The Franklin School of Innovation

In the Asheville area, The Franklin School of Innovation is the only school in The Franklin School of Innovation district, a grade 5–12 charter school serving 717 students. Even though the school is labeled a high school, it actually serves grades 5 through 12, so its proficiency data combines middle-school EOGs and high-school EOCs. Because there are no other schools in this district to compare against, the most meaningful benchmark is the North Carolina state average.

The school’s clearest strength is reading and English. Across two reported school years, every grade-level Reading EOG and English II EOC result surpassed the state proficiency rate. For example, 8th-grade Reading scored 71.0% proficient versus 56.1% statewide in 2025–2026, and English II scored 77.8% versus 59.6% statewide in 2024–2025. Advanced courses also stand out: Math III EOC reached 75.7% proficiency versus 68.9% statewide in 2025–2026, and Biology EOC was above the state average in 2024–2025. The school also has a favorable student-teacher ratio of 12.9 and a lower chronic absenteeism rate (20.9%) than the state (24.2%).

The main challenge is mathematics, especially in middle grades and Algebra I. In 2025–2026, 5th-grade Math EOG proficiency was 41.0% versus 62.9% statewide, and 8th-grade Math EOG proficiency was 31.9% versus 53.0% statewide. Math I EOC also trailed the state in both years, while Math III EOC performed at or above average — suggesting students who reach advanced math are strong, but the Algebra I/Math I transition is difficult for many. Science was a bright spot in 2024–2025, especially 8th-grade science at 74.7% versus 60.1% statewide, but slipped closer to the state average in 2025–2026. The graduation rate, however, is below the state average (83.3% versus 88.8%), and the school’s state ranking has moved from the 63rd percentile in 2023–2024 to the 57th percentile in 2025–2026, though it has held a 3-star rating throughout.