Average
#1017 of 2,648 schools in NC
Top 38% in state
Valley Springs Middle
Middle School · Buncombe County Schools · Arden, NC
A Buncombe County Schools middle school where students score 10 points above what's typical for similar communities.
224 Long Shoals Road, Arden, NC 28704
- Math 60% vs NC 53% (2025)
- Reading 54% vs NC 53% (2025)
- 12.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Valley Springs Middle score 57% 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 6 points since 2020, reaching 57% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 61% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 58% (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 34 test records from NC state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
99.5%
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 Valley Springs Middle 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 41Car-Dependent
- Transit 19Minimal Transit
- Bike 33Somewhat 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
$79,088
Median home value
$343,600
Median rent
$1,369/mo
College educated
40.9%
Homeownership
59.6%
Poverty rate
5.4%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 28704; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Koontz IntermediateEnrollment path unverified | 7.0 | 5–6 | 0.1 mi | 680 | Compare → |
| Carolina Day SchoolPrivate · tuition | 7.0private | PK–12 | 2.8 mi | 566 | Compare → |
| Veritas Christian AcademyPrivate · tuition | 7.3private | PK–12 | 4.1 mi | 336 | Compare → |
| FernleafCharter · enrollment unverified | 5.6 | K–10 | 4.7 mi | 666 | 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.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment 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
- #22 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
Valley Springs Middle is listed in Buncombe County Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Valley Springs Middle
Valley Springs Middle is a public middle school in Arden, NC, part of Buncombe County Schools, serving approximately 634 students in grades 5th-8th with a 12.7:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.9 out of 10 and ranks #1,017 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 61% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 58% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Valley Springs Middle
What grades does Valley Springs Middle serve?
Valley Springs Middle serves students in grades 5th through 8th.
How many students attend Valley Springs Middle?
Valley Springs Middle has an enrollment of approximately 634 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Valley Springs Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Valley Springs Middle is 12.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Valley Springs Middle rank in NC?
Valley Springs Middle ranks #1,017 of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is Valley Springs Middle's MySchoolScout rating?
Valley Springs Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.9 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 Valley Springs Middle?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Valley Springs Middle has 61% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 58% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Valley Springs Middle a charter school?
No, Valley Springs Middle is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Valley Springs Middle a Title I school?
No, Valley Springs Middle is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Valley Springs Middle?
99.5% of students at Valley Springs Middle 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
- 5th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 634
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 12.7:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 50
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Buncombe County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 24.4%
- Phone
- (828) 654-1785
- Area population (ZIP 28704)
- 23,516
- Area average commute
- 20.8 min
- Area median age
- 40
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 28704; 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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