Best Schools in Buncombe County, NC
Buncombe County, NC has 103 public schools (17 high, 17 middle, 54 elementary) serving 42,008 students. On average they score 56% on state proficiency tests against a projected 50%, so schools in Buncombe County meet expectations. Rankings below compare each school’s actual results with the projection for its socioeconomic context.
Best High Schools in Buncombe County, NC
The top high schools in Buncombe County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Nesbitt Discovery Academy
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Buncombe County Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 374 Students
2. Early College
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Buncombe County Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 13 • 274 Students
3. School Of Inquiry And Life Sciences
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Asheville City Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 344 Students
4. West Henderson High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Henderson County Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1087 Students
5. North Henderson High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Henderson County Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1146 Students
6. North Buncombe High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Buncombe County Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 956 Students
7. Reynolds High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Buncombe County Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1133 Students
8. The Franklin School Of Innovation
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
The Franklin School Of Innovation • Charter • Grades 5 - 12 • 694 Students
9. Roberson High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Buncombe County Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1491 Students
10. Asheville High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Asheville City Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1166 Students
Best Middle Schools in Buncombe County, NC
The top middle schools in Buncombe County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Cane Creek Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Buncombe County Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 452 Students
2. Rugby Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Henderson County Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 804 Students
3. North Buncombe Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Buncombe County Schools • Public • Grades 7 - 8 • 504 Students
4. North Windy Ridge Intermediate
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Buncombe County Schools • Public • Grades 5 - 6 • 494 Students
5. Valley Springs Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Buncombe County Schools • Public • Grades 5 - 8 • 634 Students
6. Madison Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Madison County Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 452 Students
7. Asheville Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Asheville City Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 589 Students
8. Koontz Intermediate
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Buncombe County Schools • Public • Grades 5 - 6 • 650 Students
9. Enka Intermediate
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Buncombe County Schools • Public • Grades 5 - 6 • 573 Students
10. Reynolds Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Buncombe County Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 479 Students
Best Elementary Schools in Buncombe County, NC
The top elementary schools in Buncombe County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Glenn C Marlow Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Henderson County Schools • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 580 Students
2. Fairview Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Buncombe County Schools • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 659 Students
3. Mills River Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Henderson County Schools • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 589 Students
4. Barnardsville Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Buncombe County Schools • Public • Grades Pre K - 4 • 107 Students
5. West Buncombe Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Buncombe County Schools • Public • Grades KG - 4 • 588 Students
6. Weaverville Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Buncombe County Schools • Public • Grades 2 - 4 • 303 Students
7. Glen Arden Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Buncombe County Schools • Public • Grades Pre K - 4 • 501 Students
8. Lucy S. Herring Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Asheville City Schools • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 301 Students
9. Evergreen Community Charter
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Evergreen Community Charter • Charter • Grades KG - 8 • 441 Students
10. Claxton Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Asheville City Schools • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 396 Students
Education & Community Snapshot in Buncombe County, NC
County-level factors that shape the learning environment around local schools.
Community Factors
Buncombe County, NC has a total population of 269,452 with 20% of that population attending schools. The adult high school graduation rate is 92%, and 44% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Students in Buncombe County, NC
K-12 Students
High School Graduates
Adults 25+ with HS diplomas
College Graduates
Adults 25+ with a Bachelor’s degree or higher
Demographics statistics provided by Best Neighborhood Buncombe County, NC.
Safety
Crime Grades summarize reported incidents per 1,000 residents. Use them as neighborhood context, not a school rating.
Overall Crime Grade
23.34 per 1,000 Residents
Violent Crime Grade
4.15 per 1,000 Residents
Property Crime Grade
19.19 per 1,000 Residents
Crime statistics provided by CrimeGrade in Buncombe County, NC.
Connectivity
Connectivity influences learning at home. We summarize internet infrastructure, typical download speed, and a digital connectivity index for Buncombe County, NC.
ISP Report Card
Internet Infrastructure Grade
Average Download Speed
Speed Most Residents Can Get
Digital Connectivity Index
ISP Connectivity Demand Report
To read more about these statistics, please visit Buncombe County, NC Internet Health Assessment.
Questions About Schools in Buncombe County, NC
How many schools are in Buncombe County, NC?
Buncombe County, NC has 103 public schools: 17 high schools, 17 middle schools and 54 elementary schools, serving 42,008 students in total.
How do schools in Buncombe County perform on state tests?
On average, 103 schools in Buncombe County score 56% proficient on state assessments. Given the socioeconomic context of their students we project 50%, so on average schools in Buncombe County meet expectations.
How does SchoolGrade rank the best schools in Buncombe County?
Every public school gets a SchoolGrade from A+ to F based on the share of students at or above the state proficiency bar. The Impact Grade compares that result with what we would expect given the school’s student and community context, so schools that outperform their circumstances stand out. Schools cannot pay to change a grade. Read the full methodology.
Best Schools in Cities Near Buncombe County, NC
Explore nearby cities to widen your school search.
- Actual: 61%
- Projected: 49%
- Impact Grade: Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 58%
- Projected: 51%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 64%
- Projected: 52%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 49%
- Projected: 50%
- Impact Grade: Underperforms Expectations
- Actual: 61%
- Projected: 53%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 55%
- Projected: 54%
- Impact Grade: Underperforms Expectations
- Actual: 60%
- Projected: 54%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 51%
- Projected: 47%
- Impact Grade: Underperforms Expectations
- Actual: 57%
- Projected: 53%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 51%
- Projected: 47%
- Impact Grade: Underperforms Expectations
Cities, towns and school districts in Buncombe County
9 places in Buncombe County with graded public schools. Each link opens that place's ranked schools.
Cities and towns (9)
- Asheville (32)
- Candler (6)
- Weaverville (6)
- Swannanoa (4)
- Arden (3)
- Black Mountain (3)
- Barnardsville (1)
- Fairview (1)
- Leicester (1)
School districts (2)
- Buncombe County Schools (45 schools)
- Asheville City Schools (9 schools)