Gaston Elementary School

Q: Is Gaston Elementary School a good school?

Gaston Elementary School ranks 244 th of 684 Alabama elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Gaston Elementary School is a public elementary school in Gadsden, Alabama, serving 272 students in grades PK-6. The school is part of the Etowah County School District, which is ranked 62 out of 137 districts in the state and has a 3-star rating.

Gaston Elementary stands out for its strong academic performance, with students consistently outperforming their peers in the Etowah County district and the state of Alabama, particularly in English/Language Arts. In 2023-2024, 65.71% of 4th graders and 80.65% of 5th graders were proficient or better in English, compared to 63.75% and 73.94% for Etowah County, respectively. Despite having a high percentage of students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds (76.47% qualify for free or reduced-price lunch), Gaston Elementary has been able to help these students achieve academic success, ranking 70th out of 623 Alabama elementary schools for low-socioeconomic status students in 2022-2023.

When compared to nearby schools in the Gadsden City and Etowah County districts, Gaston Elementary consistently outperforms them in academic performance, particularly in English/Language Arts. However, Gaston's student population is significantly less diverse, with 87.13% of students being white, compared to the more diverse populations of the nearby schools. Despite this, Gaston Elementary has maintained a strong academic standing, consistently ranking in the top half of Alabama elementary schools and earning 4-star ratings from SchoolDigger in recent years.

Detail:

Public PK, KG-6

4550 US Highway 411
Gadsden, AL 35901

(256) 547-8828

District: Etowah County

SchoolDigger Rank:
244^th of 684 Alabama Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $7,023

Students who attend Gaston Elementary School usually attend:

High:

Gaston High School

Student/teacher ratio: 17.5

Number of students: 284

Racial breakdown:

White:

86.3%

Two or more races:

6.7%

Hispanic:

3.5%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 71.1%

See top rated Alabama elementary schools

Compare Gaston Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Gaston Elementary School ranks better than 64.3% of elementary schools in Alabama. It also ranks 6^th among 11 ranked elementary schools in the Etowah County School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 62.74. (See more...)

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (86.3%), two or more races (6.7%), Hispanic (3.5%). (See more...)

Compare Details 71.1% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Gaston Elementary School is 17.5. 8 elementary schools in the Etowah County School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)

Compare Gaston Elementary School employs 16.2 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Gaston Elementary School is $7,023, which is the lowest among 11 elementary schools in the Etowah County School District!

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Gaston Elementary School:

SchoolDigger ranks Gaston Elementary School 244^th of 684 Alabama public elementary schools. (See Gaston Elementary School in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

White students:

Etowah County:

SchoolDigger ranks Etowah County 62^nd of 137 Alabama school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Gaston Elementary School

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Rank History for all students at Gaston Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	AL State Percentile
2019	70.45	173^rd	681	74.6%
2021	58.54	269^th	692	61.1%
2022	73.25	160^th	687	76.7%
2023	70.54	182^nd	680	73.2%
2024	62.74	244^th	684	64.3%

See the entire list of Alabama Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Gaston Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	AL State Percentile
2019	83.73	48^th	649	92.6%
2021	64.12	200^th	653	69.4%
2022	84.90	48^th	651	92.6%
2023	80.88	70^th	623	88.8%
2024	65.18	215^th	670	67.9%

See the entire list of Best Alabama Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Gaston Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	AL State Percentile
2019	66.28	187^th	646	71.1%
2021	57.33	270^th	656	58.8%
2022	68.12	185^th	656	71.8%
2023	56.57	274^th	645	57.5%
2024	59.97	243^rd	650	62.6%

See the entire list of Best Alabama Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Gaston Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	AL State Percentile
2019	71.20	162^nd	650	75.1%
2021	55.71	279^th	669	58.3%
2022	72.62	157^th	669	76.5%
2023	79.20	106^th	649	83.7%
2024	62.83	236^th	655	64.0%

See the entire list of Best Alabama Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for White students at Gaston Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	AL State Percentile
2019	54.00	218^th	529	58.8%
2021	42.38	293^rd	539	45.6%
2022	58.31	201^st	540	62.8%
2023	53.30	241^st	528	54.4%
2024	44.85	301^st	535	43.7%

