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Pisgah Elementary

Q: Is Pisgah Elementary a good school?

Pisgah Elementary ranks 718 th of 1490 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-4

718^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,490 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 52% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Pisgah Elementary is a public elementary school located in Candler, North Carolina, serving 167 students in grades K-4. The school is part of the Buncombe County Schools district, which is ranked 125 out of 242 districts in the state.

Pisgah Elementary has consistently performed above the Buncombe County Schools and North Carolina state averages in mathematics proficiency for 3rd and 4th grades, but its reading proficiency has been more mixed. The school's performance has fluctuated over the years, with a high ranking of 91 out of 1,434 North Carolina elementary schools in 2017-2018 and a low ranking of 809 out of 1,489 in 2020-2021. Pisgah Elementary's academic performance, particularly in mathematics, is generally stronger than the nearby Avery's Creek Elementary, Johnston Elementary, and Sand Hill-Venable Elementary schools in the Buncombe County Schools district.

Pisgah Elementary faces significant challenges in supporting its high-poverty student population, with 98.2% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch in the 2023-2024 school year. This high rate of poverty is consistent across many of the nearby schools in the Buncombe County Schools district, indicating a broader regional issue that may require targeted interventions and resources. The school's inconsistent performance and ranking over the years suggest the need for a deeper analysis and targeted interventions to ensure more stable and improved outcomes.

162

Students ?

11.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$13,649

Per pupil spending ?

98.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1495 Pisgah Hwy
Candler, NC 28715-9114

(828) 670-5023

District: Buncombe County Schools

Students who attend Pisgah Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Enka Middle
High:	Center for Career Innovation
	Enka High
	Nesbitt Discovery Academy

Racial breakdown:

White:

74.7%

Hispanic:

19.8%

Two or more races:

4.3%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

Compare Pisgah Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 92nd percentile in 2015 → 52nd in 2025

Strengths

✓Above the North Carolina median (52nd percentile)

✓Small classes — about 12 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 40 percentile points since 2015

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school56%

District avg57%

North Carolina avg57%

718^th of 1,490

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Top 48%▼ down 40 pts since 2015

From top 8% (2015) to top 48% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

13^th of 21Elementary Schools in the Buncombe County Schools

125^th of 242Buncombe County Schools among North Carolina districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	51.5	718 of 1490	51.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	53.9	687 of 1505	54.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	62.5	538 of 1502	64.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	68.1	435 of 1514	71.3%	★★★★☆
2021	43.7	809 of 1489	45.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	72.6	356 of 1473	75.8%	★★★★☆
2018	90.3	91 of 1434	93.7%	★★★★★
2017	67.4	451 of 1429	68.4%	★★★☆☆
2016	84.2	167 of 1425	88.3%	★★★★☆
2015	88.4	114 of 1440	92.1%	★★★★★
2014	85.2	166 of 1390	88.1%	★★★★☆
2013	83.7	174 of 1403	87.6%	★★★★☆
2012	74.7	305 of 1388	78.0%	★★★★☆
2011	72.8	346 of 1381	74.9%	★★★★☆
2010	68.3	428 of 1363	68.6%	★★★☆☆
2009	80.4	193 of 1354	85.7%	★★★★☆
2008	74.9	274 of 1324	79.3%	★★★★☆
2007	82.6	126 of 1293	90.3%	★★★★★
2006	86.8	83 of 1276	93.5%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	42.3	859 of 1451	40.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	60.9	532 of 1455	63.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	63.6	494 of 1459	66.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	66.9	425 of 1458	70.9%	★★★★☆
2021	25.2	1091 of 1440	24.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	86.7	115 of 1424	91.9%	★★★★★
2018	77.2	273 of 1405	80.6%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	62.9	432 of 1437	69.9%	★★★★☆
2024	50.5	687 of 1450	52.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	60.7	481 of 1437	66.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	76.8	182 of 1366	86.7%	★★★★☆
2021	46.0	670 of 1329	49.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	81.6	139 of 1361	89.8%	★★★★☆
2018	96.2	11 of 1332	99.2%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	61.5	512 of 1450	64.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	47.9	785 of 1464	46.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	60.7	549 of 1461	62.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	67.5	429 of 1464	70.7%	★★★★☆
2021	73.4	344 of 1444	76.2%	★★★★☆
2019	54.7	662 of 1430	53.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	92.6	50 of 1413	96.5%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	46.6	658 of 1172	43.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	41.4	736 of 1166	36.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	48.3	637 of 1183	46.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	52.7	576 of 1194	51.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	20.4	1025 of 1172	12.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	55.0	533 of 1183	54.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	76.7	243 of 1178	79.4%	★★★★☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)70th percentile+18 vs school

Male (2025)65th percentile+13 vs school

White (2025)44th percentile-8 vs school

Female (2025)41st percentile-11 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2024-2025) ?

