Excellent
#142 of 2,648 schools in NC
Top 5% in state
West Buncombe Elementary
Elementary School · Buncombe County Schools · Asheville, NC
A Buncombe County Schools elementary school where students score 25 points above what's typical for similar communities.
175 Erwin Hills Road, Asheville, NC 28806
- Math 81% vs NC 60% (2025)
- Reading 61% vs NC 53% (2025)
- 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at West Buncombe Elementary score 71% 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 17 points since 2020, reaching 71% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 69% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 57% (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 West Buncombe Elementary 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 12Car-Dependent
- Bike 7Somewhat 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
$59,925
Median home value
$335,800
Median rent
$1,224/mo
College educated
44.5%
Homeownership
57.2%
Poverty rate
14%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 28806; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eliada AcademyPrivate · tuition | Not rated | 1–11 | 1.2 mi | 12 | Compare → |
| Emma ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 4.9 | K–4 | 2.1 mi | 270 | Compare → |
| Johnston ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 3.2 | PK–4 | 2.1 mi | 184 | Compare → |
| Woodfin ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 3.4 | K–5 | 2.3 mi | 115 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Buncombe County Schools
- Schools in district
- 45
- Rank in district
- #3 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
West Buncombe Elementary is listed in Buncombe County Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About West Buncombe Elementary
West Buncombe Elementary is a public elementary school in Asheville, NC, part of Buncombe County Schools, serving approximately 578 students in grades Kindergarten-4th with a 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.7 out of 10 and ranks #142 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 69% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 57% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 4th
- Enrollment
- 578
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 13.8:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 42
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Buncombe County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 26.6%
- Phone
- (828) 232-4282
- Area population (ZIP 28806)
- 45,644
- Area average commute
- 20.7 min
- Area median age
- 38.2
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 28806; 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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