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Very Good

#889 of 2,648 schools in NC

Top 34% in state

Owen High

High School · Buncombe County Schools

99 Lake Eden Road, Black Mountain, NC 28711

Enrollment

683

Student-Teacher

15.9:1

Score

7.1

Grades

9th – 12th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

North Carolina schools

#889 of 2,648

In Black Mountain

#1 of 3

public schools

In district

#20 of 45

Buncombe County Schools

Academic growth

7.9 / 10

Very Good

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Owen High

7.1/10

High School in Black Mountain · grades 9th – 12th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Owen Middle

5.6/10

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

Williams Elementary

4.2/10

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

About Owen High

Owen High is a public high school in Black Mountain, NC, part of Buncombe County Schools. Owen High serves approximately 683 students, and covers grades 9th-12th, and has a 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio. Owen High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.1 out of 10 and ranks #889 of 2,648 schools in NC.

Structured state assessment records for Owen High show 47% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 60% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it comparesOn par with district
  • This school 7.1 · Very Good
  • District avg 7.3
  • NC avg 6.4

What Parents Should Know

Owen High sits in a rural area, which can mean longer drives for some families. Rural schools are often community anchors with smaller classes, but check transportation, after-school options, and access to specialized services before you commit.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress7.9Very Good25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-0.99 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendStable
Academics5.7Average25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency30.3% (2025 NC)
Reading/ELA Proficiency62.2% (2025 NC)
Math vs. State Avg-25.7 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+8.6 pts
Overall Proficiency46% (2025 NC, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)46% (model expectation from 2025 NC)
vs. Expected-0.1 pts
Adjusted Percentile40th
College Readiness7.1Very Good30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate92%
AP Participation12.3%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment7.9Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio15.9:1
Per-Pupil Spending$13,585
Chronic Absenteeism18.6%

Owen High — Students at Owen High score 46% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 46%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

99.6%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores NC NC (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 47.3% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
56.0% (2025 NC)
ELA Proficiency 60.4% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
53.6% (2025 NC)

Based on 28 test records from NC state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

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

2009
Math
72%
ELA
63%
2010
Math
77%
ELA
62%
2011
Math
77%
ELA
89%
2012
Math
22%
ELA
52%
2013
Math
22%
ELA
57%
2014
Math
42%
ELA
57%
2015
Math
32%
ELA
47%
2016
Math
47%
ELA
62%
2017
Math
2.5%
ELA
57%
2018
Math
52%
ELA
62%
2019
Math
52%
ELA
62%
2020*
Math
67%
ELA
57%
2021*
Math
67%
ELA
57%
2025
Math
30.3%
ELA
62.2%

* 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: 7.9/10.

How Owen High Compares

See how Owen High performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
7.1/10
67th percentile in NC
Academic
5.7/10
Average
Growth
7.9/10
Very Good
Environment
7.9/10
Very Good
AP Courses
4
State avg: 3
Sports
20
11 boys' · 9 girls'
Advanced STEM
5/5
Subjects offered
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
100%
Teaching Staff
16:1 student-teacher ratio
43 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
18.6%

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs4 AP courses offered
12.3% participation·State avg: 3 AP courses·CRDC 2021-22
Athletics20sports offered
11 boys'·9 girls'·26 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC 2021-22
Advanced STEM Courses5 of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC 2021-22
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

99 Lake Eden Road, Black Mountain, NC 28711

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Owen High may also want to explore other high schools in the area. Reynolds High (rated 7.8/10, 7.7 miles away, in nearby Asheville), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Community High School (rated 4.6/10, 2.0 miles away, in nearby Swannanoa), a more accessible option. For more schools in Black Mountain, see our Black Mountain schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 10.2 mi
School Distance Rating
Owen Middle Swannanoa 0.8 mi 5.6
Williams Elementary Swannanoa 1.9 mi 4.2
BLACK MOUNTAIN MONTESSORI Black Mtn 1.9 mi
Community High School Swannanoa 2.0 mi 4.6
THE LEARNING COMMUNITY SCHOOL Swannanoa 2.1 mi 6.6
ASHEVILLE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Swannanoa 2.3 mi 5.0
Black Mountain Primary Black Mountain 3.1 mi 5.4
Black Mountain Elementary Black Mountain 3.3 mi 6.3
ArtSpace Charter School Swannanoa 3.5 mi 6.5
Fairview Elementary Fairview 7.0 mi 8.8
Bell Elementary Asheville 7.0 mi 8.5
Reynolds Middle Asheville 7.6 mi 5.8
Reynolds High Asheville 7.7 mi 7.8
Evergreen Community Charter Asheville 7.1 mi 6.1
Buncombe County Schools Virtual Academy Asheville 7.6 mi 2.7
Haw Creek Elementary Asheville 7.6 mi 7.8
TIMBERSONG ACADEMY - BAT CAVE Hendersonville 9.9 mi
Cane Creek Middle Fletcher 9.9 mi 7.6
Oakley Elementary Asheville 8.7 mi 4.2
TRINITY OF FAIRVIEW ACADEMY Fletcher 10.2 mi 6.8

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 28711 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$69,177

Median Home Value

$358,400

Median Rent

$1,319/mo

Population

12,579

College Educated

54.1%

Homeownership

70.3%

Avg Commute

23.2 min

Poverty Rate

9.1%

Median Age

57.8

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Gray Stone Day Misenheimer, NC 7.1
Ledford Senior High Thomasville, NC 7.1
Montgomery Central High Troy, NC 7.1
North Moore High Robbins, NC 7.1
Robert L. Patton High School Morganton, NC 7.1
Tuscola High Waynesville, NC 7.1

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Owen High

What grades does Owen High serve?

Owen High serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Owen High?

Owen High has an enrollment of approximately 683 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Owen High?

The student-teacher ratio at Owen High is 15.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Owen High rank in NC?

Owen High ranks #889 of 2,648 schools in NC.

What is Owen High's MySchoolScout rating?

Owen High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.1 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 Owen High?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Owen High has 47% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 60% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Owen High a charter school?

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

Is Owen High a Title I school?

No, Owen High is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Owen High?

99.6% of students at Owen 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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
10 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
12 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
683
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.9:1
Teachers (FTE)
43
Free/Reduced Lunch
99.6%
Type
regular
Setting
Fringe Rural
County
Buncombe County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
18.6%
4-Year Graduation
92.0%

District

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

How we rate schools

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