Buncombe County Schools

The Buncombe County Schools district in North Carolina encompasses 45 schools, including 23 elementary schools, 11 middle schools, 10 high schools, and 1 alternative school. The district serves a diverse student population and features a mix of high-performing and low-performing schools, with stark disparities in academic achievement across the region.

Several schools stand out in the district, including Nesbitt Discovery Academy, a high school that ranks 16th out of 640 high schools in North Carolina and has a 5-star rating. Other top-performing schools include Barnardsville Elementary, Weaverville Elementary, and Glen Arden Elementary, all of which have exceptional test scores and high state rankings. In contrast, schools like Johnston Elementary, Oakley Elementary, and Community High School struggle with lower academic performance.

The data suggests a strong correlation between a school's socioeconomic status, as measured by free/reduced lunch rates, and its academic performance. Schools with higher poverty levels tend to have lower test scores, highlighting the need for targeted interventions and equitable resource allocation across the Buncombe County Schools district. While the disparities are concerning, the presence of high-performing schools within the district demonstrates the potential for improvement and the opportunity to replicate successful practices to raise achievement for all students.