Francine Delany New School

Francine Delany New School is a single K-8 public school serving 193 students in Asheville, North Carolina, and is part of the Francine Delany New School district. Because this data set contains only one school, the most meaningful comparisons are against North Carolina statewide averages. Overall, the school shows a mixed academic profile, with clear strengths in reading and notable weaknesses in lower-grade math.

Compared to the state, Francine Delany New School stands out in reading proficiency, exceeding the state average in five of six tested grades. Particularly strong results appear in 8th-grade reading (72.7% vs. 56.1% statewide), 4th-grade reading (71.4% vs. 57.7%), and 8th-grade science (81.8% vs. 68.6%). In mathematics, however, the school trails the state by about 7 points overall, with 3rd-grade math being the most concerning area at 38.1% proficient versus 66.4% statewide. The school's chronic absenteeism rate is 17.4%, well below the state's 24.2%, and its student-teacher ratio is a low 12.8 to 1.

Rankings have slipped from the 63rd percentile in 2023-2024 to the 43rd percentile in 2025-2026, though the district itself ranks in the 61st percentile statewide. Year-to-year grade-level scores show large swings, likely reflecting small cohorts: for example, 4th-grade math jumped from 36.8% to 61.9% in one year, while 8th-grade math fell from 60.0% to 45.5%. Reading remained steady over the two most recent school years, and math improved overall by 4.7 points. Free/reduced lunch data is missing, which limits deeper socioeconomic analysis. Parents should view grade-level results with some caution due to the school’s small size, but the 8th-grade science and reading outcomes suggest strong preparation by the end of middle school.