Buncombe County Schools
Public school district · Buncombe County · North Carolina · NCES district ID 3700450
Buncombe County Schools spent $13,585 per student on current operations in fiscal year 2022-23, more than 66% of the other North Carolina districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022 (median $12,366). Its 45 schools enrolled 22,452 students in 2024-25; 50.8% of its revenue came from the state. Census Bureau figures for 2023-24 put it at $13,828 per student, up 1.8% on the year before (U.S. $17,619 that year). Its four-year graduation rate for the class of 2023 was 91% (North Carolina: 86.5%).
NCES F-33 finance survey, fiscal year 2022-23 · Census Bureau school finances 2023-24 · NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25 · method
Spending per student among North Carolina districts of similar size
Current spending per student excludes construction and debt. The 9 districts closest to Buncombe County Schools in enrollment (17,558 to 25,244 students) and Buncombe County Schools itself.
Where the money came from
$342,994,000 in revenue: 50.8% state, 33.8% local and 15.4% federal. Total spending including $33,958,000 of capital outlay was $343,073,000, or $15,530 per student; the figure above leaves capital out.
- State$174,186,000 51%
- Local$115,966,000 34%
- Federal$52,842,000 15%
Source: NCES F-33 school district finance survey, fiscal year 2022-23: current expenditures for elementary and secondary education divided by fall membership; the state median covers 150 districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022. Revenue by source (TOTALREV, TFEDREV, TSTREV, TLOCREV).
Enrollment rose from 2022-23 to 2024-25
22,091 students in 2022-23, 22,172 students in 2023-24, 22,452 students in 2024-25, counted across the schools that reported each year.
Teachers and students per teacher
| School year | Students | Teachers (FTE) | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | 22,091 | 1587.3 | 13.9 |
| 2023-24 | 22,172 | 1549.8 | 14.3 |
| 2024-25 | 22,452 | 1475.2 | 15.2 |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data membership and staff files, 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25; sums over the schools reporting each year.
$82,929,000 in teacher salaries in fiscal year 2022-23, $3,754 per student
Buncombe County Schools booked $82,929,000 of teacher salaries in its 2022-23 finance report and counted 1,598 full-time teachers in its Common Core of Data district staff file for 2022-23 (the school files behind the staffing figures on this page count teachers separately, so the two can differ), or $51,898 of salary spending per teacher. That is more than 77 in 100 North Carolina districts with a figure (state median $49,503, 293 districts). It is spending, not what a teacher is paid: the salary lines and the teacher count come from different files, so the result can differ widely from the average salary the district publishes (its salary schedule gives pay); benefits are left out, and states book salaries differently, so compare districts within one state. For pay, the National Education Association put the average North Carolina teacher salary at $53,644 in 2021-22 (NCES Digest table 211.60).
| Program | Teacher salaries | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Regular programs | $49,047,000 | 59.1% |
| Special education | $11,129,000 | 13.4% |
| Vocational | $4,954,000 | 6.0% |
| Other programs | $17,799,000 | 21.5% |
Teacher salaries per student, fiscal years 2018-19 to 2022-23
The district's teacher salary bill divided by its fall enrollment each year: $3,334 in 2018-19, $3,363 in 2019-20, $3,601 in 2020-21, $3,724 in 2021-22, $3,754 in 2022-23.
Source: NCES F-33 school district finance survey, fiscal years 2019 to 2023: teacher salaries in regular, special, vocational and other programs (Z35 to Z38) and fall membership (V33); NCES Common Core of Data LEA staff file 2022-23, teachers (full-time equivalent).
State test results, 2021-22
In 2021-22, the students tested in Buncombe County Schools scored proficient or above: 48% in reading and 52% in math, against 48% in reading and 50% in math across North Carolina. Each state writes its own test and sets its own proficiency bar, so compare these within North Carolina, not across states. Where a state published results by grade only, the grades tested are combined, weighted by the students tested in each.
| Subject | This district | North Carolina | Students tested |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading and language arts | 48% | 48% | 9,740 |
| Math | 52% | 50% | 9,741 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts state assessment results 2021-22, all students, from ED Data Express (the Data Rescue Project archive; ED has no 2022-23 result for this district): ED shows district results as ranges (for example 20-24%) to protect small groups.
Graduation rate, class of 2023
91% of the 1,808 students in Buncombe County Schools' class of 2023 graduated within four years, against 86.5% across North Carolina. The four-year rate follows the students who started ninth grade in fall 2019, adjusted for those who moved in or out, and counts those who earned a regular diploma by 2023. Every state computes it the same way under federal law, though each sets its own diploma requirements.
| This district | North Carolina | |
|---|---|---|
| Four-year graduation rate | 91% | 86.5% |
| Students in the class | 1,808 | 120,822 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rates 2022-23, all students, from ED Data Express: ED shows district rates as ranges (for example 90-94%) and leaves out small classes.
