Top Rankings
Buncombe County Schools School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in North Carolina for:
Category
Attribute
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 11 public high schools serving 7,410 students in Buncombe County Schools School District. This district's average high testing ranking is 9/10, which is in the top 20% of public high schools in North Carolina.
Public High Schools in Buncombe County Schools School District have an average math proficiency score of 75% (versus the North Carolina public high school average of 58%), and reading proficiency score of 67% (versus the 58% statewide average).
Public High School in Buncombe County School School District have a Graduation Rate of 89%, which is more than the North Carolina average of 85%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Nesbitt Discovery Academy, with ≥95% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in North Carolina or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 35% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public high school average of 55% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
45 Schools
761 Schools
# Students
22,126 Students
565,764 Students
# Teachers
1,549 Teachers
33,453 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
14:1
14:1
District Rank
Buncombe County Schools School District, which is ranked within the top 50% of all 320 school districts in North Carolina (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 90% has increased from 88% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#136 out of 325 school districts
(Top 50%)
(Top 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
54%
51%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
51%
50%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
64%
63%
Graduation Rate
90%
86%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.53
0.70
# American Indian Students
58 Students
5,772 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
271 Students
21,293 Students
% Asian Students
1%
4%
# Hispanic Students
4,709 Students
115,235 Students
% Hispanic Students
21%
20%
# Black Students
1,558 Students
138,700 Students
% Black Students
7%
24%
# White Students
14,351 Students
254,801 Students
% White Students
65%
45%
# Hawaiian Students
98 Students
765 Students
% Hawaiian Students
1%
n/a
# Two or more races Students
1,127 Students
30,969 Students
% of Two or more races Students
5%
6%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
127
491
# Students in K Grade:
1,565
6,922
# Students in 1st Grade:
1,579
6,949
# Students in 2nd Grade:
1,785
7,207
# Students in 3rd Grade:
1,590
7,125
# Students in 4th Grade:
1,740
7,196
# Students in 5th Grade:
1,604
7,763
# Students in 6th Grade:
1,598
11,146
# Students in 7th Grade:
1,659
12,024
# Students in 8th Grade:
1,597
12,284
# Students in 9th Grade:
2,009
137,976
# Students in 10th Grade:
1,884
126,349
# Students in 11th Grade:
1,843
117,582
# Students in 12th Grade:
1,546
104,750
# Ungraded Students:
-
-
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $13,030 is higher than the state median of $11,187. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $12,902 is higher than the state median of $11,612. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$288 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$286 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$13,030
$11,187
Spending / Student
$12,902
$11,612
Best Buncombe County Schools School District Public High Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Nesbitt Discovery Academy
(Math: ≥95% | Reading: ≥95%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
175 Bingham Rd Ste 10
Asheville, NC 28806
(828) 271-4521
Asheville, NC 28806
(828) 271-4521
Grades: 9-12
| 379 students
Rank: #22.
Early College
(Math: ≥80% | Reading: 90-94%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
340 Victoria Road
Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 232-4123
Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 232-4123
Grades: 9-13
| 237 students
Rank: #33.
Roberson High School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 69%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
250 Overlook Road
Asheville, NC 28803
(828) 654-1765
Asheville, NC 28803
(828) 654-1765
Grades: 9-12
| 1,495 students
Rank: #44.
North Buncombe High School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 68%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
890 Clarks Chapel Road
Weaverville, NC 28787
(828) 645-4221
Weaverville, NC 28787
(828) 645-4221
Grades: 9-12
| 929 students
Rank: #55.
Owen High School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
99 Lake Eden Road
Black Mountain, NC 28711
(828) 686-3852
Black Mountain, NC 28711
(828) 686-3852
Grades: 9-12
| 683 students
Rank: #66.
Reynolds High School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 68%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
One Rocket Drive
Asheville, NC 28803
(828) 298-2500
Asheville, NC 28803
(828) 298-2500
Grades: 9-12
| 1,156 students
Rank: #77.
Enka High School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
475 Enka Lake Road
Candler, NC 28715
(828) 670-5000
Candler, NC 28715
(828) 670-5000
Grades: 9-12
| 1,037 students
Rank: #88.
Erwin High School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
60 Lees Creek Road
Asheville, NC 28806
(828) 232-4251
Asheville, NC 28806
(828) 232-4251
Grades: 9-12
| 1,052 students
Rank: #99.
Buncombe County Schools Virtual Academy
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
21 Trinity Chapel Rd, Building
Asheville, NC 28805
(828) 255-5102
Asheville, NC 28805
(828) 255-5102
Grades: K-12
| 280 students
Rank: #1010.
Community High School
Alternative School
(Math: 21-39% | Reading: ≥50%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
235 Old Us 70
Swannanoa, NC 28778
(828) 686-7734
Swannanoa, NC 28778
(828) 686-7734
Grades: 7-12
| 131 students
Rank: n/an/a
340 Victoria Road
Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 232-4123
Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 232-4123
Grades: 10-13
| 31 students
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