Best traditional public schools in Buncombe County Schools (2025)

District-run public schools. Ranked by the Success Index (US) from official American data; 42 schools in Buncombe County Schools, North Carolina. Rank positions shown on each profile are within United States and North Carolina.

1
63
Nesbitt Discovery AcademyAsheville · Public High97.5% Math proficiency · 372 students
2
58
Glen Arden ElementaryArden · Public Elementary67% Math proficiency · 505 students
3
53
Early CollegeAsheville · Public High74.5% Math proficiency · 271 students
4
52
North Windy Ridge IntermediateWeaverville · Public Middle61% Math proficiency · 487 students
5
51
Cane Creek MiddleFletcher · Public Middle49% Math proficiency · 499 students
6
50
Weaverville ElementaryWeaverville · Public Elementary62% Math proficiency · 342 students
7
49
North Buncombe MiddleWeaverville · Public Middle54% Math proficiency · 516 students
8
48
Hominy Valley ElementaryCandler · Public Elementary52% Math proficiency · 399 students
9
48
Owen HighBlack Mountain · Public High52% Math proficiency · 649 students
10
46
Pisgah ElementaryCandler · Public Elementary57% Math proficiency · 162 students
11
46
West Buncombe ElementaryAsheville · Public Elementary59% Math proficiency · 580 students
12
45
Reynolds HighAsheville · Public High62% Math proficiency · 1,169 students
13
44
Roberson HighAsheville · Public High53% Math proficiency · 1,479 students
14
44
Haw Creek ElementaryAsheville · Public Elementary47% Math proficiency · 402 students
15
42
North Buncombe HighWeaverville · Public High63% Math proficiency · 896 students
16
41
Barnardsville ElementaryBarnardsville · Public Elementary47% Math proficiency · 125 students
17
40
Fairview ElementaryFairview · Public Elementary49% Math proficiency · 646 students
18
40
North Buncombe ElementaryWeaverville · Public Elementary50% Math proficiency · 593 students
19
40
Valley Springs MiddleArden · Public Middle44% Math proficiency · 654 students
20
39
Reynolds MiddleAsheville · Public Middle39% Math proficiency · 490 students
21
38
Enka IntermediateCandler · Public Middle42% Math proficiency · 585 students
22
38
Estes ElementaryAsheville · Public Elementary47% Math proficiency · 754 students
23
38
Owen MiddleSwannanoa · Public Middle37% Math proficiency · 457 students
24
37
Enka HighCandler · Public High41% Math proficiency · 1,051 students
25
37
Black Mountain ElementaryBlack Mountain · Public Elementary41% Math proficiency · 163 students
26
37
Bell ElementaryAsheville · Public Elementary42% Math proficiency · 224 students
27
36
Koontz IntermediateAsheville · Public Middle43% Math proficiency · 725 students
28
35
Black Mountain PrimaryBlack Mountain · Public Elementary37% Math proficiency · 351 students
29
34
Erwin HighAsheville · Public High44% Math proficiency · 1,013 students
30
33
Sand Hill-Venable ElemAsheville · Public Elementary41% Math proficiency · 590 students
31
32
Eblen IntermediateAsheville · Public Middle44% Math proficiency · 566 students
32
31
Leicester ElementaryLeicester · Public Elementary42% Math proficiency · 399 students
33
31
Enka MiddleCandler · Public Middle39% Math proficiency · 588 students
34
29
Woodfin ElementaryAsheville · Public Elementary24.5% Math proficiency · 111 students
35
26
Candler ElementaryCandler · Public Elementary32% Math proficiency · 381 students
36
26
Avery's Creek ElementaryArden · Public Elementary35% Math proficiency · 557 students
37
26
Emma ElementaryAsheville · Public Elementary32% Math proficiency · 277 students
38
25
Williams ElementarySwannanoa · Public Elementary35% Math proficiency · 451 students
39
24
Erwin MiddleAsheville · Public Middle29% Math proficiency · 545 students
40
19
Weaverville PrimaryWeaverville · Public Elementary98.8% Free/reduced-price lunch · 245 students
41
18
Oakley ElementaryAsheville · Public Elementary26% Math proficiency · 502 students
42
15
Johnston ElementaryAsheville · Public Elementary17% Math proficiency · 217 students

