Very Good
#889 of 2,648 schools in NC
Top 34% in state
Owen High
High School · Buncombe County Schools · Black Mountain, NC
A Buncombe County Schools high school serving grades 9th – 12th.
99 Lake Eden Road, Black Mountain, NC 28711
- Math 30% vs NC 56% (2025)
- Reading 62% vs NC 54% (2025)
- 92.0% 4-year graduation
Academics
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
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Students at Owen High score 46% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 46%).
2025 NC proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NC average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 11 points since 2019, to 46% in 2025, across a 17-year record (2009–2025).
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 47% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 60% (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
99.6%
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 Owen 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 10Car-Dependent
- Bike 12Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: Elevated1,238/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Black Mountain), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$69,177
Median home value
$358,400
Median rent
$1,319/mo
College educated
54.1%
Homeownership
70.3%
Poverty rate
9.1%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 28711; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Community High SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 4.6 | 7–12 | 2.0 mi | 131 | Compare → |
| Asheville Christian AcademyPrivate · tuition | 5.0private | PK–12 | 2.3 mi | 674 | Compare → |
| Enka HighEnrollment path unverified | 7.7 | 9–12 | Not available | 1,037 | Compare → |
| Nesbitt Discovery AcademyEnrollment path unverified | 8.4 | 9–12 | Not available | 379 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
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
- #20 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
Owen High is listed in Buncombe County Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Owen High
Owen High is a public high school in Black Mountain, NC, part of Buncombe County Schools, serving approximately 683 students in grades 9th-12th with a 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.1 out of 10 and ranks #889 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 47% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 60% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 9th – 12th
- Enrollment
- 683
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 15.9:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 43
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Fringe Rural
- County
- Buncombe County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 18.6%
- Phone
- (828) 686-3852
- 4-Year Graduation
- 92.0%
- Area population (ZIP 28711)
- 12,579
- Area average commute
- 23.2 min
- Area median age
- 57.8
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 28711; 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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