Nesbitt Discovery Academy

Summary:

Nesbitt Discovery Academy is a high-performing public high school located in Asheville, North Carolina, serving grades 9-12. As part of the Buncombe County Schools district, Nesbitt Discovery Academy has consistently been ranked among the top high schools in the state, with a current statewide ranking of 16 out of 640 high schools and a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Nesbitt Discovery Academy stands out for its exceptional academic performance, with consistently high proficiency rates on End-of-Course (EOC) exams. In the 2023-2024 school year, the school had a 100% proficiency rate in Math I and a 98.9% proficiency rate in Math III, significantly outperforming the Buncombe County and North Carolina averages. Additionally, the school has a more diverse student body compared to some nearby schools, such as Roberson High and North Buncombe High, with representation from African American, Hispanic, Asian, and other racial/ethnic groups.

Nesbitt Discovery Academy's success extends beyond academic performance, as the school has consistently high rankings for various student subgroups, including female students, male students, Hispanic students, white students, and students from low socioeconomic backgrounds. This suggests the school is effectively serving a diverse range of students and helping them achieve academic success, outperforming nearby schools like Asheville High and School of Inquiry and Life Sciences. With its exceptional academic results, diverse student population, and ability to serve the needs of all learners, Nesbitt Discovery Academy stands out as a top-performing institution in the Asheville area.

Detail:

Public 9-12

175 Bingham Rd Ste 10
Asheville, NC 28806

(828) 271-4521

District: Buncombe County Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
16^th of 640 North Carolina High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $7,222

Feeder schools for Nesbitt Discovery Academy:

Elementary:	Avery's Creek Elementary
	Barnardsville Elementary
	Bell Elementary
	Black Mountain Elementary
	More...
	Black Mountain Primary
	Candler Elementary
	Emma Elementary
	Estes Elementary
	Fairview Elementary
	Glen Arden Elementary
	Haw Creek Elementary
	Hominy Valley Elementary
	Johnston Elementary
	Leicester Elementary
	North Buncombe Elementary
	Oakley Elementary
	Pisgah Elementary
	Sand Hill-Venable Elementary
	Weaverville Elementary
	Weaverville Primary
	West Buncombe Elementary
	Williams Elementary
	Woodfin Elementary
Middle:	Cane Creek Middle
	Eblen Intermediate
	Enka Middle
	Erwin Middle
	More...
	Koontz Intermediate
	North Buncombe Middle
	North Windy Ridge Intermediate
	Owen Middle
	Reynolds Middle
	Valley Springs Middle

Student/teacher ratio: 19.8

Number of students: 374

Racial breakdown:

White:

81.8%

Hispanic:

8.6%

Asian:

5.3%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 20.3%

See top rated North Carolina high schools

Compare Nesbitt Discovery Academy to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Nesbitt Discovery Academy ranks better than 97.5% of high schools in North Carolina. It also ranks first among 9 ranked high schools in the Buncombe County Schools District! (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 95.69. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (81.8%), Hispanic (8.6%), Asian (5.3%). (See more...)

Compare Details 20.3% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the lowest percentage in the Buncombe County Schools District. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Nesbitt Discovery Academy is 19.8. 8 high schools in the Buncombe County Schools District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)

Compare Nesbitt Discovery Academy employs 18.8 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Nesbitt Discovery Academy is $7,222, which is the lowest among 10 high schools in the Buncombe County Schools District!

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Nesbitt Discovery Academy:

SchoolDigger ranks Nesbitt Discovery Academy 16^th of 640 North Carolina public high schools. (See Nesbitt Discovery Academy in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Gifted and Talented students:

Hispanic students:

White students:

Buncombe County Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Buncombe County Schools 107^th of 242 North Carolina school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Nesbitt Discovery Academy

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Rank History for all students at Nesbitt Discovery Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NC State Percentile
2019	97.16	2^nd	514	99.6%
2021	98.06	6^th	594	99.0%
2022	96.09	14^th	621	97.7%
2023	95.98	9^th	626	98.6%
2024	95.69	16^th	640	97.5%

See the entire list of North Carolina High School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Nesbitt Discovery Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NC State Percentile
2019	98.89	3^rd	446	99.3%
2021	99.61	3^rd	432	99.3%
2022	99.34	4^th	544	99.3%
2023	98.13	10^th	597	98.3%
2024	97.92	17^th	613	97.2%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Nesbitt Discovery Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NC State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2019	96.82	5^th	475	98.9%
2023	95.80	7^th	588	98.8%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at Nesbitt Discovery Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NC State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	81.35	18^th	403	95.5%
2024	78.76	32^nd	403	92.1%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Gifted and Talented Students!

