- Enrollment
- 1,479
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
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 →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-10 students YoY
West Buncombe Elementary held near 578 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-10 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 41.3 → 42.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-10 students YoY 370045000169 · Asheville, NC Elementary · MID · TRAD
580 enr · 14.1:1 · 60.9% lunch · RII 48
Nearest enrollment peer: Roberson High (1,479 students)
West Buncombe Elementary held near 578 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-10 headcount). Teacher FTE added 41.3 → 42.6 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
West Buncombe Elementary 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 580
West Buncombe Elementary
580 students
What this shows West Buncombe Elementary reports 580 students on the CCD universe file.
How West Buncombe Elementary compares
West Buncombe Elementary 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 | 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 methodology
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
$13,585
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
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.
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
District finance for Buncombe County Schools reports $13,585 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
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
- 1,169
- 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
Nationwide elementary 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 (~580 students)
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. CCD year-over-year: 588 (2022-23) → 578 (2023-24), nearly flat (-10).
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, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. 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.
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.