Hawks Nest STEAM Academy

www.gaston.k12.nc.us/hawksnest

347 Students

Elementary School K - 5th

School Overview

Hawks Nest STEAM Academy, located in Gastonia, North Carolina, is a specialized elementary school within the Gaston County Schools district. As the name implies, the school centers its curriculum around a STEAM framework—integrating Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics into daily instruction. By emphasizing hands-on learning, critical thinking, and collaborative projects, the academy aims to prepare students for a rapidly evolving global workforce, fostering an environment where students move beyond traditional rote memorization to active problem-solving.

Beyond its academic focus, Hawks Nest is known for its commitment to creating an engaging and supportive school culture. The academy leverages its specialized curriculum to encourage creativity and innovation, often utilizing technology and inquiry-based activities to keep students motivated and curious. As a public magnet-style school, it serves as an educational hub for the local community, dedicated to equipping young learners with the essential foundational skills and creative mindset required for success in higher education and future career paths.

347

Total Students

22.2

Full-Time Teachers

15.6

Student/Teacher Ratio

36.9%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Hawks Nest STEAM Academy
Demographic	Student Count
White	201
Hispanic	32
Black	82
Asian	10
Two or More	20
Pacific Islander	2

White
201 (57.9 %)
Black
82 (23.6 %)
Hispanic
32 (9.2 %)
Two or More
20 (5.8 %)
Asian
10 (2.9 %)
Pacific Islander
2 (0.6 %)

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)866-8467
Website:	http://www.gaston.k12.nc.us/hawksnest
Grade Range:	K - 5th
Total Students:	347
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	22.2
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	15.6
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes participating without using any Provision or the CEO
Qualified Free Lunch:	119
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	9

* 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

Kindergarten 57

Grade 1 56

Grade 2 59

Grade 3 59

Grade 4 58

Grade 5 58

Grades Taught Data Table

Grades Taught and Student Counts for Hawks Nest STEAM Academy
Grade	Student Count
Kindergarten	57
Grade 1	56
Grade 2	59
Grade 3	59
Grade 4	58
Grade 5	58

Gender Ratio

Student Gender Ratio Data Table

Student Gender Ratio for Hawks Nest STEAM Academy
Gender	Student Count	Percentage
Female	170	49%
Male	177	51%

Nearby Elementary Schools (Within 10 Miles)