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Black Mountain Elementary

Q: Is Black Mountain Elementary a good school?

Black Mountain Elementary ranks 797 th of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 4-5

797^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 47% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Black Mountain Elementary is a small, high-poverty school in Black Mountain, NC, serving 163 students in 4th and 5th grades as part of Buncombe County Schools. It operates alongside Black Mountain Primary just a quarter-mile away, serving as the upper-grade campus for students moving up after 3rd grade. Nearly all students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, but the school has made real progress on attendance: chronic absenteeism has dropped from 42.7% in 2020-2021 to 16.8% in the most recent year — a rate now below the district (18.7%) and state (24.2%) averages.

Academically, Black Mountain Elementary has trended downward for several years, going from a 77th-percentile statewide ranking in 2021-2022 to roughly the middle of the pack at the 47th percentile. Reading is a clear strength, with 4th and 5th grade proficiency rates above both district and state averages. Math is the main worry: about 54% of 4th graders and 52% of 5th graders scored proficient, compared with district averages above 58%. The math gap isn't new, nor is it limited to this campus — 3rd graders at Black Mountain Primary also trail the district, suggesting the challenge spans the whole school pipeline.

Student outcomes vary widely by group. Gifted and Talented students rank at the 81st percentile statewide, while students receiving special education services and those from economically disadvantaged families are well below the state median. A sharp drop among female students — from the 80th to the 35th percentile in two years — also warrants attention. Compared with other local schools, Black Mountain Elementary sits in the middle of a very uneven landscape. It outperforms Williams Elementary and Oakley Elementary, but trails stronger neighbors like Fairview Elementary, Haw Creek Elementary, Old Fort Elementary School, and ArtSpace Charter School — several of them high-poverty schools that nonetheless post much higher math scores.

163

Students ?

15.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

96.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

100 Flat Creek Road
Black Mountain, NC 28711

(828) 669-5217

District: Buncombe County Schools

Students who attend Black Mountain Elementary usually attend:

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

Racial breakdown:

White:

82.8%

Hispanic:

7.4%

Two or more races:

5.5%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

Compare Black Mountain Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 66th percentile in 2016 → 47th in 2026

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 19 percentile points since 2016

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school57%

District avg61%

North Carolina avg61%

797^th of 1,492

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Bottom 47%▼ down 20 pts since 2016

From top 34% (2016) to bottom 47% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

109^th of 246Buncombe 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
2026	46.4	797 of 1492	46.6%	★★☆☆☆
2025	53.0	689 of 1490	53.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	57.6	622 of 1505	58.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	66.8	471 of 1502	68.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	73.8	343 of 1514	77.3%	★★★★☆
2021	59.4	593 of 1489	60.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	63.4	516 of 1473	65.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	68.1	437 of 1434	69.5%	★★★☆☆
2017	65.9	478 of 1429	66.6%	★★★☆☆
2016	65.0	480 of 1425	66.3%	★★★☆☆
2015	64.5	491 of 1440	65.9%	★★★☆☆
2014	78.8	255 of 1390	81.7%	★★★★☆
2013	77.7	257 of 1403	81.7%	★★★★☆
2012	66.1	476 of 1388	65.7%	★★★☆☆
2011	70.9	385 of 1381	72.1%	★★★★☆
2010	59.2	629 of 1363	53.9%	★★★☆☆
2009	50.3	762 of 1354	43.7%	★★☆☆☆
2008	46.9	769 of 1324	41.9%	★★☆☆☆
2007	50.5	733 of 1293	43.3%	★★☆☆☆
2006	55.0	623 of 1276	51.2%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2022	24.1	539 of 634	15.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	52.6	228 of 646	64.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	60.5	241 of 878	72.6%	★★★★☆
2018	37.7	565 of 897	37.0%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	38.2	937 of 1447	35.2%	★★☆☆☆
2025	53.8	661 of 1451	54.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	74.1	294 of 1455	79.8%	★★★★☆
2023	81.9	186 of 1459	87.3%	★★★★☆
2022	77.9	258 of 1458	82.3%	★★★★☆
2021	48.8	700 of 1440	51.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	67.1	440 of 1424	69.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	69.0	406 of 1405	71.1%	★★★★☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	68.5	138 of 743	81.4%	★★★★☆
2025	60.3	319 of 710	55.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	62.3	270 of 669	59.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	68.2	83 of 582	85.7%	★★★★☆
2022	48.9	369 of 500	26.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	68.5	133 of 494	73.1%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2019	95.0	13 of 865	98.5%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	36.7	977 of 1434	31.9%	★★☆☆☆
2025	45.7	789 of 1437	45.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	43.3	862 of 1450	40.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	47.4	759 of 1437	47.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	67.0	328 of 1366	76.0%	★★★★☆
2021	80.9	133 of 1329	90.0%	★★★★★
2019	69.0	332 of 1361	75.6%	★★★★☆
2018	77.7	181 of 1332	86.4%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	53.5	658 of 1451	54.7%	★★★☆☆
2025	50.2	721 of 1450	50.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	42.0	864 of 1464	41.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	47.6	795 of 1461	45.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	64.5	479 of 1464	67.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	69.6	391 of 1444	72.9%	★★★★☆
2019	57.5	609 of 1430	57.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	65.9	454 of 1413	67.9%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	24.5	685 of 815	16.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	37.8	480 of 801	40.1%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	24.8	957 of 1146	16.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	29.8	905 of 1172	22.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	33.8	839 of 1166	28.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	45.7	677 of 1183	42.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	56.1	527 of 1194	55.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	38.6	740 of 1172	36.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	38.0	798 of 1183	32.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	46.3	694 of 1178	41.1%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Hispanic (2019)98th percentile+34 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2026)81st percentile+35 vs school