Rank History for Male students at Nesbitt Discovery Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NC State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2021	98.88	1^st	481	99.8%
2023	96.34	17^th	602	97.2%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Nesbitt Discovery Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NC State Percentile
2021	99.48	2^nd	370	99.5%
2022	98.47	11^th	436	97.5%
2024	98.82	6^th	454	98.7%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Nesbitt Discovery Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NC State Percentile
2021	97.11	4^th	439	99.1%
2022	94.35	20^th	534	96.3%
2023	94.29	16^th	537	97.0%
2024	93.97	17^th	553	96.9%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction

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Enrollment information for Nesbitt Discovery Academy

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2015	81	2	4	11	0	0	2	100
2016	166	4	5	18	1	0	5	199
2017	248	7	11	21	1	0	8	296
2018	324	5	15	31	1	0	13	389
2019	324	3	15	29	1	0	16	388
2020	309	7	17	30	0	0	17	380
2021	312	7	13	34	0	1	14	381
2022	314	8	18	27	1	1	10	379
2023	306	8	20	32	1	1	6	374

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Nesbitt Discovery Academy

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2015	100	6.0	16.6	28
2016	199	11.0	18.0	34.7
2017	296	15.3	19.2	29.4
2018	389	18.2	21.3	23.9
2019	388	17.8	21.7	21.6
2020	380	17.8	21.2	19.5
2021	381	17.6	21.6	13.6
2022	379	19.1	19.8	13.2
2023	374	18.8	19.8	20.3

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Nesbitt Discovery Academy

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2015	100	6.0	16.6	28
2016	199	11.0	18.0	34.7
2017	296	15.3	19.2	29.4
2018	389	18.2	21.3	23.9
2019	388	17.8	21.7	21.6
2020	380	17.8	21.2	19.5
2021	381	17.6	21.6	13.6
2022	379	19.1	19.8	13.2
2023	374	18.8	19.8	20.3

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Nesbitt Discovery Academy

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$451 (6.2%)	$6,771 (93.8%)	$7,222

Data source: North Carolina Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Nesbitt Discovery Academy

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 2^nd of 514 High schools	Ranks 9^th of 626 High schools	1%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
End of Course Math III (Nesbitt Discovery Academy)	98.1	100	1.9%
End of Course Math III (Buncombe County Schools)	59.5	66.6	7.1%
End of Course Math III (North Carolina)	46.8	58.3	11.5%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	388	374	3.6%
African American	3	8	166.7%
American Indian	1	1
Asian	15	20	33.3%
Hispanic	29	32	10.3%
Pacific Islander	0	1
White	324	306	5.6%
Two or More Races	16	6	62.5%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	21.6%	20.3%	1.3%

