- Enrollment
- 1,479
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Asheville, NC
Nesbitt Discovery Academy
Federal NCES profile for Nesbitt Discovery Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 56/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 370045003320
👥 S:T ratio 17
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 63
📋 Attendance 75
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Nesbitt Discovery Academy earns 56/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 91% of North Carolina schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most North Carolina schools.
- #1 of 8
- high schools in Asheville · Resource Index
- 56
- Resource Index · Higher
- 20.7:1
- large classes for North Carolina
- 18.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Nesbitt Discovery Academy has class sizes larger than 91% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Nesbitt Discovery Academy ranks #1 of 8 high schools in Asheville, NC.
School address
District: Buncombe County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370045003320 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+5 students YoY
Nesbitt Discovery Academy held near 379 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+5 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 18.8 → 18.1 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+5 students YoY 370045003320 · Asheville, NC High · SMALL · TRAD
372 enr · 20.7:1 · 18.7% lunch · RII 56
Nearest enrollment peer: Roberson High (1,479 students)
Nesbitt Discovery Academy held near 379 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+5 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 18.8 → 18.1 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Nesbitt Discovery Academy 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 372
Nesbitt Discovery Academy
372 students
What this shows Nesbitt Discovery Academy reports 372 students on the CCD universe file.
How Nesbitt Discovery Academy compares
Nesbitt Discovery Academy 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 | 20.7:1 | ▲ 31% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 18.7% | ▼ 72% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 372 | top 68% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
20.7:1
Leaner classes than 14% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
372
Bigger than 43% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
18.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 72% below the North Carolina average of 66.0%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
20.7:1
students per teacher
- 31% above state mean
Top 91% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 9% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
10.2%
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
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 186 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 13 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 3.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 82.5%
Hispanic or Latino 8.3%
Asian 4.3%
Two or More 3.2%
African American 1.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: White at 82.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 30.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 30.9, Nesbitt Discovery Academy is less mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
AP courses offered 11
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 Nesbitt Discovery Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roberson High | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Reynolds High | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Enka High | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Erwin High | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| North Buncombe High | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Nesbitt Discovery Academy'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
School of Inquiry and Life Sciences
Standard public school
332 students 23.7:1 students per teacher
Early College
Standard public school
271 students 24.6:1 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 (~372 students)
Frequently asked questions about Nesbitt Discovery Academy
How many students attend Nesbitt Discovery Academy?
Nesbitt Discovery Academy has 372 students enrolled. It is a high school in Asheville, NC. CCD year-over-year: 374 (2022-23) → 379 (2023-24), nearly flat (+5).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Nesbitt Discovery Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Nesbitt Discovery Academy is 20.7:1, which is 31% higher than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 32% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Nesbitt Discovery Academy?
18.7% of students at Nesbitt Discovery Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Nesbitt Discovery Academy?
The largest demographic group at Nesbitt Discovery Academy is White at 82.5% of enrollment, in Asheville, NC.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Nesbitt Discovery Academy?
Nesbitt Discovery Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 56/100 (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 Nesbitt Discovery Academy rank among high schools in Asheville?
By Resource Investment Index, Nesbitt Discovery Academy ranks #1 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 Nesbitt Discovery 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.