Male (2026)55th percentile+8 vs school

Female (2026)35th percentile-11 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)32nd percentile-15 vs school

White (2026)16th percentile-30 vs school

Special Education (2026)16th percentile-31 vs school

Disabled (2022)15th percentile-62 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Science60%-7 vs state

Reading60%+3 vs state

Mathematics53%-9 vs state

★

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Schools Near Black Mountain Elementary

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				EOG Mathematics (2026)						EOG Reading (2026)						EOG Science (2026)		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 (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	EOG Mathematics 3rd Grade	EOG Mathematics 4th Grade	EOG Mathematics 5th Grade	EOG Mathematics 6th Grade	EOG Mathematics 7th Grade	EOG Mathematics 8th Grade	EOG Reading 3rd Grade	EOG Reading 4th 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
Black Mountain Elementary	Public	4-5	100 Flat Creek Road	Black Mountain	28711	Buncombe County	Buncombe County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 669-5217	163	11	15.2	96.9%	135 (82.8%)	7 (4.3%)	12 (7.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (5.5%)	46.4	797^th of 1492 public elementary schools	46.6%		53	689^th of 1490 public elementary schools	53.8%	108		54.3	51.8					61.7	57.8				60.2		$10,935	$1,199	$9,736
Black Mountain Primary	Public	PK, KG-3	301 East State Street	Black Mountain	28711	Buncombe County	Buncombe County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 669-2645	351	25	13.9	96.9%	273 (77.8%)	14 (4.0%)	45 (12.8%)	3 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (4.6%)								(n/a)	57.7						59.0								$11,702	$1,257	$10,444
Williams Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	161 Bee Tree Road	Swannanoa	28778	Buncombe County	Buncombe County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 686-3856	451	28	15.8	95.8%	251 (55.7%)	20 (4.4%)	145 (32.2%)	4 (0.9%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.4%)	28 (6.2%)	39.6	913^th of 1492 public elementary schools	38.8%		21.7	1248^th of 1490 public elementary schools	16.2%	335	57.4	54.5	53.4				52.2	52.3	54.8				57.5		$10,816	$1,108	$9,708
ArtSpace Charter School	Public, Charter	K-8	2030 US Hwy 70	Swannanoa	28778	Buncombe County	ArtSpace Charter	Yes	No	No	Yes	(828) 298-2787	402	31	12.7		339 (84.3%)	3 (0.7%)	28 (7.0%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (7.2%)	76	301^st of 1492 public elementary schools	79.8%		74	333^rd of 1490 public elementary schools	77.7%	32	60.0	71.7	68.6	65.2	54.2	47.5	67.5	69.6	76.5	69.6	77.1	80.0	88.2	90.0
Old Fort Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	128 Mauney Avenue	Old Fort	28762	McDowell County	McDowell County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 668-7646	360	24	15.3	95.0%	302 (83.9%)	9 (2.5%)	23 (6.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (6.9%)	78.7	256^th of 1492 public elementary schools	82.8%		68.4	417^th of 1490 public elementary schools	72.0%	161	77.2	69.6	72.3				68.4	63.0	74.5				85.1		$11,403	$1,803	$9,600
