High Schools in Ashe County Schools

Ashe County Schools in North Carolina is home to two high schools: Ashe County High and Ashe County Early College High. While both schools serve the same community, the data analysis reveals that Ashe County Early College High stands out as an exceptional institution, consistently ranking among the top high schools in North Carolina.

Ashe County Early College High boasts exceptional academic performance, with significantly higher proficiency rates on End-of-Course (EOC) exams compared to the district and state averages. In 2023-2024, 94.9% of its students were proficient or better in EOC English II, compared to 65.1% for the district and 59.7% for the state. This success may be attributed to the school's higher student-teacher ratio of 27:1, which challenges the common assumption that smaller class sizes are always better for student learning.

While both schools have a majority white student population, Ashe County Early College High has a lower percentage of free/reduced lunch recipients, suggesting a relatively more affluent student population. The district-level performance data also shows that Ashe County Schools as a whole are performing above the state average on EOC exams, indicating a strong overall educational system in the county. These findings provide valuable insights that could inform decision-making and resource allocation to support student achievement across the district.