Enrollment
502
North Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Asheville, NC
Oakley Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Oakley Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 49/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 370045000157
👥 S:T ratio 37
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 33
📋 Attendance 55
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Oakley Elementary earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Carolina median.
- #3 of 13
- schools in Asheville · Resource Index
- 49
- Resource Index · Higher
- 15.7:1
- students per teacher
- 99.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Oakley Elementary has class sizes near the North Carolina median. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Oakley Elementary ranks #3 of 13 schools in Asheville, NC.
School address
District: Buncombe County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370045000157 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
32.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.7:1
vs 15.8:1 North Carolina avg
-1% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
99.3%
vs 66.0% North Carolina avg
+50% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Oakley Elementary compares with North Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at Oakley Elementary
Oakley Elementary is a high-poverty, mid-sized combined-grade school in Asheville, North Carolina, enrolling 502 students.
At 15.7:1, 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 above the state's typical profile, with 99.3% of students eligible for free meals.
With 502 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 562 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need North Carolina schools statewide, it ranks #28, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (40%) and Hispanic or Latino (25%) (diversity index 71/100).
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 335 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
Attendance runs somewhat below the norm, with 18.1% of students chronically absent per the 2021-22 civil-rights collection.
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): Oakley Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (15.7:1 vs 13:1).
Buncombe County Schools also operates Roberson High (1,479 students) and Reynolds High (1,169 students) alongside Oakley 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 Oakley Elementary compares
Oakley 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 | 15.7:1 | ▼ 1% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 99.3% | ▲ 50% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 502 | top 48% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.7:1
Leaner classes than 41% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
502
Bigger than 62% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
99.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 50% 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
15.7:1
students per teacher
- 1% below state mean
Top 59% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 41% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
18.1%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
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 335 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
9
in-school suspensions + 31 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 8.0 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 40.4%
Hispanic or Latino 24.5%
African American 23.9%
Two or More 9.8%
Asian 1.4%
Largest group: White at 40.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 71.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 71.0, Oakley Elementary is more 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 Oakley 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 Oakley Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roberson High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Reynolds High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Enka High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Erwin High | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| North Buncombe High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Oakley 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 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
Haw Creek Elementary
Standard public school
402 students 13.4:1 students per teacher
Isaac Dickson Elementary
Standard public school
390 students 13.9:1 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 (~502 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15.7:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Oakley Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Oakley 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 Oakley Elementary
How many students attend Oakley Elementary?
Oakley Elementary has 502 students enrolled. It is a public school in Asheville, NC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Oakley Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Oakley Elementary is 15.7:1, which is 1% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 0% higher 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 Oakley Elementary?
99.3% of students at Oakley Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Oakley Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Oakley Elementary is White at 40.4% of enrollment, in Asheville, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 71.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Oakley Elementary?
Oakley 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 Oakley Elementary rank among schools in Asheville?
By Resource Investment Index, Oakley Elementary ranks #3 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 Oakley Elementary a good school?
Oakley 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 Oakley 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.