Average
#1077 of 2,648 schools in NC
Top 41% in state
School of Inquiry and Life Sciences
High School · Asheville City Schools · Asheville, NC
An Asheville City Schools high school where students score 15 points above what's typical for similar communities.
419 McDowell Street, Asheville, NC 28803
- Math 80% vs NC 56% (2025)
- Reading 81% vs NC 54% (2025)
- 95%+ 4-year graduation
Academics
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
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Students at School of Inquiry and Life Sciences score 80% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 66%).
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 80% in 2025.
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 64% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 83% (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
36.1%
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 School of Inquiry and Life Sciences 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 50Somewhat Walkable
- Transit 35Some Transit
- Bike 32Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High4,723/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Asheville), 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
$70,638
Median home value
$408,600
Median rent
$1,455/mo
College educated
50.4%
Homeownership
53.5%
Poverty rate
12.1%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 28803; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asheville HighEnrollment path unverified | 8.3 | 9–12 | 0.0 mi | 1,165 | Compare → |
| Canterbury Classical SchoolPrivate · tuition | 5.4private | K–12 | 2.3 mi | 123 | Compare → |
| Temple Baptist SchoolPrivate · tuition | 4.5private | PK–12 | 2.4 mi | 171 | Compare → |
| Odyssey Community SchoolPrivate · tuition | 7.5private | PK–12 | 2.7 mi | 141 | 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.
Asheville City Schools
- Schools in district
- 9
- Rank in district
- #6 of 9
- District spending per student
- $16,507NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 13.8%Census SAIPE · 2024
School of Inquiry and Life Sciences is listed in Asheville City Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About School of Inquiry and Life Sciences
School of Inquiry and Life Sciences is a public high school in Asheville, NC, part of Asheville City Schools, serving approximately 352 students in grades 9th-12th with a 25.1:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.8 out of 10 and ranks #1,077 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 64% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 83% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about School of Inquiry and Life Sciences
What grades does School of Inquiry and Life Sciences serve?
School of Inquiry and Life Sciences serves students in grades 9th through 12th.
How many students attend School of Inquiry and Life Sciences?
School of Inquiry and Life Sciences has an enrollment of approximately 352 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at School of Inquiry and Life Sciences?
The student-teacher ratio at School of Inquiry and Life Sciences is 25.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does School of Inquiry and Life Sciences rank in NC?
School of Inquiry and Life Sciences ranks #1,077 of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is School of Inquiry and Life Sciences's MySchoolScout rating?
School of Inquiry and Life Sciences has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.8 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 School of Inquiry and Life Sciences?
Based on loaded state assessment records, School of Inquiry and Life Sciences has 64% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 83% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is School of Inquiry and Life Sciences a charter school?
No, School of Inquiry and Life Sciences is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is School of Inquiry and Life Sciences a Title I school?
No, School of Inquiry and Life Sciences is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for School of Inquiry and Life Sciences?
36.1% of students at School of Inquiry and Life Sciences 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
- 352
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 25.1:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 14
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Buncombe County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 31.5%
- Phone
- (828) 350-2700
- 4-Year Graduation
- 95%+
- Area population (ZIP 28803)
- 34,750
- Area average commute
- 19.7 min
- Area median age
- 42.1
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 28803; 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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