Buncombe County Schools on the map

Click a type to show or hide its schools.

District boundary from the NCES EDGE composite school district file. Each marker is a graded school; click it for its grade and scores.

Enka HighReynolds HighReynolds MiddleBlack Mountain PrimaryBell ElementaryCandler ElementaryOwen HighErwin HighErwin MiddleEmma ElementaryFairview ElementaryGlen Arden ElementaryHaw Creek ElementaryJohnston ElementaryLeicester ElementaryNorth Buncombe HighOakley ElementaryPisgah ElementaryEnka MiddleWilliams ElementaryRoberson HighValley Springs MiddleWeaverville ElementaryWeaverville PrimaryWest Buncombe ElementaryWoodfin ElementarySand Hill Venable ElemBarnardsville ElementaryBlack Mountain ElementaryAverys Creek ElementaryEstes ElementaryNorth Buncombe MiddleCommunity High SchoolNorth Buncombe ElementaryOwen MiddleCane Creek MiddleHominy Valley ElementaryNorth Windy Ridge IntermediateEarly CollegeMiddle CollegeKoontz IntermediateEblen IntermediateNesbitt Discovery AcademyEnka IntermediateBuncombe County Schools Virtual Academy
District boundary from the NCES EDGE composite school district file; each dot is a graded school, tap or hover for its name.

SchoolGrade summary for Buncombe County Schools

Average SchoolGrade
C+
Meeting or exceeding expectations
57%
Exceeding
23%
Avg actual scores
54.3%
Avg projected
50.6%

44 of 45 schools in Buncombe County Schools carry a SchoolGrade (1 have no school-level proficiency results in our source data). Grade distribution:

A: 10B: 11C: 11D: 9F: 3

Best schools in Buncombe County Schools

Statewide rankings: all 608 high schools in North Carolina · all 453 middle schools in North Carolina · all 1409 elementary schools in North Carolina

The ten highest SchoolGrades in the district. Grades reward actual test performance against the projection for each school's student context, so a B in a high-poverty school can outrank an A- elsewhere on impact.

  1. A+ Nesbitt Discovery Academy (High school, greatly exceeds expectations)
  2. A Fairview Elementary (Elementary school, meets expectations)
  3. A Cane Creek Middle (Middle school, exceeds expectations)
  4. A- Early College (High school, exceeds expectations)
  5. A- Barnardsville Elementary (Elementary school, greatly exceeds expectations)
  6. A- Glen Arden Elementary (Elementary school, exceeds expectations)
  7. A- Weaverville Elementary (Elementary school, meets expectations)
  8. A- West Buncombe Elementary (Elementary school, exceeds expectations)
  9. A- North Buncombe Middle (Middle school, meets expectations)
  10. A- North Windy Ridge Intermediate (Elementary school, meets expectations)

Every school in Buncombe County Schools

High schools (7)

Middle and junior high schools (12)

Elementary and primary schools (24)

Other schools and academies (2)

Where Buncombe County Schools schools are

Cities and towns served (10)

About this district

  • State: Best schools in North Carolina
  • County: Buncombe County
  • Type: regular local school district
  • Setting: large suburb (NCES locale of the district office)
  • Enrollment: 22,172 students with 1,559 full-time-equivalent teachers and 3,445 total staff FTE (NCES CCD, 2023-24)
  • NCES district ID: 3700450
  • Grades are the 2025-26 SchoolGrade model: each school's actual proficiency against the level projected for its student context. How SchoolGrade works

Nearby school districts

Questions about Buncombe County Schools

How many schools are in Buncombe County Schools?

SchoolGrade grades 45 public schools in Buncombe County Schools, across 10 cities and towns. Every one of them is listed on this page with a link to its own report.

Which cities does Buncombe County Schools serve?

The largest by graded schools: Asheville, Candler, Weaverville, Arden, Black Mountain and 5 more.

How good are the schools in Buncombe County Schools?

Across the 44 graded schools, the average SchoolGrade is C+, with 54.3% of tested students meeting the state bar against a projected 50.6%. 57% of schools meet or exceed the expectation for their student context.

How many students attend Buncombe County Schools?

22,172 students were enrolled in Buncombe County Schools in the 2023-24 school year, about 14.2 students per full-time teacher (NCES Common Core of Data).

Where is Buncombe County Schools?

Buncombe County Schools is in North Carolina, based in Buncombe County, with its district office in Asheville. Its boundary covers about 634 sq mi.