	671
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	0

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Pre-Kindergarten 17

Kindergarten 103

Grade 1 96

Grade 2 100

Grade 3 90

Grade 4 106

Grade 5 110

Grades Taught Data Table

Grades Taught and Student Counts for W A Bess Elementary School
Grade	Student Count
Pre-Kindergarten	17
Kindergarten	103
Grade 1	96
Grade 2	100
Grade 3	90
Grade 4	106
Grade 5	110

Gender Ratio

Student Gender Ratio Data Table

Student Gender Ratio for W A Bess Elementary School
Gender	Student Count	Percentage
Female	300	48.2%
Male	322	51.8%

Nearby Elementary Schools (Within 10 Miles)