See the entire list of Best Alabama Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Alabama State Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: Alabama State Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Gaston Elementary School

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Year	White	African American	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2019	220	19	15	1	0	19	274
2020	215	12	17	1	0	16	261
2021	222	9	15	0	0	14	260
2022	221	12	10	0	0	12	255
2023	237	10	11	0	0	14	272
2024	245	9	10	0	1	19	284

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Gaston Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2019	274	16.4	16.7	66.8
2020	261	17.4	15.0	64.8
2021	260	16.2	16.0	65
2022	255	14.2	17.9	55.3
2023	272	16.2	16.7	76.5
2024	284	16.2	17.5	71.1

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Gaston Elementary School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2019	274	16.4	16.7	66.8
2020	261	17.4	15.0	64.8
2021	260	16.2	16.0	65
2022	255	14.2	17.9	55.3
2023	272	16.2	16.7	76.5
2024	284	16.2	17.5	71.1

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Gaston Elementary School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$864 (12.3%)	$6,158 (87.7%)	$7,023

Data source: Alabama Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Gaston Elementary School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 173^rd of 681 Elementary schools	Ranks 182^nd of 680 Elementary schools	1.4%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade Mathematics (Gaston Elementary School)	60	51.6	8.4%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Etowah County)	65.1	46.9	18.2%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Alabama)	57.5	43.6	13.9%
4th Grade Mathematics (Gaston Elementary School)	41.7	34.4	7.3%
4th Grade Mathematics (Etowah County)	52.4	31.1	21.3%
4th Grade Mathematics (Alabama)	47.3	34.9	12.4%
5th Grade Mathematics (Gaston Elementary School)	48.4	29.7	18.7%
5th Grade Mathematics (Etowah County)	52.2	30.3	22%
5th Grade Mathematics (Alabama)	44.9	33.9	10.9%
6th Grade Mathematics (Gaston Elementary School)	62.5	50	12.5%
6th Grade Mathematics (Etowah County)	46.1	28.8	17.3%
6th Grade Mathematics (Alabama)	45.3	30.8	14.5%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	274	272	0.7%
African American	19	10	47.4%
American Indian	1	0	100%
Asian	0	0
Hispanic	15	11	26.7%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	220	237	7.7%
Two or More Races	19	14	26.3%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	66.8%	76.5%	9.7%

