Enrollment
593
North Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Weaverville, NC
North Buncombe Elementary
Federal NCES profile for North Buncombe Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 49/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 370045002259
👥 S:T ratio 41
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 21
📋 Attendance 63
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
North Buncombe Elementary earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Carolina median.
- #4 of 6
- public schools in Weaverville · Resource Index
- 49
- Resource Index · Higher
- 14.8:1
- students per teacher
- 47.5%
- free-lunch eligible
North Buncombe Elementary has class sizes near the North Carolina median. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, North Buncombe Elementary ranks #4 of 6 public schools in Weaverville, NC.
School address
District: Buncombe County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370045002259 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
40.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
14.8:1
vs 15.8:1 North Carolina avg
-6% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
47.5%
vs 66.0% North Carolina avg
-28% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How North Buncombe Elementary compares with North Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at North Buncombe Elementary
North Buncombe Elementary is a mid-sized combined-grade school in Weaverville, North Carolina, enrolling 593 students.
At 14.8:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the North Carolina median, within a few percentage points of the 15.8:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 47.5% of students eligible for free meals.
With 593 students, its enrollment sits close to the North Carolina median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 2,698 scored North Carolina schools.
Among 466 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need North Carolina schools statewide, it ranks #49, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (74%) and Hispanic or Latino (19%) (diversity index 41/100).
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 395 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
14.8% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
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 Weaverville's public schools, it stands alongside Weaverville Primary (245 students): North Buncombe Elementary is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (14.8:1 vs 14.4:1).
Buncombe County Schools also operates Roberson High (1,479 students) and Reynolds High (1,169 students) alongside North Buncombe Elementary.
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 North Buncombe Elementary compares
North Buncombe Elementary 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 | 14.8:1 | ▼ 6% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 47.5% | ▼ 28% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 593 | top 36% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.8:1
Leaner classes than 49% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
593
Bigger than 72% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
47.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 28% 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
14.8:1
students per teacher
- 6% below state mean
Top 46% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 54% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
14.8%
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
$13,190
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
Counselors1.5 FTE
Per 395 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 6 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.0 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 74.2%
Hispanic or Latino 18.7%
Two or More 5.4%
African American 1.5%
Asian 0.2%
Largest group: White at 74.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 41.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 41.1, North Buncombe Elementary is less mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Buncombe County Schools, which includes North Buncombe Elementary.
$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 North Buncombe Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roberson High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Reynolds High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Enka High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Erwin High | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| North Buncombe High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to North Buncombe Elementary'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 Weaverville
1 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
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 (~593 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~14.8:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on North Buncombe Elementary's federal record.
- Compare North Buncombe Elementary 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 North Buncombe Elementary
How many students attend North Buncombe Elementary?
North Buncombe Elementary has 593 students enrolled. It is a public school in Weaverville, NC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at North Buncombe Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at North Buncombe Elementary is 14.8:1, which is 6% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 6% 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 North Buncombe Elementary?
47.5% of students at North Buncombe Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of North Buncombe Elementary?
The largest demographic group at North Buncombe Elementary is White at 74.2% of enrollment, in Weaverville, NC.
What is the Resource Investment Index for North Buncombe Elementary?
North Buncombe Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 49/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does North Buncombe Elementary rank among public schools in Weaverville?
By Resource Investment Index, North Buncombe Elementary ranks #4 of 6 public schools in Weaverville, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Weaverville on the city page.
Is North Buncombe Elementary a good school?
North Buncombe Elementary earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Carolina median. 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 North Buncombe 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.
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.