Enrollment
580
North Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Asheville, NC
West Buncombe Elementary
Federal NCES profile for West Buncombe Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 48/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 370045000169
👥 S:T ratio 44
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 23
📋 Attendance 57
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
West Buncombe Elementary earns 48/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Carolina median.
- #4 of 9
- elementary schools in Asheville · Resource Index
- 48
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.1:1
- students per teacher
- 60.9%
- free-lunch eligible
West Buncombe Elementary has class sizes near the North Carolina median. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, West Buncombe Elementary ranks #4 of 9 elementary schools in Asheville, NC.
School address
District: Buncombe County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370045000169 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
41.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
14.1:1
vs 15.8:1 North Carolina avg
-11% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
60.9%
vs 66.0% North Carolina avg
-8% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How West Buncombe Elementary compares with North Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at West Buncombe Elementary
West Buncombe Elementary is a higher-need, mid-sized elementary school in Asheville, North Carolina, enrolling 580 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 14.1:1 puts it in the smaller third of North Carolina schools by student-teacher ratio.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 60.9% lands close to the North Carolina typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
With 580 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.
Against 481 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #54.
Its student body is led by White (68%) and Hispanic or Latino (24%) (diversity index 48/100).
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 387 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
17.4% 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 Asheville's elementary schools, it stands alongside Koontz Intermediate (725 students): West Buncombe Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (14.1:1 vs 16.9:1).
Buncombe County Schools also operates Roberson High (1,479 students) and Reynolds High (1,169 students) alongside West 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 West Buncombe Elementary compares
West 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 | 14.1:1 | ▼ 11% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 60.9% | ▼ 8% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 580 | top 38% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.1:1
Leaner classes than 56% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
580
Bigger than 71% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
60.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 8% 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
14.1:1
students per teacher
- 11% below state mean
Top 36% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 64% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
17.4%
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 387 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
14
in-school suspensions + 9 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 4.0 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 67.8%
Hispanic or Latino 24.1%
African American 3.6%
Two or More 2.4%
Asian 1.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 67.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 48.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 48.0, West 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 West 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 West Buncombe 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 | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Erwin High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| North Buncombe High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to West 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 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
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
Emma Elementary
Standard public school
277 students 11.1:1 students per teacher
Francine Delany New School
Standard public school
193 students 12.9:1 students per teacher
Similar elementary 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 (~580 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on West Buncombe Elementary's federal record.
- Compare West 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 West Buncombe Elementary
How many students attend West Buncombe Elementary?
West Buncombe Elementary has 580 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Asheville, NC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at West Buncombe Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at West Buncombe Elementary is 14.1:1, which is 11% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 10% 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 West Buncombe Elementary?
60.9% of students at West Buncombe Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of West Buncombe Elementary?
The largest demographic group at West Buncombe Elementary is White at 67.8% of enrollment, in Asheville, NC.
What is the Resource Investment Index for West Buncombe Elementary?
West Buncombe Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 48/100 (typical 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 West Buncombe Elementary rank among elementary schools in Asheville?
By Resource Investment Index, West Buncombe Elementary ranks #4 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.
Is West Buncombe Elementary a good school?
West Buncombe Elementary earns 48/100 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 West 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.