#	School	Sector	Success Index (US)	Key result	Students
1	Nesbitt Discovery Academy Asheville · High · Grades 9–12	Public	62.5 Top 50%	97.5% Math proficiency	372
2	Glen Arden Elementary Arden · Elementary · Grades PK–4	Public	58.2 Top 50%	67% Math proficiency	505
3	Early College Asheville · High · Grades 9–13	Public	52.6 Top 50%	74.5% Math proficiency	271
4	North Windy Ridge Intermediate Weaverville · Middle · Grades 5–6	Public	51.9 Top 50%	61% Math proficiency	487
5	Cane Creek Middle Fletcher · Middle · Grades 6–8	Public	50.5 Top 50%	49% Math proficiency	499
6	Weaverville Elementary Weaverville · Elementary · Grades 2–4	Public	50.2 Top 50%	62% Math proficiency	342
7	North Buncombe Middle Weaverville · Middle · Grades 7–8	Public	49.2 Lower 50%	54% Math proficiency	516
8	Hominy Valley Elementary Candler · Elementary · Grades K–4	Public	48.2 Lower 50%	52% Math proficiency	399
9	Owen High Black Mountain · High · Grades 9–12	Public	47.6 Lower 50%	52% Math proficiency	649
10	Pisgah Elementary Candler · Elementary · Grades K–4	Public	46.2 Lower 50%	57% Math proficiency	162
11	West Buncombe Elementary Asheville · Elementary · Grades K–4	Public	45.9 Lower 50%	59% Math proficiency	580
12	Reynolds High Asheville · High · Grades 9–12	Public	45.3 Lower 50%	62% Math proficiency	1,169
13	Roberson High Asheville · High · Grades 9–12	Public	44.0 Lower 50%	53% Math proficiency	1,479
14	Haw Creek Elementary Asheville · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	43.5 Lower 50%	47% Math proficiency	402
15	North Buncombe High Weaverville · High · Grades 9–12	Public	42.2 Lower 50%	63% Math proficiency	896
16	Barnardsville Elementary Barnardsville · Elementary · Grades PK–4	Public	40.8 Lower 50%	47% Math proficiency	125
17	Fairview Elementary Fairview · Elementary · Grades K–5	Public	40.0 Lower 50%	49% Math proficiency	646
18	North Buncombe Elementary Weaverville · Elementary · Grades PK–4	Public	39.5 Lower 50%	50% Math proficiency	593
19	Valley Springs Middle Arden · Middle · Grades 5–8	Public	39.5 Lower 50%	44% Math proficiency	654
20	Reynolds Middle Asheville · Middle · Grades 6–8	Public	38.5 Lower 50%	39% Math proficiency	490
21	Enka Intermediate Candler · Middle · Grades 5–6	Public	38.3 Lower 50%	42% Math proficiency	585
22	Estes Elementary Asheville · Elementary · Grades PK–4	Public	38.1 Lower 50%	47% Math proficiency	754
23	Owen Middle Swannanoa · Middle · Grades 6–8	Public	37.7 Lower 50%	37% Math proficiency	457
24	Enka High Candler · High · Grades 9–12	Public	37.4 Lower 50%	41% Math proficiency	1,051
25	Black Mountain Elementary Black Mountain · Elementary · Grades 4–5	Public	36.7 Lower 50%	41% Math proficiency	163
26	Bell Elementary Asheville · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	36.5 Lower 50%	42% Math proficiency	224
27	Koontz Intermediate Asheville · Middle · Grades 5–6	Public	35.6 Lower 50%	43% Math proficiency	725
28	Black Mountain Primary Black Mountain · Elementary · Grades PK–3	Public	35.1 Lower 50%	37% Math proficiency	351
29	Erwin High Asheville · High · Grades 9–12	Public	34.3 Lower 50%	44% Math proficiency	1,013
30	Sand Hill-Venable Elem Asheville · Elementary · Grades PK–4	Public	33.3 Lower 50%	41% Math proficiency	590
31	Eblen Intermediate Asheville · Middle · Grades 5–6	Public	32.2 Lower 50%	44% Math proficiency	566
32	Leicester Elementary Leicester · Elementary · Grades PK–4	Public	30.7 Lower 50%	42% Math proficiency	399
33	Enka Middle Candler · Middle · Grades 7–8	Public	30.6 Lower 50%	39% Math proficiency	588
34	Woodfin Elementary Asheville · Elementary · Grades K–5	Public	28.8 Lower 50%	24.5% Math proficiency	111
35	Candler Elementary Candler · Elementary · Grades PK–4	Public	26.2 Lower 50%	32% Math proficiency	381
36	Avery's Creek Elementary Arden · Elementary · Grades PK–4	Public	25.6 Lower 50%	35% Math proficiency	557
37	Emma Elementary Asheville · Elementary · Grades PK–4	Public	25.6 Lower 50%	32% Math proficiency	277
38	Williams Elementary Swannanoa · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	24.5 Lower 50%	35% Math proficiency	451
39	Erwin Middle Asheville · Middle · Grades 7–8	Public	23.8 Lower 50%	29% Math proficiency	545
40	Weaverville Primary Weaverville · Elementary · Grades PK–1	Public	18.5 Lower 50%	98.8% Free/reduced-price lunch	245
41	Oakley Elementary Asheville · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	17.8 Lower 50%	26% Math proficiency	502
42	Johnston Elementary Asheville · Elementary · Grades PK–4	Public	15.2 Lower 50%	17% Math proficiency	217

Nesbitt Discovery Academy in Asheville leads the 2025 list of traditional public schools in Buncombe County Schools with a Success Index (US) of 62.5. Of the 42 schools shown, 42 are public.

For the full picture see the wider North Carolina traditional public schools rankings, every school on the Buncombe County Schools page, or the comparison tool to put a shortlist side by side.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the best public school in Buncombe County Schools?

Nesbitt Discovery Academy in Asheville, North Carolina ranks first among traditional public schools in Buncombe County Schools with a Success Index (US) of 62.5 out of 100 (Enrollment: 372).

How are traditional public schools in Buncombe County Schools ranked?

Each school's Success Index (US) combines 4 factors: math proficiency (30%), reading proficiency (30%), community advantage (fewer free/reduced-price lunch) (25%), students per teacher (15%). Each factor is a percentile against schools of the same type across United States. Schools with fewer than 60 students are excluded from rankings.

Are these 2025 rankings official?

No. They are computed by Success Tutoring from official American data (Urban Institute Education Data Portal (NCES CCD, EDFacts); NCES Common Core of Data). States set their own assessments and proficiency cut scores, so proficiency rates are most comparable within a state. Use the state rankings for like-for-like comparisons.