Top Rankings
Buncombe County Schools ranks among the top 20% of public school district in North Carolina for:
Category
Attribute
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 20%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2026 school year, there are 10 public high schools serving 7,314 students in Buncombe County Schools. This district's average high testing ranking is 9/10, which is in the top 20% of public high schools in North Carolina.
Public High Schools in Buncombe County Schools have an average math proficiency score of 75% (versus the North Carolina public high school average of 58%), and reading proficiency score of 67% (versus the 58% statewide average).
Public High School in Buncombe County School have a Graduation Rate of 90%, which is more than the North Carolina average of 86%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Nesbitt Discovery Academy, with ≥95% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in North Carolina or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 37% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public high school average of 56% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
45 Schools
760 Schools
# Students
22,402 Students
568,877 Students
# Teachers
1,477 Teachers
31,559 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
15:1
15:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Buncombe County Schools, which is ranked within the top 50% of all 314 school districts in North Carolina (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 90% has increased from 88% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#136 out of 325 school districts
(Top 50%)
(Top 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
(21-22)54%
51%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
51%
50%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
64%
63%
Graduation Rate
(21-22)90%
86%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.55
0.71
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
1%
4%
% Hispanic
22%
21%
% Black
7%
25%
% White
64%
44%
% Hawaiian
1%
n/a
% Two or more races
5%
5%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $12,870 is higher than the state median of $11,168. The school district revenue/student has grown by 6% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $12,743 is higher than the state median of $11,592. The school district spending/student has grown by 6% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$288 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$286 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$12,870
$11,168
Spending / Student
$12,743
$11,592
Best Buncombe County Schools Public High Schools (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Nesbitt Discovery Academy
(Math: ≥95% | Reading: ≥95%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
175 Bingham Rd Ste 10
Asheville, NC 28806
(828) 271-4521
Asheville, NC 28806
(828) 271-4521
Gr: 9-12 | 372 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 17%
Rank: #22.
Early College
(Math: ≥80% | Reading: 90-94%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
340 Victoria Road
Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 232-4123
Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 232-4123
Gr: 9-13 | 229 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 49%
Rank: #33.
Roberson High School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 69%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
250 Overlook Road
Asheville, NC 28803
(828) 654-1765
Asheville, NC 28803
(828) 654-1765
Gr: 9-12 | 1,479 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 49%
Rank: #44.
North Buncombe High School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 68%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
890 Clarks Chapel Road
Weaverville, NC 28787
(828) 645-4221
Weaverville, NC 28787
(828) 645-4221
Gr: 9-12 | 896 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 23%
Rank: #55.
Owen High School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
99 Lake Eden Road
Black Mountain, NC 28711
(828) 686-3852
Black Mountain, NC 28711
(828) 686-3852
Gr: 9-12 | 649 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 28%
Rank: #66.
Reynolds High School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 68%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
One Rocket Drive
Asheville, NC 28803
(828) 298-2500
Asheville, NC 28803
(828) 298-2500
Gr: 9-12 | 1,169 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 34%
Rank: #77.
Enka High School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
475 Enka Lake Road
Candler, NC 28715
(828) 670-5000
Candler, NC 28715
(828) 670-5000
Gr: 9-12 | 1,051 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 32%
Rank: #88.
Erwin High School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
60 Lees Creek Road
Asheville, NC 28806
(828) 232-4251
Asheville, NC 28806
(828) 232-4251
Gr: 9-12 | 1,013 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 52%
Rank: #99.
Community High School
Alternative School
(Math: 21-39% | Reading: ≥50%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
235 Old Us 70
Swannanoa, NC 28778
(828) 686-7734
Swannanoa, NC 28778
(828) 686-7734
Gr: 7-12 | 127 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1 Minority enrollment: 39%
Rank: n/an/a
340 Victoria Road
Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 232-4123
Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 232-4123
Gr: 9-13 | 33 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 34%
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