- Enrollment
- 1,479
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Asheville, NC
Emma Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Emma Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 51/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 370045000146
👥 S:T ratio 56
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 45
📋 Attendance 32
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Emma Elementary earns 51/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 91% of North Carolina schools.
- #3 of 9
- elementary schools in Asheville · Resource Index
- 51
- Resource Index · Higher
- 11.1:1
- small classes for North Carolina
- 98.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Emma Elementary has class sizes smaller than 91% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Emma Elementary ranks #3 of 9 elementary schools in Asheville, NC.
School address
District: Buncombe County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370045000146 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-19 students YoY
Emma Elementary shrank from 289 students in 2022-23 to 270 in 2023-24 (-6.6%).
Teacher FTE held 25.0 → 24.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-19 students YoY 370045000146 · Asheville, NC Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
277 enr · 11.1:1 · 98.3% lunch · RII 51
Nearest enrollment peer: Roberson High (1,479 students)
Emma Elementary shrank from 289 students in 2022-23 to 270 in 2023-24 (-6.6%). Teacher FTE held 25.0 → 24.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Emma 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 277
Emma Elementary
277 students
What this shows Emma Elementary reports 277 students on the CCD universe file.
How Emma Elementary compares
Emma 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 | 11.1:1 | ▼ 30% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 98.3% | ▲ 49% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 277 | top 80% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.1:1
Leaner classes than 82% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
277
Bigger than 29% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
98.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 49% above 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
11.1:1
students per teacher
- 30% below state mean
Top 9% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 91% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
27.1%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
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 277 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 15 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 51.3%
White 31.0%
African American 13.0%
Two or More 4.0%
Asian 0.7%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 51.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 62.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 62.2, Emma Elementary is more 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 Emma 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 | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Erwin High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| North Buncombe High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Emma 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 elementary schools in Asheville
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Koontz Intermediate
Standard public school
725 students 16.9:1 students per teacher
West Buncombe Elementary
Standard public school
580 students 14.1:1 students per teacher
Eblen Intermediate
Standard public school
566 students 14.5:1 students per teacher
Evergreen Community Charter
Standard public school
430 students 14.3:1 students per teacher
Claxton Elementary
Standard public school
405 students 15:1 students per teacher
Francine Delany New School
Standard public school
193 students 12.9:1 students per teacher
Nationwide elementary 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 (~277 students)
Frequently asked questions about Emma Elementary
How many students attend Emma Elementary?
Emma Elementary has 277 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Asheville, NC. CCD year-over-year: 289 (2022-23) → 270 (2023-24), down 19.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Emma Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Emma Elementary is 11.1:1, which is 30% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 29% 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 Emma Elementary?
98.3% of students at Emma Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Emma Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Emma Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 51.3% of enrollment, in Asheville, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 62.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Emma Elementary?
Emma Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 51/100 (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 Emma Elementary rank among elementary schools in Asheville?
By Resource Investment Index, Emma Elementary ranks #3 of 9 elementary 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 elementary schools in Asheville on the city page.
What other schools are in Buncombe County Schools?
Besides Emma 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.