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Excellent

#142 of 2,648 schools in NC

Top 5% in state

West Buncombe Elementary

Elementary School · Buncombe County Schools

175 Erwin Hills Road, Asheville, NC 28806

Enrollment

578

Student-Teacher

13.8:1

Score

8.7

Grades

Kindergarten – 4th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

North Carolina schools

#142 of 2,648

In Asheville

#1 of 34

public schools

In district

#3 of 45

Buncombe County Schools

Equity

9.6 / 10

Excellent

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West Buncombe Elementary

8.7/10

Elementary School in Asheville · grades Kindergarten – 4th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Eblen Intermediate

5.8/10

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

Erwin High

6.0/10

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

About West Buncombe Elementary

West Buncombe Elementary is a public elementary school in Asheville, NC, part of Buncombe County Schools. West Buncombe Elementary serves approximately 578 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-4th, and has a 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio. West Buncombe Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.7 out of 10 and ranks #142 of 2,648 schools in NC.

Structured state assessment records for West Buncombe Elementary show 69% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 57% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares2.4 pts above district
  • This school 8.7 · Excellent
  • District avg 6.3
  • NC avg 6.4

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.5Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-0.72 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendStable
Academics9.2Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency81.1% (2025 NC)
Reading/ELA Proficiency61.1% (2025 NC)
Math vs. State Avg+17.3 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+14.5 pts
Overall Proficiency71% (2025 NC, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)46% (model expectation from 2025 NC)
vs. Expected+24.7 pts
Adjusted Percentile87th
Resources & Environment8.6Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio13.8:1
Per-Pupil Spending$13,585
Chronic Absenteeism26.6%

West Buncombe Elementary — Students at West Buncombe Elementary score 71% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 46%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

99.5%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores NC NC (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 69.4% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
59.5% (2025 NC)
ELA Proficiency 56.7% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
52.7% (2025 NC)

Based on 34 test records from NC state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

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

2009
Math
85%
ELA
69%
2010
Math
83%
ELA
67%
2011
Math
85%
ELA
71%
2012
Math
58%
ELA
55%
2013
Math
61%
ELA
54%
2014
Math
63%
ELA
49%
2015
Math
68%
ELA
52%
2016
Math
64%
ELA
48%
2017
Math
75%
ELA
55%
2018
Math
59%
ELA
50%
2019
Math
59%
ELA
50%
2020*
Math
56%
ELA
52%
2021*
Math
56%
ELA
52%
2022
Math
64.2%
ELA
56.5%
2025
Math
81.2%
ELA
61.1%

* 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: 8.5/10.

How West Buncombe Elementary Compares

See how West Buncombe Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.7/10
95th percentile in NC
Academic
9.2/10
Excellent
Growth
8.5/10
Excellent
Environment
8.6/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
100%
Teaching Staff
14:1 student-teacher ratio
42 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
26.6%

Programs & Offerings

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

175 Erwin Hills Road, Asheville, NC 28806

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering West Buncombe Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. RAINBOW COMMUNITY SCHOOL (rated 8.4/10, 3.3 miles away), with a very similar rating. Another option is EMMANUEL LUTHERAN SCHOOL (rated 6.9/10, 2.4 miles away), a more accessible option. Additionally, Asheville PEAK Academy (rated 6.8/10, 3.3 miles away), a more accessible option. For more schools in Asheville, see our Asheville schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 3.3 mi
School Distance Rating
Eblen Intermediate Asheville 0.1 mi 5.8
Erwin High Asheville 0.3 mi 6.0
Erwin Middle Asheville 0.5 mi 4.6
ELIADA ACADEMY Asheville 1.2 mi
FRENCH BROAD RIVER ACADEMY-GIRLS CAMPUS Asheville 1.3 mi 6.2
FRENCH BROAD RIVER ACADEMY-BOYS Asheville 1.8 mi 6.1
Johnston Elementary Asheville 2.1 mi 3.2
Emma Elementary Asheville 2.1 mi 4.9
EMMANUEL LUTHERAN SCHOOL Asheville 2.4 mi 6.9
Woodfin Elementary Asheville 2.3 mi 3.4
Nesbitt Discovery Academy Asheville 2.3 mi 8.4
TEMPLE BAPTIST SCHOOL Asheville 2.7 mi 4.5
1 SCHOOL RD Asheville 3.0 mi
Lucy S. Herring Elementary Asheville 3.0 mi 6.6
HAWTHORN MONTESSORI SCHOOL Asheville 2.6 mi
CANTERBURY CLASSICAL SCHOOL Asheville 3.2 mi 5.4
Asheville PEAK Academy Asheville 3.3 mi 6.8
ASHEVILLE SCHOOL Asheville 3.5 mi 7.7
Francine Delany New School Asheville 3.4 mi 6.0
RAINBOW COMMUNITY SCHOOL Asheville 3.3 mi 8.4

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 28806 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$59,925

Median Home Value

$335,800

Median Rent

$1,224/mo

Population

45,644

College Educated

44.5%

Homeownership

57.2%

Avg Commute

20.7 min

Poverty Rate

14%

Median Age

38.2

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Albert H Bangert Elementary New Bern, NC 8.7
Bath Elementary Bath, NC 8.7
Carolina Beach Elementary Carolina Beach, NC 8.7
Easley Elementary Durham, NC 8.7
Forest City-Dunbar Elementary School Forest City, NC 8.7
G R Whitfield Grimesland, NC 8.7

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about West Buncombe Elementary

What grades does West Buncombe Elementary serve?

West Buncombe Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 4th.

How many students attend West Buncombe Elementary?

West Buncombe Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 578 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at West Buncombe Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at West Buncombe Elementary is 13.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does West Buncombe Elementary rank in NC?

West Buncombe Elementary ranks #142 of 2,648 schools in NC.

What is West Buncombe Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

West Buncombe Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.7 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 West Buncombe Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, West Buncombe Elementary has 69% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 57% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is West Buncombe Elementary a charter school?

No, West Buncombe Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is West Buncombe Elementary a Title I school?

No, West Buncombe Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for West Buncombe Elementary?

99.5% of students at West Buncombe Elementary 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
12 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
7 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 4th
Enrollment
578
Student-Teacher Ratio
13.8:1
Teachers (FTE)
42
Free/Reduced Lunch
99.5%
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Buncombe County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
26.6%

District

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

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