Enrollment
296
North Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Asheville, NC
Buncombe County Schools Virtual Academy
Federal NCES profile for Buncombe County Schools Virtual Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 39/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 370045003578
👥 S:T ratio 9
🌟 Gifted program 70
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Buncombe County Schools Virtual Academy earns 39/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 94% of North Carolina schools.
- #13 of 13
- schools in Asheville · Resource Index
- 39
- Resource Index · Typical
- 22.8:1
- large classes for North Carolina
- 48.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Buncombe County Schools Virtual Academy has class sizes larger than 94% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Buncombe County Schools Virtual Academy ranks #13 of 13 schools in Asheville, NC.
School address
District: Buncombe County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370045003578 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
13.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
22.8:1
vs 15.8:1 North Carolina avg
+44% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
48.1%
vs 66.0% North Carolina avg
-27% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Buncombe County Schools Virtual Academy compares with North Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at Buncombe County Schools Virtual Academy
Buncombe County Schools Virtual Academy is a mid-sized combined-grade school in Asheville, North Carolina, enrolling 296 students.
Class loads run heavy: 22.8:1 is larger than about 94% of North Carolina schools and 44% above the 15.8:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 48.1% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 296 puts it in the smaller third of North Carolina schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 2,698 scored North Carolina schools.
Among 218 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need North Carolina schools statewide, it ranks #181, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (79%) and Hispanic or Latino (10%) (diversity index 37/100).
Its district draws 21.3% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Asheville's public schools, it stands alongside Ic Imagine (1,239 students): Buncombe County Schools Virtual Academy is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (22.8:1 vs 13:1).
Buncombe County Schools also operates Roberson High (1,479 students) and Reynolds High (1,169 students) alongside Buncombe County Schools Virtual Academy.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Buncombe County Schools Virtual Academy compares
Buncombe County Schools Virtual Academy on the metrics families compare, against North Carolina and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs North Carolina | North Carolina avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 22.8:1 | ▲ 44% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 48.1% | ▼ 27% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 296 | top 77% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
22.8:1
Leaner classes than 9% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
296
Bigger than 32% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
48.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 27% 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
22.8:1
students per teacher
- 44% above state mean
Top 94% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 6% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Funding equity
$13,190
per pupil, district-wide
- above North Carolina avg of $12,017
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
White 78.7%
Hispanic or Latino 10.1%
African American 6.1%
Two or More 4.1%
Asian 0.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: White at 78.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 36.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 36.5, Buncombe County Schools Virtual Academy is less mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
AP courses offered 1
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Buncombe County Schools, which includes Buncombe County Schools Virtual Academy.
$13,190
Per student
+10%
vs North Carolina
Avg $12,017
-21%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 29.2%
State 49.5%
Federal 21.3%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Buncombe County Schools Virtual Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roberson High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Reynolds High | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Enka High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Erwin High | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| North Buncombe High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Buncombe County Schools Virtual Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,479
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- 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
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of North Carolina, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~296 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Buncombe County Schools Virtual Academy's federal record.
- Compare Buncombe County Schools Virtual Academy against another school. Compare schools
- Buncombe County Schools's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Buncombe County Schools Virtual Academy
How many students attend Buncombe County Schools Virtual Academy?
Buncombe County Schools Virtual Academy has 296 students enrolled. It is a public school in Asheville, NC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Buncombe County Schools Virtual Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Buncombe County Schools Virtual Academy is 22.8:1, which is 44% higher than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 45% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Buncombe County Schools Virtual Academy?
48.1% of students at Buncombe County Schools Virtual Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Buncombe County Schools Virtual Academy?
The largest demographic group at Buncombe County Schools Virtual Academy is White at 78.7% of enrollment, in Asheville, NC.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Buncombe County Schools Virtual Academy?
Buncombe County Schools Virtual Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 39/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 2 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology). Limited indicators were available, so the index reflects partial data.
How does Buncombe County Schools Virtual Academy rank among schools in Asheville?
By Resource Investment Index, Buncombe County Schools Virtual Academy ranks #13 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.
Is Buncombe County Schools Virtual Academy a good school?
Buncombe County Schools Virtual Academy earns 39/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 94% of North Carolina schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Buncombe County Schools?
Besides Buncombe County Schools Virtual Academy, 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.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.