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Join us in advocating for an excellent educational environment in Gaston County, NC!
About Us
Gaston County Education Alliance formed in early 2026, as local parents have gathered online and in person to support better educational opportunities for Gaston County youth.
We are a solutions-focused advocacy group committed to transparency, community, engagement, and stronger public schools.
We hope you will explore this website to research local school-related issues, and join us in advocating for increased funding and resources for public education.
Rallies held in Belmont, Dallas, and Gastonia on May 1, 2026 and June 23, 2026 (photos courtesy of various participants, as posted on Facebook)
The Problem
Gaston County Schools (GCS) has recently experienced significant programmatic setbacks and personnel losses due to a complicated set of factors. The most significant issue that we see is under-resourcing of our local schools by state and county governments.
While nearby peer counties contribute an average of 22.4% of their general fund to education, Gaston County contributed 17.9% in 2025-2026, and has offered relatively flat funding to local schools in recent years despite significant increases in County revenue over the same period.
In May 2026, the Gaston County Commissioners adopted a County budget contributing $54 million to the Gaston County Schools' operating budget -- only $500,000 more than the prior year's budget despite growing needs, rising inflation, and significant property tax increases. This funding allocation reflected $6.4 million less than the school board's modest operating budget request of $60.4 million.
According to the school superintendent's budget presentations, $6.8 million was deducted in 2025-26 from GCS for area charter schools, which skim funding from public education in North Carolina. An equal or greater amount is expected for 2026-27.
In July 2026, the County Commission voted to shore up the school budget by $5 million more, ignoring a request of $3.3 million for Exceptional Child (EC) services, a federally-mandated program that supports children with learning and developmental disabilities. Of the recent $5 million allocation, $600,000 will go to charter schools and the remaining amount is mostly obligated to match state personnel costs and keep W.B. Beam in Cherryville operational for the 26-27 school year.
Combined with prior year budget deficits, this ongoing under-resourcing of our local school system is resulting in reductions-in-force (RIFs) of teachers, administrators, counselors, district employees, and other critical staff that keep our schools running smoothly. Without appropriate staffing, our children will not enjoy the necessary services, academic success, enrichment or extracurricular activities that we want and expect for them.
The Solution
We envision a future where our children are a local priority. As parents, grandparents, taxpayers, and local advocates, we believe that Gaston County's youth are the future leaders and economic drivers of this region. We see them as our County's most important investment.
We also believe that an active and engaged citizenry can help identify policy and fiscal solutions to address local challenges. We are asking elected leaders to offer earnest opportunities for public input, and prioritize resources for Gaston County Schools and our children.
In the months and years ahead, we expect elected leaders to prioritize our children and establish a vision for excellent public education in Gaston County. Setting our sights on peer county investments in education, we would like to see Gaston County contribute 22% of the general fund -- or $76 million -- to Gaston County Schools, based on FY26 figures.
Get Involved
You can read more about our efforts, past and present, on our Facebook page and by visiting the "Local News" and "Resources" sections of this website.
Follow us on Facebook for calls to action and updates on local events where your support may be necessary.
Also, please take the time to research candidates for elected office as the next election approaches. We believe it is important to stay informed and vote for candidates who support local schools and Gaston County youth.
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