Schools Near Gaston Elementary School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				Summative Assessment Mathematics (2024)				Summative Assessment Science (2024)	Summative Assessment English (2024)				Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	Summative Assessment Mathematics 3rd Grade	Summative Assessment Mathematics 4th Grade	Summative Assessment Mathematics 5th Grade	Summative Assessment Mathematics 6th Grade	Summative Assessment Science 4th Grade	Summative Assessment English 3rd Grade	Summative Assessment English 4th Grade	Summative Assessment English 5th Grade	Summative Assessment English 6th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Gaston Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	4550 US Highway 411	Gadsden	35901	Etowah County	Etowah County	No	No	No	Yes	(256) 547-8828	284	16	17.5	71.1%	245 (86.3%)	9 (3.2%)	10 (3.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	19 (6.7%)	62.7	244^th of 684 public elementary schools	64.3%		70.5	182^nd of 680 public elementary schools	73.2%	62	30.6	45.7	32.3	41.5	54.3	61.1	65.7	80.7	53.7	$7,023	$864	$6,158
Thompson Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	236 Goldenrod Ave	Gadsden	35901	Etowah County	Gadsden City	No	No	No	Yes	(256) 546-7011	249	14	17.7	83.9%	51 (20.5%)	151 (60.6%)	35 (14.1%)	2 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	9 (3.6%)	25.5	510^th of 684 public elementary schools	25.4%		18.1	549^th of 680 public elementary schools	19.3%	39	10.0	6.8	19.2		25.6	36.7	40.9	76.9		$11,365	$3,097	$8,253
Highland Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	3156 Tabor Rd	Gadsden	35904	Etowah County	Etowah County	No	No	No	Yes	(256) 546-7409	223	16	13.9	67.7%	186 (83.4%)	6 (2.7%)	7 (3.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (10.3%)	45.3	390^th of 684 public elementary schools	43.0%		55.1	308^th of 680 public elementary schools	54.7%	82	53.6	21.9	11.8	0.0	53.1	71.4	56.3	52.9	52.2	$10,660	$1,779	$8,880
Adams Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	919 Raley St	Gadsden	35903	Etowah County	Gadsden City	No	No	No	Yes	(256) 492-4952	415	25	16.6	96.1%	41 (9.9%)	211 (50.8%)	143 (34.5%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (3.9%)	12.3	613^th of 684 public elementary schools	10.4%		15.8	571^st of 680 public elementary schools	16.0%	42	11.9	19.4	11.1		18.1	28.8	32.4	37.0		$9,435	$2,672	$6,747
Mitchell Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1501 Noccalula Rd	Gadsden	35904	Etowah County	Gadsden City	No	No	No	No	(256) 546-2711	281	18	15.8	66.2%	168 (59.8%)	70 (24.9%)	23 (8.2%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (6.8%)	64.3	227^th of 684 public elementary schools	66.8%		74.1	157^th of 680 public elementary schools	76.9%	70	65.8	35.0	26.8		35.0	75.7	70.0	73.2		$8,237	$807	$7,413
Donehoo Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1109 E Broad St	Gadsden	35903	Etowah County	Gadsden City	No	No	No	Yes	(256) 546-3604	233	15	15.2	85.4%	32 (13.7%)	159 (68.2%)	35 (15.0%)	2 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (2.1%)	49.6	349^th of 684 public elementary schools	49.0%		24.8	514^th of 680 public elementary schools	24.4%	165	25.0	40.0	54.8		16.7	77.4	50.0	58.1		$11,244	$2,746	$8,483
Hokes Bluff Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	5375 Main Street	Hokes Bluff	35903	Etowah County	Etowah County	No	No	No	Yes	(256) 492-5571	591	35	16.8	64.3%	550 (93.1%)	7 (1.2%)	14 (2.4%)	2 (0.3%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (2.5%)	82.7	99^th of 684 public elementary schools	85.5%		55.3	305^th of 680 public elementary schools	55.1%	206	54.3	50.0	56.0		57.6	82.7	75.0	80.3		$8,280	$1,183	$7,095
Therapeutic Academic Program	Public	1-5	201 College St	Gadsden	35901	Etowah County	Gadsden City	No	No	No	No	(256) 549-2961	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
W E Striplin Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	600 Cleveland Ave	Gadsden	35901	Etowah County	Gadsden City	No	No	No	Yes	(256) 546-8616	407	24	16.9	90.4%	46 (11.3%)	219 (53.8%)	128 (31.4%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.0%)	23.2	525^th of 684 public elementary schools	23.2%		21.7	537^th of 680 public elementary schools	21.0%	12	18.5	12.7	32.1		35.7	40.4	38.2	38.5		$9,349	$2,460	$6,872
Duck Springs Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	10180 Duck Springs Rd	Attalla	35954	Etowah County	Etowah County	No	No	No	Yes	(256) 538-6301	207	13	15.9	75.8%	159 (76.8%)	8 (3.9%)	22 (10.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.4%)	15 (7.2%)	52.8	324^th of 684 public elementary schools	52.6%		49.2	350^th of 680 public elementary schools	48.5%	26	8.3	38.9	31.8	48.2	42.1	52.8	50.0	81.0	59.3	$10,593	$2,046	$8,547

Frequently Asked Questions about Gaston Elementary School

How many students attend Gaston Elementary School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 284 students attended Gaston Elementary School.

What schools do graduates of Gaston Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Gaston Elementary School usually go on to attend:

High : Gaston High School

What district is Gaston Elementary School in?

Etowah County

What is the racial makeup of Gaston Elementary School?

Students at Gaston Elementary School are 86% White, 7% Two or more races, 4% Hispanic, 3% African American.

Is Gaston Elementary School a good school?

Gaston Elementary School ranks 244^th of 684 Alabama elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Alabama State Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.