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Education
While many Gaston County residents once worked in textiles, tomorrow's jobs lean toward technology and Gaston College is helping train the workforce.
The college is offering two associate's degrees, one in biotechnology and another in industrial engineering technology with a concentration in bio-processing. Continuing education courses geared toward industry-specific needs also are offered. In addition to those programs, the campus is home to the BioEd Center, a project of the state community college system. The center works to use the Internet to deliver biotech training statewide using streaming video, computer animation and a video-equipped biotech lab.
The college first considered a biotech program 13 years ago but put the project on the back burner because officials weren't sure there would be enough job opportunities for graduates. Instead, they offered an introductory biotech class and another in genetics and built a lab with a grant from Duke Energy.
Then came the big news. The North Carolina Research Campus, a $1.5 billion project, would be built in Kannapolis. The public-private partnership would include health and wellness-related research facilities and labs.
“The time was right,” said Dr. Melissa Armstrong, chair of Gaston College's science department.
The college partnered with South Piedmont, Central Piedmont and Rowan-Cabarrus community colleges to offer the biotechnology degree. The first year of coursework can be taken at any of the colleges. The Dallas campus offers the second year.
With a biotechnology degree, students can work in biotech laboratories, do quality control and process development. While at Gaston, they study genetics, immunology, microbiology, DNA technology and cell culture.
The bio-processing degree prepares students to work as technicians in the product and service sectors of the bioprocessing industry. They take the same courses as industrial engineering technology students but substitute some biology, chemistry, biotechnology and bio-processing classes for general engineering requirements.
Shorter certificate programs also are offered. This option is available to high school students in the Huskins Program, as well as to adult students. Both degrees can lead directly to employment or students can transfer to four-year institutions. Local middle- and high-school students also are getting a chance to sample bio-careers with special workdays on campus.
Both Armstrong and Virgil Cox — he's with the engineering technology department, which houses the bio-processing degree — are pleased with the popularity of their programs. The average age of students in daytime bio-processing classes is 27, and evening students age 33. Almost all of the biotechnology students have returned to college after being in the workplace. Both programs are attracting people who were left without a job when the textile and furniture industries dried up.
Gaston County Public Schools
Elementary Schools
Hershal H. Beam (K-5)
200 Davis Park Road, Gastonia 28052
(704)866-6618
Belmont Central (K-5)
310 Eagle Road, Belmont 28012
(704)825-8479
W.A. Bess (K-5)
4340 Beaty Road, Gastonia 28054
(704) 866-6075
Bessemer City Central (3-5)
1400 Puetts Chapel Road, P.O. Box 794 Bessemer City 28016
(704) 629-2206
Bessemer City Primary (K-2)
1320 N. 12th St., Bessemer City 28016
(704) 629-4181
Brookside (K-5)
1950 Rhyne Carter Road, Gastonia 28054
(704) 866-6283
Carr (K-5)
301 West Carpenter St., Dallas 28034
(704) 922-3636
Catawba Heights (K-5)
101 Ivey St., Belmont 28012
(704) 827-3221
