- Enrollment
- 1,479
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Asheville, NC
Bell Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Bell Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 59/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 370045000139
👥 S:T ratio 50
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 55
📋 Attendance 62
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Bell Elementary earns 59/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 85% of North Carolina schools.
- #1 of 13
- schools in Asheville · Resource Index
- 59
- Resource Index · Higher
- 12.4:1
- small classes for North Carolina
- 51.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Bell Elementary has class sizes smaller than 85% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Bell Elementary ranks #1 of 13 schools in Asheville, NC.
School address
District: Buncombe County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370045000139 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-14 students YoY
Bell Elementary shrank from 218 students in 2022-23 to 204 in 2023-24 (-6.4%).
Teacher FTE lost 18.9 → 18.3 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-14 students YoY 370045000139 · Asheville, NC Other · SMALL · TRAD
224 enr · 12.4:1 · 51.8% lunch · RII 59
Nearest enrollment peer: Roberson High (1,479 students)
Bell Elementary shrank from 218 students in 2022-23 to 204 in 2023-24 (-6.4%). Teacher FTE lost 18.9 → 18.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Bell Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Roberson High
Roberson High
1,479 students
- Reynolds High
Reynolds High
1,169 students
- Enka High
Enka High
1,051 students
- Erwin High
Erwin High
1,013 students
- North Buncombe
North Buncombe High
896 students
- This school 224
Bell Elementary
224 students
What this shows Bell Elementary reports 224 students on the CCD universe file.
How Bell Elementary compares
Bell Elementary is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs North Carolina and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs North Carolina | North Carolina avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 12.4:1 | ▼ 22% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 51.8% | ▼ 22% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 224 | top 86% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.4:1
Leaner classes than 72% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
224
Bigger than 22% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
51.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 22% below the North Carolina average of 66.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
12.4:1
students per teacher
- 22% below state mean
Top 15% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 85% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
15.2%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$13,585
per pupil, district-wide
- above North Carolina avg of $12,294
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 224 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
7
in-school suspensions + 8 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 3.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 6.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 67.4%
Hispanic or Latino 10.7%
African American 10.3%
Two or More 10.3%
Asian 1.3%
Largest group: White at 67.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 51.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 51.3, Bell Elementary is less mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Buncombe County Schools reports $13,585 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Bell Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roberson High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Reynolds High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Enka High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Erwin High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| North Buncombe High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Bell Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,169
- Students per teacher
- 16.9:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 1,051
- Students per teacher
- 16.2:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 1,013
- Students per teacher
- 13.3:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 896
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
Similar other schools in Asheville
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Ic Imagine
Standard public school
1,239 students 13:1 students per teacher
Estes Elementary
Standard public school
754 students 14.2:1 students per teacher
The Franklin School of Innovation
Standard public school
717 students 14.1:1 students per teacher
Sand Hill-Venable Elem
Standard public school
590 students 14.8:1 students per teacher
Oakley Elementary
Standard public school
502 students 15.7:1 students per teacher
Haw Creek Elementary
Standard public school
402 students 13.4:1 students per teacher
Nationwide other schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~224 students)
Frequently asked questions about Bell Elementary
How many students attend Bell Elementary?
Bell Elementary has 224 students enrolled. It is a public school in Asheville, NC. CCD year-over-year: 218 (2022-23) → 204 (2023-24), down 14.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Bell Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Bell Elementary is 12.4:1, which is 22% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 21% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Bell Elementary?
51.8% of students at Bell Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Bell Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Bell Elementary is White at 67.4% of enrollment, in Asheville, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 51.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Bell Elementary?
Bell Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 59/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Bell Elementary rank among schools in Asheville?
By Resource Investment Index, Bell Elementary ranks #1 of 13 schools in Asheville, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Asheville on the city page.
What other schools are in Buncombe County Schools?
Besides Bell Elementary, Buncombe County Schools also operates Roberson High (1,479 students), Reynolds High (1,169 students), and Enka High (1,051 students). See the Buncombe County Schools district page for the complete list.