Fairview Elementary	Public	K-5	1355 Charlotte Hwy	Fairview	28730	Buncombe County	Buncombe County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 628-2732	646	38	16.8	97.4%	555 (85.9%)	8 (1.2%)	53 (8.2%)	5 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (3.9%)	85	179^th of 1492 public elementary schools	88.0%		84.9	176^th of 1490 public elementary schools	88.2%	3	79.6	76.0	83.8				66.0	75.0	68.5				89.2		$10,427	$1,254	$9,173
Bell Elementary	Public	1-5	90 Maple Springs Road	Asheville	28805	Buncombe County	Buncombe County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 298-3789	224	18	12.3	96.0%	151 (67.4%)	23 (10.3%)	24 (10.7%)	3 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (10.3%)	40.6	894^th of 1492 public elementary schools	40.1%		68.5	413^th of 1490 public elementary schools	72.3%	481	54.1	69.7	60.5				43.2	60.6	47.4				52.6		$10,953	$1,366	$9,587
Evergreen Community Charter	Public, Charter	K-8	50 Bell Road	Asheville	28805	Buncombe County	Evergreen Community Charter	Yes	No	No	Yes	(828) 298-2173	430	32	13.3	40.5%	353 (82.1%)	1 (0.2%)	31 (7.2%)	5 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	39 (9.1%)	66.4	480^th of 1492 public elementary schools	67.8%		65.4	477^th of 1490 public elementary schools	68.0%	3	62.5	59.6	60.8	66.0	71.4	78.0	68.8	57.4	76.5	76.0	77.1	77.6	70.6	91.8
Haw Creek Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	10 Bethesda Road	Asheville	28805	Buncombe County	Buncombe County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 298-4022	402	33	12.3	99.3%	256 (63.7%)	61 (15.2%)	35 (8.7%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.5%)	45 (11.2%)	74.6	328^th of 1492 public elementary schools	78.0%		68.4	419^th of 1490 public elementary schools	71.9%	91	65.0	73.8	68.2				66.7	72.1	70.5				79.5		$10,330	$1,007	$9,324
Oakley Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	753 Fairview Road	Asheville	28803	Buncombe County	Buncombe County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 274-7515	502	32	15.4	98.0%	203 (40.4%)	120 (23.9%)	123 (24.5%)	7 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	49 (9.8%)	24	1206^th of 1492 public elementary schools	19.2%		20.4	1273^rd of 1490 public elementary schools	14.6%	67	45.8	34.2	48.5				45.8	38.0	55.9				55.9		$11,073	$1,338	$9,735

Frequently Asked Questions about Black Mountain Elementary

What district is Black Mountain Elementary in?

Buncombe County Schools

How many students attend Black Mountain Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 163 students attended Black Mountain Elementary.

What schools do graduates of Black Mountain Elementary attend?

Students who attend Black Mountain Elementary usually go on to attend:

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

What is the racial makeup of Black Mountain Elementary?

Students at Black Mountain Elementary are 83% White, 7% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races, 4% African American.

Is Black Mountain Elementary a good school?

Black Mountain Elementary ranks 797^th of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Rate Black Mountain Elementary!

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Latest North Carolina data All new data »

2017–18 through 2025–26 attendance data & graduation ratesSep 2, 2026

2025–26 EOC & EOG test scoresSep 2, 2026

2016–17 through 2024–25 graduation ratesSep 3, 2025

2024–25 EOC & EOG test scoresSep 3, 2025

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.