- Enrollment
- 1,221
- Students per teacher
- 14.9:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Asheville, NC
School of Inquiry and Life Sciences
Federal NCES profile for School of Inquiry and Life Sciences, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 29/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 370027002749
👥 S:T ratio 5
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 34
📋 Attendance 8
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
School of Inquiry and Life Sciences earns 29/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 95% of North Carolina schools.
- #8 of 8
- high schools in Asheville · Resource Index
- 29
- Resource Index · Lower
- 23.7:1
- large classes for North Carolina
- 32.0%
- free-lunch eligible
School of Inquiry and Life Sciences has class sizes larger than 95% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, School of Inquiry and Life Sciences ranks #8 of 8 high schools in Asheville, NC.
School address
District: Asheville City Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370027002749 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+8 students YoY
School of Inquiry and Life Sciences held near 352 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+8 headcount).
Teacher FTE held 14.0 → 14.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+8 students YoY 370027002749 · Asheville, NC High · SMALL · TRAD
332 enr · 23.7:1 · 32.0% lunch · RII 29
Nearest enrollment peer: Asheville High (1,221 students)
School of Inquiry and Life Sciences held near 352 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+8 headcount). Teacher FTE held 14.0 → 14.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
School of Inquiry and Life Sciences in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Asheville High
Asheville High
1,221 students
- Asheville Midd
Asheville Middle
670 students
- Claxton Elemen 405
Claxton Elementary
405 students
- Isaac Dickson 390
Isaac Dickson Elementary
390 students
- Ira B Jones El 369
Ira B Jones Elementary
369 students
- This school 332
School of Inquiry and Life Sciences
332 students
What this shows School of Inquiry and Life Sciences reports 332 students on the CCD universe file.
How School of Inquiry and Life Sciences compares
School of Inquiry and Life Sciences 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 | 23.7:1 | ▲ 50% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 32.0% | ▼ 52% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 332 | top 74% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
23.7:1
Leaner classes than 7% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
332
Bigger than 37% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
32.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 52% 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
23.7:1
students per teacher
- 50% above state mean
Top 95% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 5% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
37.0%
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
$16,507
per pupil, district-wide
- above North Carolina avg of $12,294
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 332 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
20
in-school suspensions + 14 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 6.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 10.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 64.5%
African American 19.3%
Hispanic or Latino 10.5%
Two or More 4.2%
Asian 1.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: White at 64.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 53.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 53.4, School of Inquiry and Life Sciences is less mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
AP courses offered 11
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Asheville City Schools reports $16,507 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How School of Inquiry and Life Sciences Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asheville High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Asheville Middle | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Claxton Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Isaac Dickson Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Ira B Jones Elementary | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to School of Inquiry and Life Sciences's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 670
- Students per teacher
- 13.7:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
- Enrollment
- 405
- Students per teacher
- 15:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 390
- Students per teacher
- 13.9:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 369
- Students per teacher
- 12.7:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
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
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 (~332 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~23.7:1)
Frequently asked questions about School of Inquiry and Life Sciences
How many students attend School of Inquiry and Life Sciences?
School of Inquiry and Life Sciences has 332 students enrolled. It is a high school in Asheville, NC. CCD year-over-year: 344 (2022-23) → 352 (2023-24), nearly flat (+8).
What is the student-teacher ratio at School of Inquiry and Life Sciences?
The student-teacher ratio at School of Inquiry and Life Sciences is 23.7:1, which is 50% higher than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 51% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at School of Inquiry and Life Sciences?
32.0% of students at School of Inquiry and Life Sciences are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of School of Inquiry and Life Sciences?
The largest demographic group at School of Inquiry and Life Sciences is White at 64.5% of enrollment, in Asheville, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 53.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for School of Inquiry and Life Sciences?
School of Inquiry and Life Sciences has a Resource Investment Index of 29/100 (lower 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 School of Inquiry and Life Sciences rank among high schools in Asheville?
By Resource Investment Index, School of Inquiry and Life Sciences ranks #8 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 Asheville City Schools?
Besides School of Inquiry and Life Sciences, Asheville City Schools also operates Asheville High (1,221 students), Asheville Middle (670 students), and Claxton Elementary (405 students). See the Asheville City Schools district page for the complete list.