Chapel Grove (K-5)
5201 Lewis Road, Gastonia 28052
(704) 866-6077
Cherryville (K-5)
700 E. Academy St., Cherryville 28021
(704) 435-6800
Costner (K-5)
353 Old 277 Loop, Dallas 28034
(704) 922-3522
Forest Heights (K-5)
No. 1 Learning Place, Gastonia 28052
(704) 866-6079
Gardner Park (K-5)
738 Armstrong Park Rd., Gastonia 28054
(704) 866-6082
Kiser (3-5)
311 E. College St., Stanley 28164
(704) 263-4121
Lingerfeldt (K-5)
1601 Madison St., Gastonia 28052
(704) 866-6094
Lowell (K-5)
1500 Power Drive, Lowell 28098
(704) 824-2264
McAdenville (K-5)
275 E. Wesleyan Dr., McAdenville 28101
(704) 824-2236
New Hope (K-5)
137 Stowe Road, Gastonia 28056
(704) 824-1617
North Belmont (K-5)
210 St., Belmont 28012
(704) 827-4043
Page (K-5)
215 Ewing Drive, Belmont 28012
(704) 825-2614
Pinewood (K-5)
1925 N. Main St., Mount Holly 28120
(704) 827-2236
Pleasant Ridge (K-5)
937 S. Miller St., Gastonia 28052
(704) 866-6096
Ida Rankin (K-5)
301 W. Central Ave., Mount Holly 28120
(704) 827-7266
Rhyne (K-5)
1900 W. Davidson Ave., Gastonia 28052
(704) 866-6098
Robinson (K-5)
3122 Union Road, Gastonia 28054
(704) 866-6607
Edward D. Sadler, Jr. (K-5)
3950 W. Franklin Blvd., Gastonia 28052
(704) 862-5895
Sherwood (K-5)
1744 Dixon Road, Gastonia 28054
(704) 866-6609
Springfield (K-2)
900 S. Main St., Stanley 28164
(704) 263-4091
Tryon (K-5)
2620 Tryon Courthouse Road, Bessemer City 28016
(704) 629-2942
Woodhill (K-5)
1027 Woodhill Drive, Gastonia 28052
(704) 866-6295
Middle Schools
Belmont (6-8)
110 Central Ave., Belmont 28012
(704) 825-9619
Bessemer City (6-8)
South Skyland Dr., Bessemer City 28016
(704) 629-3281
John Chavis (6-8)
104 E. Chavis Drive, Cherryville 28021
(704) 435-6045
Cramerton (6-8)
601 Cramer Mountain Rd., Cramerton 28032
(704) 824-2907
W.C. Friday (6-8)
1221 Ratchford Road, Dallas 28034
(704) 922-5297
Grier (6-8)
1622 E. Garrison Blvd., Gastonia 28054
(704) 866-6086
Holbrook (6-8)
418 S. Church St., Lowell 28098
(704) 824-2381
Mount Holly (6-8)
124 S. Hawthorne St., Mount Holly 28120
(704) 827-4811
Southwest (6-8)
No. 1 Roadrunner Drive, Gastonia 28052
(704) 866-6290
Stanley (6-8)
317 Hovis Road, Stanley 28164
(704) 263-2941
York Chester (6-8)
601 S. Clay St., Gastonia 28052
(704) 866-6297
High Schools
Ashbrook (9-12)
2222 S. New Hope Rd., Gastonia 28054
(704) 866-6600
Bessemer City (9-12)
119 Yellow Jacket Lane, Bessemer City 28016
(704) 629-2258
Cherryville (9-12)
313 Ridge Ave., Cherryville 28021
(704) 435-4506
East Gaston (9-12)
1744 Lane Road, Mount Holly 28120
(704) 827-7251
Forestview (9-12)
5545 Union Rd., Gastonia 28056
(704) 861-2625
Highland School of Technology (9-12)
1600 North Morris St., Gastonia, 28052
(704) 866-6105
Hunter Huss (9-12)
1518 Edgefield Ave., Gastonia 28052
(704) 866-6610
North Gaston (9-12)
1133 Ratchford Road, Dallas 28034
(704) 922-5285
South Point (9-12)
906 South Point Road, Belmont 28012
(704) 825-3351
Other Public Schools
Webb Street
1623 N. Webb St., Gastonia 28052
(704) 864-9667
Warlick (7-12)
1316 Spencer Mountain Road, Gastonia 28054
(704) 824-3012
Gaston County Private Schools
Cramerton Christian Academy
(704) 824-2840
First Assembly Christian Academy
(704) 853-1777
First Wesleyan Christian School & Pre-School
(704) 865-9823
Gaston Christian School
(704) 825-9000
Gaston Day School
(704) 864-7744
Highland Charter School
(704) 866-6342
Piedmont Community Charter School
(704) 853-2428
St. Michael's Catholic School
(704) 865-4382
Stanley Christian Academy
(704) 263-8991
Tabernacle Christian Academy
(704) 922-9143
Victory Christian Academy
(704) 865-7132
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