- Enrollment
- 1,479
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Asheville, NC
Early College
Federal NCES profile for Early College, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 47/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 370045002661
👥 S:T ratio 2
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 46
📋 Attendance 69
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Early College earns 47/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 96% of North Carolina schools.
- #3 of 8
- high schools in Asheville · Resource Index
- 47
- Resource Index · Typical
- 24.6:1
- large classes for North Carolina
- 53.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Early College has class sizes larger than 96% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Early College ranks #3 of 8 high schools in Asheville, NC.
School address
District: Buncombe County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370045002661 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+2 students YoY
Early College held near 276 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+2 headcount).
Teacher FTE held 11.7 → 11.4 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+2 students YoY 370045002661 · Asheville, NC High · SMALL · TRAD
271 enr · 24.6:1 · 53.3% lunch · RII 47
Nearest enrollment peer: Roberson High (1,479 students)
Early College held near 276 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+2 headcount). Teacher FTE held 11.7 → 11.4 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Early College 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 271
Early College
271 students
What this shows Early College reports 271 students on the CCD universe file.
How Early College compares
Early College held steady on CCD headcount: 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 | 24.6:1 | ▲ 56% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 53.3% | ▼ 19% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 271 | top 81% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
24.6:1
Leaner classes than 6% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
271
Bigger than 28% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
53.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 19% 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
24.6:1
students per teacher
- 56% above state mean
Top 96% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 4% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
12.5%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
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 271 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 2 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 50.9%
Hispanic or Latino 40.6%
African American 3.7%
Two or More 2.6%
Asian 1.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Largest group: White at 50.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 57.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 57.4, Early College is about as mixed as the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
AP program Not offered
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 Early College Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roberson High | Larger | Lower 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 | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| North Buncombe High | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Early College'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 high schools in Asheville
6 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Roberson High
Standard public school
1,479 students 15.6:1 students per teacher
Asheville High
Standard public school
1,221 students 14.9:1 students per teacher
Reynolds High
Standard public school
1,169 students 16.9:1 students per teacher
Erwin High
Standard public school
1,013 students 13.3:1 students per teacher
Nesbitt Discovery Academy
Standard public school
372 students 20.7:1 students per teacher
School of Inquiry and Life Sciences
Standard public school
332 students 23.7:1 students per teacher
Nationwide high 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 (~271 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~24.6:1)
Frequently asked questions about Early College
How many students attend Early College?
Early College has 271 students enrolled. It is a high school in Asheville, NC. CCD year-over-year: 274 (2022-23) → 276 (2023-24), nearly flat (+2).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Early College?
The student-teacher ratio at Early College is 24.6:1, which is 56% higher than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 57% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Early College?
53.3% of students at Early College are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Early College?
The largest demographic group at Early College is White at 50.9% of enrollment, in Asheville, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 57.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Early College?
Early College has a Resource Investment Index of 47/100 (typical 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 Early College rank among high schools in Asheville?
By Resource Investment Index, Early College ranks #3 of 8 high 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 high schools in Asheville on the city page.
What other schools are in Buncombe County Schools?
Besides Early College, 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.