Very Good
#586 of 2,648 schools in NC
Top 22% in state
Enka High
High School · Buncombe County Schools · Candler, NC
A Buncombe County Schools high school where students score 13 points above what's typical for similar communities.
475 Enka Lake Road, Candler, NC 28715
- Math 61% vs NC 56% (2025)
- Reading 57% vs NC 54% (2025)
- 92.0% 4-year graduation
Academics
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
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Students at Enka High score 59% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 46%).
2025 NC proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NC average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 11 points since 2019, reaching 59% in 2025.
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 51% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 56% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 28 test records from NC state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
99.7%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where Enka High sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 7Car-Dependent
- Bike 1Somewhat Bikeable
- County Safety: Average518/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · county context, not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. A newer release may be available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$70,950
Median home value
$291,900
Median rent
$1,208/mo
College educated
31.5%
Homeownership
71.6%
Poverty rate
11.9%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 28715; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Franklin School of InnovationCharter · enrollment unverified | 6.5 | 5–12 | 2.2 mi | 706 | Compare → |
| Mount Pisqah AcademyPrivate · tuition | 6.5private | 9–12 | 2.8 mi | 112 | Compare → |
| Ic ImagineCharter · enrollment unverified | 6.3 | K–12 | 3.2 mi | 1,218 | Compare → |
| Asheville SchoolPrivate · tuition | 7.7private | 9–12 | 3.5 mi | 296 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Buncombe County Schools
- Schools in district
- 45
- Rank in district
- #13 of 45
- District spending per student
- $13,585NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 14.1%Census SAIPE · 2024
Enka High is listed in Buncombe County Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Enka High
Enka High is a public high school in Candler, NC, part of Buncombe County Schools, serving approximately 1,037 students in grades 9th-12th with a 16.5:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.7 out of 10 and ranks #586 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 51% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 56% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Enka High
What grades does Enka High serve?
Enka High serves students in grades 9th through 12th.
How many students attend Enka High?
Enka High has an enrollment of approximately 1,037 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Enka High?
The student-teacher ratio at Enka High is 16.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Enka High rank in NC?
Enka High ranks #586 of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is Enka High's MySchoolScout rating?
Enka High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.7 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 Enka High?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Enka High has 51% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 56% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Enka High a charter school?
No, Enka High is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Enka High a Title I school?
No, Enka High is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Enka High?
99.7% of students at Enka High qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 9th – 12th
- Enrollment
- 1,037
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 16.5:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 63
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Buncombe County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 27.2%
- Phone
- (828) 670-5000
- 4-Year Graduation
- 92.0%
- Area population (ZIP 28715)
- 28,770
- Area average commute
- 22.8 min
- Area median age
- 41.7
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 NC · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 NC · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 28715; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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