Mathematics63%~ state avg

Reading48%-4 vs state

★

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Schools Near Pisgah Elementary

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				EOG Mathematics (2025)			EOG Reading (2025)			EOG Science (2025)	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 (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	EOG Mathematics 3rd Grade	EOG Mathematics 4th Grade	EOG Mathematics 5th Grade	EOG Reading 3rd Grade	EOG Reading 4th Grade	EOG Reading 5th Grade	EOG Science 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Pisgah Elementary	Public	K-4	1495 Pisgah Hwy	Candler	28715	Buncombe County	Buncombe County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 670-5023	162	14	11.5	98.1%	121 (74.7%)	1 (0.6%)	32 (19.8%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (4.3%)	51.5	718^th of 1490 public elementary schools	51.8%		53.9	687^th of 1505 public elementary schools	54.4%	31	67.4	57.6		43.5	54.5			$13,649	$1,435	$12,214
Candler Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	121 Candler School Road	Candler	28715	Buncombe County	Buncombe County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 670-5018	381	28	13.8	99.2%	260 (68.2%)	20 (5.2%)	90 (23.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (2.6%)	62.7	519^th of 1490 public elementary schools	65.2%		44.7	840^th of 1505 public elementary schools	44.2%	321	66.7	63.8		51.5	60.9			$11,201	$1,431	$9,770
Hominy Valley Elementary	Public	K-4	450 Enka Lake Road	Candler	28715	Buncombe County	Buncombe County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 665-0619	399	27	14.5	99.2%	325 (81.5%)	6 (1.5%)	58 (14.5%)	3 (0.8%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.5%)	60.5	555^th of 1490 public elementary schools	62.8%		61.3	556^th of 1505 public elementary schools	63.1%	1	65.3	55.6		56.8	61.1			$10,305	$880	$9,425
Meadowbrook Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	85 Morningstar Rd	Canton	28716	Haywood County	Haywood County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 646-3445	198	12	16.7	98.0%	170 (85.9%)	6 (3.0%)	17 (8.6%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.5%)	35.2	996^th of 1490 public elementary schools	33.2%		61.1	562^nd of 1505 public elementary schools	62.7%	434	74.3	58.8	35.0	42.9	52.9	45.0	30.0	$11,254	$1,792	$9,462
Sand Hill-Venable Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	154 Sand Hill School Road	Asheville	28806	Buncombe County	Buncombe County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 670-5028	590	39	14.9	98.0%	311 (52.7%)	43 (7.3%)	213 (36.1%)	4 (0.7%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	17 (2.9%)	31.2	1069^th of 1490 public elementary schools	28.3%		27.9	1141^st of 1505 public elementary schools	24.2%	72	49.0	44.6		42.3	50.0			$11,842	$1,597	$10,245
North Canton Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	60 Thompson St	Canton	28716	Haywood County	Haywood County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 646-3444	332	20	16.8	98.8%	283 (85.2%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (9.6%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (4.5%)	72.1	361^st of 1490 public elementary schools	75.8%		78.8	264^th of 1505 public elementary schools	82.5%	97	84.0	66.0	74.5	60.0	63.8	53.2	63.8	$11,227	$1,320	$9,907
Johnston Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	230 Johnston Boulevard	Asheville	28806	Buncombe County	Buncombe County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 232-4291	217	17	12.4	98.6%	74 (34.1%)	41 (18.9%)	87 (40.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.4%)	12 (5.5%)	6.7	1450^th of 1490 public elementary schools	2.7%		4.4	1482^nd of 1505 public elementary schools	1.5%	32	22.9	31.4		22.9	34.3			$14,890	$1,958	$12,932
Avery's Creek Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	15 Park South Boulevard	Arden	28704	Buncombe County	Buncombe County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 654-1810	557	37	15.2	99.5%	219 (39.3%)	56 (10.1%)	221 (39.7%)	7 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.5%)	51 (9.2%)	32	1059^th of 1490 public elementary schools	28.9%		41.8	896^th of 1505 public elementary schools	40.5%	163	48.1	53.1		39.6	46.9			$11,019	$1,138	$9,880
Bethel Elementary	Public	K-5	4700 Old River Road	Canton	28716	Haywood County	Haywood County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 646-3448	537	31	17.5	98.7%	480 (89.4%)	2 (0.4%)	39 (7.3%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (2.8%)	78	279^th of 1490 public elementary schools	81.3%		77.9	283^rd of 1505 public elementary schools	81.2%	4	75.0	73.6	80.0	45.7	65.9	68.9	83.3	$9,186	$1,048	$8,138
Lucy S. Herring Elementary	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	98 Sulphur Springs Road	Asheville	28806	Buncombe County	Asheville City Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(828) 350-6600	255	22	11.4	46.3%	173 (67.8%)	33 (12.9%)	29 (11.4%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (7.5%)	69	408^th of 1490 public elementary schools	72.6%		67.6	451^st of 1505 public elementary schools	70.0%	43	76.0	42.9	69.0	76.0	50.0	66.7	81.0	$13,509	$1,024	$12,485

Frequently Asked Questions about Pisgah Elementary

What is the racial makeup of Pisgah Elementary?

Students at Pisgah Elementary are 75% White, 20% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races.

What schools do graduates of Pisgah Elementary attend?

Students who attend Pisgah Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Enka Middle
High : Center for Career Innovation
High : Enka High
High : Nesbitt Discovery Academy

What district is Pisgah Elementary in?

Buncombe County Schools

How many students attend Pisgah Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 162 students attended Pisgah Elementary.

Is Pisgah Elementary a good school?

Pisgah Elementary ranks 718^th of 1490 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Rate Pisgah Elementary!

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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.