23 elementary schools, 8,976 students
| School | Students | Per teacher | Free lunch | Title I, 2021‑22 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estes Elementary | 754 | 14.3 | 99.5% | Schoolwide program |
| Fairview Elementary | 646 | 16.8 | 97.4% | Schoolwide program |
| North Buncombe Elementary | 593 | 15.4 | 98.7% | Schoolwide program |
| Sand Hill-Venable Elementary | 590 | 15.0 | 98.0% | Schoolwide program |
| West Buncombe Elementary | 580 | 14.7 | 98.1% | Schoolwide program |
| Avery's Creek Elementary | 557 | 15.2 | 99.5% | Schoolwide program |
| Glen Arden Elementary | 505 | 13.6 | 95.8% | Not Title I |
| Oakley Elementary | 502 | 15.5 | 98.0% | Schoolwide program |
| Williams Elementary | 451 | 15.9 | 95.8% | Schoolwide program |
| Haw Creek Elementary | 402 | 12.4 | 99.3% | Schoolwide program |
| Leicester Elementary | 399 | 15.4 | 98.7% | Schoolwide program |
| Hominy Valley Elementary | 399 | 14.6 | 99.2% | Schoolwide program |
The other 11 elementary schools
| School | Students | Per teacher | Free lunch | Title I, 2021‑22 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candler Elementary | 381 | 13.8 | 99.2% | Schoolwide program |
| Black Mountain Primary | 351 | 13.9 | 96.9% | Schoolwide program |
| Weaverville Elementary | 342 | 15.9 | 97.4% | Schoolwide program |
| Emma Elementary | 277 | 12.9 | 98.2% | Schoolwide program |
| Weaverville Primary | 245 | 15.8 | 98.8% | Schoolwide program |
| Bell Elementary | 224 | 12.4 | 96.0% | Schoolwide program |
| Johnston Elementary | 217 | 12.5 | 98.6% | Schoolwide program |
| Black Mountain Elementary | 163 | 15.3 | 96.9% | Schoolwide program |
| Pisgah Elementary | 162 | 11.6 | 98.1% | Schoolwide program |
| Barnardsville Elementary | 125 | 10.9 | 97.6% | Schoolwide program |
| Woodfin Elementary | 111 | 10.2 | 97.3% | Schoolwide program |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.
11 middle schools, 6,112 students
| School | Students | Per teacher | Free lunch | Title I, 2021‑22 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Koontz Intermediate | 725 | 18.1 | 99.2% | Schoolwide program |
| Valley Springs Middle | 654 | 14.3 | 99.5% | Eligible, no program |
| Enka Middle | 588 | 16.1 | 99.5% | Eligible, no program |
| Enka Intermediate | 585 | 14.8 | 99.5% | Schoolwide program |
| Eblen Intermediate | 566 | 14.9 | 99.3% | Schoolwide program |
| Erwin Middle | 545 | 13.8 | 99.4% | Eligible, no program |
| North Buncombe Middle | 516 | 14.4 | 98.8% | Eligible, no program |
| Cane Creek Middle | 499 | 14.9 | 98.0% | Eligible, no program |
| Reynolds Middle | 490 | 15.0 | 98.2% | Eligible, no program |
| North Windy Ridge Intermediate | 487 | 14.8 | 98.2% | Schoolwide program |
| Owen Middle | 457 | 13.7 | 96.7% | Eligible, no program |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.
10 high schools, 7,068 students
| School | Students | Per teacher | Free lunch | Title I, 2021‑22 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roberson High | 1,479 | 17.3 | 99.7% | Eligible, no program |
| Reynolds High | 1,169 | 18.0 | 99.0% | Eligible, no program |
| Enka High | 1,051 | 16.5 | 99.7% | Eligible, no program |
| Erwin High | 1,013 | 14.6 | 99.7% | Eligible, no program |
| North Buncombe High | 896 | 16.6 | 99.0% | Eligible, no program |
| Owen High | 649 | 15.2 | 98.0% | Eligible, no program |
| Nesbitt Discovery Academy | 372 | 21.9 | 98.7% | Not Title I |
| Early College | 271 | 24.8 | 98.9% | Eligible, no program |
| Community High School | 127 | 6.6 | 97.6% | Eligible, no program |
| Middle College | 41 | 10.3 | 43.9% | Not Title I |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.
1 other school, 296 students
| School | Students | Per teacher | Free lunch | Title I, 2021‑22 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buncombe County Schools Virtual Academy | 296 | 21.4 | 54.4% | Eligible, no program |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.
Contact Buncombe County Schools
- Website: buncombeschools.org
- Phone: (828) 232-4160
- Office: 175 Bingham Road, Asheville, NC 28806
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, local education agency directory 2024-25. Enrollment, boundaries and school assignment are the district's to confirm.