Schools Near Nesbitt Discovery Academy

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				EOC Biology (2024)	EOC English II (2024)	EOC Math I (2024)	EOC Math III (2024)	EOG Mathematics (2024)				EOG Reading (2024)				EOG Science (2024)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	EOC Biology End of Course	EOC English II End of Course	EOC Math I End of Course	EOC Math III End of Course	EOG Mathematics 5th Grade	EOG Mathematics 6th Grade	EOG Mathematics 7th Grade	EOG Mathematics 8th Grade	EOG Reading 5th Grade	EOG Reading 6th Grade	EOG Reading 7th Grade	EOG Reading 8th Grade	EOG Science 5th Grade	EOG Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Nesbitt Discovery Academy	Public	9-12	175 Bingham Rd Ste 10	Asheville	28806	Buncombe County	Buncombe County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 271-4521	374	19	19.8	20.3%	306 (81.8%)	8 (2.1%)	32 (8.6%)	20 (5.3%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	6 (1.6%)	95.7	16^th of 640 public high schools	97.5%		96	9^th of 626 public high schools	98.6%	7			100.0	98.9											$7,222	$451	$6,771
Erwin High	Public	9-12	60 Lees Creek Road	Asheville	28806	Buncombe County	Buncombe County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 232-4251	1,096	76	14.3	63.9%	569 (51.9%)	91 (8.3%)	357 (32.6%)	11 (1.0%)	5 (0.5%)	19 (1.7%)	44 (4.0%)	19.8	516^th of 640 public high schools	19.4%		28.9	440^th of 626 public high schools	29.7%	76	40.9	42.6	17.8	34.6											$10,603	$744	$9,859
Asheville High	Public	9-12	419 McDowell Street	Asheville	28803	Buncombe County	Asheville City Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 350-2500	1,166	83	14.0	33.4%	765 (65.6%)	191 (16.4%)	100 (8.6%)	14 (1.2%)	4 (0.3%)	16 (1.4%)	76 (6.5%)	45.6	327^th of 640 public high schools	48.9%		51.7	278^th of 626 public high schools	55.6%	49	54.8	66.8	31.8	52.1											$14,811	$688	$14,123
School of Inquiry and Life Sciences	Public	9-12	419 McDowell Street	Asheville	28803	Buncombe County	Asheville City Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 350-2700	344	14	24.5	32.8%	227 (66.0%)	49 (14.2%)	37 (10.8%)	3 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.6%)	26 (7.6%)	64.4	209^th of 640 public high schools	67.3%		64.2	199^th of 626 public high schools	68.2%	10	56.6	78.9	44.1	71.7											$7,028	$199	$6,830
Early College	Public	9-12	340 Victoria Road	Asheville	28801	Buncombe County	Buncombe County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 232-4123	274	12	23.5	58.8%	144 (52.6%)	13 (4.7%)	103 (37.6%)	3 (1.1%)	1 (0.4%)	2 (0.7%)	8 (2.9%)	88.6	94^th of 640 public high schools	85.3%		87.1	92^nd of 626 public high schools	85.3%	2	74.5	89.3	76.2	94.1											$7,736	$216	$7,520
Middle College	Public	10-12	340 Victoria Road	Asheville	28801	Buncombe County	Buncombe County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 232-4123	49	3	15.0	28.6%	39 (79.6%)	2 (4.1%)	4 (8.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (8.2%)								(n/a)															$10,465	$251	$10,214
The Franklin School of Innovation	Public, Charter	5-12	61 Innovation Dr	Asheville	28806	Buncombe County	The Franklin School of Innovation	Yes	No	No	Yes	(828) 318-8140	694	51	13.4		561 (80.8%)	12 (1.7%)	56 (8.1%)	4 (0.6%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	59 (8.5%)	59.9	234^th of 640 public high schools	63.4%		59.8	227^th of 626 public high schools	63.7%	7	47.6	77.1	41.5	78.6	50.6	69.1	57.0	22.4	60.0	52.6	58.0	64.3	67.1	80.6
Enka High	Public	9-12	475 Enka Lake Road	Candler	28715	Buncombe County	Buncombe County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 670-5000	1,045	66	15.8	57.5%	731 (70.0%)	26 (2.5%)	246 (23.5%)	3 (0.3%)	6 (0.6%)	1 (0.1%)	32 (3.1%)	42.5	355^th of 640 public high schools	44.5%		59.7	229^th of 626 public high schools	63.4%	126	58.0	57.6	30.5	53.3											$9,892	$617	$9,276
Reynolds High	Public	9-12	One Rocket Drive	Asheville	28803	Buncombe County	Buncombe County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 298-2500	1,133	69	16.3	42.0%	768 (67.8%)	130 (11.5%)	150 (13.2%)	12 (1.1%)	5 (0.4%)	3 (0.3%)	65 (5.7%)	61.7	223^rd of 640 public high schools	65.2%		59.6	230^th of 626 public high schools	63.3%	7	80.7	69.9	40.9	61.4											$9,315	$663	$8,652
Roberson High	Public	9-12	250 Overlook Road	Asheville	28803	Buncombe County	Buncombe County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 654-1765	1,491	96	15.5	43.1%	858 (57.5%)	132 (8.9%)	338 (22.7%)	50 (3.4%)	4 (0.3%)	8 (0.5%)	101 (6.8%)	53.3	280^th of 640 public high schools	56.3%		58.8	236^th of 626 public high schools	62.3%	44	55.9	65.4	48.8	56.9											$10,511	$1,345	$9,166

Frequently Asked Questions about Nesbitt Discovery Academy

How many students attend Nesbitt Discovery Academy?

In the 2022-23 school year, 374 students attended Nesbitt Discovery Academy.

What district is Nesbitt Discovery Academy in?

Buncombe County Schools

What is the racial makeup of Nesbitt Discovery Academy?

Students at Nesbitt Discovery Academy are 82% White, 9% Hispanic, 5% Asian, 2% African American, 2% Two or more races.

Is Nesbitt Discovery Academy a good school?

Yes! Nesbitt Discovery Academy is one of the best high schools in the state. It ranks 16^th of 640 North Carolina high schools.

What schools feed into Nesbitt Discovery Academy?

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.