Very Good
#475 of 2,648 schools in NC
Top 18% in state
Valley Springs Middle
Middle School · Buncombe County Schools
224 Long Shoals Road, Arden, NC 28704
Enrollment
634
Student-Teacher
12.7:1
Score
7.9
Grades
5th – 8th
Enrollment
634
Student-Teacher
12.7:1
Score
7.9
Grades
5th – 8th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Arden
#1 of 3
public schools
North Carolina middle schools
#28 of 475
In district
#9 of 45
Buncombe County Schools
School environment
9.2 / 10
Exceptional
About Valley Springs Middle
Valley Springs Middle is a regular public middle school located in Arden, North Carolina, within Buncombe County. The school occupies the address at 224 Long Shoals Road and serves students from grades 5 through 8. With an enrollment of 634 students and a student-teacher ratio of 12.7:1, Valley Springs Middle offers personalized attention to each learner.
The faculty consists of 50 full-time equivalent teachers dedicated to supporting academic growth. The school's MySchoolScout rating is 6.7 out of 10, placing it at the 70th percentile among North Carolina schools with a state ranking of #804 out of 2661 schools. In terms of academic performance, 52% of students are proficient or above in ELA/reading and 54% in math, indicating areas for improvement but also highlighting the school's commitment to student development.
Valley Springs Middle is situated in a small city setting, offering a tight-knit community atmosphere where students can thrive.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Valley Springs Middle — Students at Valley Springs Middle score 57% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 45%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
99.5%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores NC NC (2024-25)
Based on 10 test records from NC state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
↑ ImprovingAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* 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: 7.0/10.
How Valley Springs Middle Compares
See how Valley Springs Middle performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has improved from 44% (2019) to 60% (2025). Reading/ELA proficiency has improved from 47% (2019) to 53.6% (2025).
Location
224 Long Shoals Road, Arden, NC 28704
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Valley Springs Middle may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. Koontz Intermediate (rated 6.5/10, 0.1 miles away, in nearby Asheville), a more accessible option. Additionally, Reynolds Middle (rated 6.5/10, 5.7 miles away, in nearby Asheville), a more accessible option. For more schools in Arden, see our Arden schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 5.7 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Koontz Intermediate Asheville | 0.1 mi | 6.5 |
| Estes Elementary Asheville | 0.2 mi | 7.2 |
| Roberson High Asheville | 0.4 mi | 5.6 |
| Avery's Creek Elementary Arden | 2.2 mi | 6.9 |
| CAROLINA DAY SCHOOL Asheville | 2.8 mi | 7.0 |
| Glen Arden Elementary Arden | 2.7 mi | 7.4 |
| CHRIST SCHOOL Arden | 3.3 mi | 7.4 |
| VERITAS CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Fletcher | 4.1 mi | 7.3 |
| FernLeaf Fletcher | 4.7 mi | 6.8 |
| Glenn C Marlow Elementary Mills River | 5.4 mi | 7.0 |
| Oakley Elementary Asheville | 5.7 mi | 5.8 |
| TRINITY OF FAIRVIEW ACADEMY Fletcher | 4.8 mi | 6.8 |
| Middle College Asheville | 6.0 mi | 5.3 |
| Early College Asheville | 6.0 mi | 6.4 |
| Fletcher Elementary Fletcher | 5.8 mi | 6.8 |
| MILLS RIVER SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST SCHOOL Mills River | 6.0 mi | 5.5 |
| School of Inquiry and Life Sciences Asheville | 6.1 mi | 5.3 |
| Asheville High Asheville | 6.1 mi | 6.5 |
| Reynolds High Asheville | 5.6 mi | 5.2 |
| Reynolds Middle Asheville | 5.7 mi | 6.5 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 28704 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$79,088
Median Home Value
$343,600
Median Rent
$1,369/mo
Population
23,516
College Educated
40.9%
Homeownership
59.6%
Avg Commute
20.8 min
Poverty Rate
5.4%
Median Age
40
Community Profile
The community surrounding Valley Springs Middle has a median household income of $79,088. It is a well-educated community where 41% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $343,600, with a median rent of $1,369/month. The local poverty rate of 5.4% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 21 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Mooresville Middle Mooresville, NC | 7.9 |
| Myrtle Grove Middle Wilmington, NC | 7.9 |
| Southern Middle Aberdeen, NC | 7.9 |
| West Alexander Middle Taylorsville, NC | 7.9 |
| North Johnston Middle Micro, NC | 8.0 |
| Shallotte Middle Shallotte, NC | 8.0 |
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 is ranked #475 out of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is Valley Springs Middle's MySchoolScout rating?
Valley Springs Middle has a composite rating of 7.9 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Valley Springs Middle?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Valley Springs Middle has 54.4% math proficiency and 52.2% reading/ELA proficiency.
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.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
- Walk Score
- 41 Car-Dependent
- Transit Score
- 19 Minimal Transit
- Bike Score
- 33 Somewhat Bikeable
- County Safety
- Average (518/100K)
Powered by 
FBI UCR 2024. County-level only. Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- 5th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 634
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 12.7:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 50
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 99.5%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Buncombe County
- Phone
- (828) 654-1785
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Buncombe County Schools- District Enrollment
- 22,172
- Schools in District
- 45
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $13,585
- District Rank
- #9 of 45
Other Schools in This District
How We Rate Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
Read our full methodologyRelated reading
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