What to look at next about Buncombe County Schools
- North Carolina districts by spending per studentBuncombe County Schools ranks 51 of 150 North Carolina districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022 on current spending per student in fiscal year 2022-23 ($13,585).#51 of 150
- Every school district in North CarolinaBuncombe County Schools is the number 15 by size of 332 North Carolina districts, with 22,091 students in fall 2022 (F-33).#15 of 332
- Alamance-Burlington SchoolsThe next larger North Carolina district: 22,489 students in fall 2022, $11,925 per student in fiscal year 2022-23.$11,925
- Public Schools of Robeson CountyThe next smaller North Carolina district: 21,206 students in fall 2022, $12,767 per student in fiscal year 2022-23.$12,767
- Compare Buncombe County Schools with Alamance-Burlington SchoolsEnrollment, spending, revenue sources and schools, side by side.
- Roberson High, its largest high school1,479 students in 2024-25, 17.3 per teacher.1,479
- Teacher salary spending across North CarolinaBuncombe County Schools spent $51,898 in salaries per full-time teacher in fiscal year 2022-23 (state median $49,503); spending, not a salary.$51,898
- Find the school district for an addressA home's district decides which public schools it can enroll in.
Source: NCES F-33 finance survey, fiscal year 2022-23 (spending per student and fall 2022 membership; ranks among the state's districts that reported them); NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25 (schools).
Questions about Buncombe County Schools
How many schools and students are in Buncombe County Schools?
45 schools were open in 2024-25 (23 elementary, 11 middle, 10 high, 1 other), enrolling 22,452 students, according to the NCES Common Core of Data.How much does Buncombe County Schools spend per student?
$13,585 per student on current operations in fiscal year 2022-23 (NCES F-33), which leaves out construction and debt; the North Carolina median for districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022 is $12,366 and the U.S. figure is $16,260. Census Bureau figures for 2023-24 put it at $13,828 per student, up 1.8% on the year before (U.S. $17,619 that year).Where does Buncombe County Schools' money come from?
$342,994,000 in revenue in fiscal year 2022-23: 50.8% state, 33.8% local and 15.4% federal (NCES F-33).How many children in Buncombe County Schools live in poverty?
The Census Bureau estimates that 4,457 of the 31,504 children aged 5 to 17 living within the district's boundaries in 2024, 14.1%, were in families in poverty (Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). It is a model-based estimate for everyone living in the district, not a count of its students; the free-meal shares in the school tables are counts of enrolled students.How much does Buncombe County Schools spend on teacher salaries?
$82,929,000 in fiscal year 2022-23 (NCES F-33), or $3,754 per student. Divided by the 1,598 full-time teachers in the NCES Common Core of Data for 2022-23 that is $51,898 per teacher, more than 77 in 100 North Carolina districts (state median $49,503). That is spending, not what a teacher is paid: the salary lines and the teacher count come from different files, and the result can differ widely from the average salary a district publishes. The district's salary schedule gives pay. For pay, the National Education Association put the average North Carolina teacher salary at $53,644 in 2021-22 (NCES Digest table 211.60).How do students in Buncombe County Schools do on state tests?
In 2021-22, the students tested in Buncombe County Schools scored proficient or above: 48% in reading and 52% in math, against 48% in reading and 50% in math across North Carolina. North Carolina's own test sets what proficient means, so results compare within the state, not across states. Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts state assessment results, 2021-22.What is the graduation rate in Buncombe County Schools?
91% of the 1,808 students in Buncombe County Schools' class of 2023 graduated within four years, against 86.5% across North Carolina. The four-year rate follows the students who started ninth grade in fall 2019, adjusted for those who moved in or out. Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rates, 2022-23.What is Buncombe County Schools' NCES district ID?
3700450. Each of its schools' 12-digit NCES IDs begins with these seven digits.
Reading these figures: how to choose a school district, what Title I means and what an absenteeism rate means. They are for information and are not a substitute for the school's or district's own records.
Sources
Every federal file behind this record
- NCES Common Core of Data, 2024-25: directory, membership, staff and lunch files. nces.ed.gov
- NCES Common Core of Data, 2021-22 school characteristics: Title I status. nces.ed.gov
- Civil Rights Data Collection, 2021-22: AP courses, gifted programs, counselors, discipline. civilrightsdata.ed.gov
- EDFacts, 2022-23: chronic absenteeism. ed.gov
- EDFacts four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rates, 2022-23: the class of 2023 for the district and its state (ED Data Express). eddataexpress.ed.gov
- EDFacts state assessment results, 2021-22: reading and math proficiency for the district and its state (ED Data Express). eddataexpress.ed.gov
- NCES Digest of Education Statistics, table 211.60 (2021-22): the state's average teacher salary, from the National Education Association. nces.ed.gov
- U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024: children aged 5 to 17 and those in families in poverty, by school district. census.gov
- U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances, fiscal year 2023-24: per pupil current spending for 2023-24 and 2022-23. census.gov
- NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, fiscal year 2022-23: district spending and revenue. nces.ed.gov
- U.S. Census Bureau geocoder and TIGER school districts: the district boundary used by the district finder. census.gov
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances Per pupil current spending by school system · FY 2023-24
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey Revenue and expenditures by district · FY 2022-23
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School directory, membership, staff and lunch files · 2024-25