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Excellent

#198 of 2,648 schools in NC

Top 7% in state

Bell Elementary

Elementary School · Buncombe County Schools

90 Maple Springs Road, Asheville, NC 28805

Enrollment

204

Student-Teacher

11.3:1

Score

8.5

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

North Carolina schools

#198 of 2,648

In Asheville

#2 of 34

public schools

In district

#4 of 45

Buncombe County Schools

School environment

9.8 / 10

Excellent

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Bell Elementary

8.5/10

Elementary School in Asheville · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Buncombe County Schools Virtual Academy

2.7/10

0.7 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Haw Creek Elementary

7.8/10

0.8 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Bell Elementary

Bell Elementary is a public elementary school in Asheville, NC, part of Buncombe County Schools. Bell Elementary serves approximately 204 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 11.3:1 student-teacher ratio. Bell Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.5 out of 10 and ranks #198 of 2,648 schools in NC.

Structured state assessment records for Bell Elementary show 59% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 55% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares2.2 pts above district
  • This school 8.5 · Excellent
  • District avg 6.3
  • NC avg 6.4

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.1Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-0.94 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendStable
Academics8.4Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency63.6% (2025 NC)
Reading/ELA Proficiency61.8% (2025 NC)
Math vs. State Avg-0.2 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+15.2 pts
Overall Proficiency63% (2025 NC, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)47% (model expectation from 2025 NC)
vs. Expected+16.0 pts
Adjusted Percentile76th
Resources & Environment9.8Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio11.3:1
Per-Pupil Spending$13,585
Chronic Absenteeism16.7%

Bell Elementary — Students at Bell Elementary score 63% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 47%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

98.5%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores NC NC (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 58.7% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
59.4% (2025 NC)
ELA Proficiency 54.5% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
52.7% (2025 NC)

Based on 36 test records from NC state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
77%
ELA
72%
2010
Math
77%
ELA
67%
2011
Math
77%
ELA
67%
2012
Math
57%
ELA
42%
2013
Math
57%
ELA
47%
2014
Math
57%
ELA
52%
2015
Math
57%
ELA
47%
2016
Math
57%
ELA
42%
2017
Math
57%
ELA
47%
2018
Math
42%
ELA
42%
2019
Math
42%
ELA
42%
2020*
Math
42%
ELA
52%
2021*
Math
42%
ELA
52%
2022
Math
61.9%
ELA
63.8%
2025
Math
63.5%
ELA
61.7%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 8.1/10.

How Bell Elementary Compares

See how Bell Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.5/10
93th percentile in NC
Academic
8.4/10
Excellent
Growth
8.1/10
Excellent
Environment
9.8/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
99%
Teaching Staff
11:1 student-teacher ratio
18 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
16.7%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

90 Maple Springs Road, Asheville, NC 28805

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Bell Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. ASHEVILLE CATHOLIC SCHOOL (rated 7.9/10, 4.4 miles away), with a comparable rating. Another option is Haw Creek Elementary (rated 7.8/10, 0.8 miles away), with a comparable rating. Additionally, Claxton Elementary (rated 7.5/10, 3.6 miles away), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Asheville, see our Asheville schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 5.0 mi
School Distance Rating
Buncombe County Schools Virtual Academy Asheville 0.7 mi 2.7
Haw Creek Elementary Asheville 0.8 mi 7.8
Evergreen Community Charter Asheville 1.0 mi 6.1
Oakley Elementary Asheville 2.1 mi 4.2
Reynolds Middle Asheville 2.9 mi 5.8
Reynolds High Asheville 3.1 mi 7.8
JULIA STREET MONTESSORI SCHOOL Asheville 3.5 mi
School of Inquiry and Life Sciences Asheville 3.6 mi 6.8
Asheville High Asheville 3.6 mi 8.3
Claxton Elementary Asheville 3.6 mi 7.5
ArtSpace Charter School Swannanoa 3.6 mi 6.5
Early College Asheville 3.8 mi 8.0
Middle College Asheville 3.8 mi 7.4
Asheville Middle Asheville 3.8 mi 6.2
Montford North Star Academy Asheville 3.9 mi 8.3
HANGER HALL SCHOOL Asheville 4.0 mi 4.4
Ira B Jones Elementary Asheville 4.3 mi 5.8
ASHEVILLE CATHOLIC SCHOOL Asheville 4.4 mi 7.9
Isaac Dickson Elementary Asheville 4.1 mi 7.3
CAROLINA DAY SCHOOL Asheville 5.0 mi 7.0

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 28805 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$67,104

Median Home Value

$360,600

Median Rent

$1,198/mo

Population

20,246

College Educated

48.9%

Homeownership

63.1%

Avg Commute

18.5 min

Poverty Rate

13.3%

Median Age

45

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Casar Elementary Casar, NC 8.5
Jamesville Elementary Jamesville, NC 8.5
Mt Ulla Elementary Mount Ulla, NC 8.5
Villa Heights Elementary Charlotte, NC 8.5
RAINBOW COMMUNITY SCHOOL Asheville, NC 8.4
Southeastern Academy Lumberton, NC 8.4

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Bell Elementary

What grades does Bell Elementary serve?

Bell Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Bell Elementary?

Bell Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 204 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Bell Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Bell Elementary is 11.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Bell Elementary rank in NC?

Bell Elementary ranks #198 of 2,648 schools in NC.

What is Bell Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Bell Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.5 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Bell Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Bell Elementary has 59% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 55% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Bell Elementary a charter school?

No, Bell Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Bell Elementary a Title I school?

No, Bell Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Bell Elementary?

98.5% of students at Bell Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
57 Somewhat Walkable
Transit Score
35 Some Transit
Bike Score
19 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
204
Student-Teacher Ratio
11.3:1
Teachers (FTE)
18
Free/Reduced Lunch
98.5%
Type
regular
Setting
Small City
County
Buncombe County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
16.7%

District

Buncombe County Schools
District Enrollment
22,172
Schools in District
45
Per-Pupil Spending
$13,585
District Rank
#4 of 45

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