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Early College

Q: Is Early College a good school?

Early College ranks 83 rd of 662 North Carolina high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

83^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 662 North Carolina High Schools

Better than 87% of North Carolina high schools

Summary

Early College is a small public high school in Asheville, NC, serving 271 students in grades 9–12 through Buncombe County Schools. It is ranked 83rd out of 662 North Carolina high schools, placing it in the 87th percentile and earning a 4-star rating. This performance is far ahead of its district, which ranks in the 56th percentile statewide.

Early College's academic results are exceptional, with a simple average of roughly 89% proficiency across core end-of-course tests in Biology, English II, Math I, and Math III—a striking 30-point advantage over typical North Carolina high schools. The school has achieved near-perfect Math III proficiency for four consecutive years, including 100% in the most recent school year. Attendance is equally impressive; the 5.8% chronic absenteeism rate is less than one-third of the district's 18.7% and dramatically lower than nearby schools like Erwin High (27.3%) or Community High School (71.9%). Among nearby schools, only Nesbitt Discovery Academy outperforms Early College; traditional high schools like Reynolds High and Roberson High trail by wide margins. Early College shares a campus with Center for Career Innovation, though the two schools have very different academic profiles.

What makes Early College particularly noteworthy is its consistent success across student subgroups. Hispanic students rank in the 93rd percentile statewide, low-income students in the 89th percentile, and Gifted and Talented students in the 95th percentile—all indicators that the school serves a broad range of learners exceptionally well, not just those already labeled high-achieving. While the free/reduced lunch percentage appears to have jumped dramatically in recent years, this reflects districtwide changes in meal-eligibility reporting rather than a sudden shift in demographics. In short, Early College combines outstanding academics, near-universal attendance, and strong results across diverse student groups—a rare combination that signals a highly effective school environment.

271

Students ?

24.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

Community Eligibility

All students receive free meals (2024-25) ?

340 Victoria Road
Asheville, NC 28801

(828) 232-4123

District: Buncombe County Schools

Racial breakdown:

White:

50.9%

Hispanic:

40.6%

African American:

3.7%

See top rated North Carolina high schools

Compare Early College to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 91st percentile in 2021 → 87th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the North Carolina average (91% vs 60% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 13% of North Carolina high schools

✓94% graduate in 4 years — above the North Carolina average (86%)

Worth a look

!Large classes — about 25 students per teacher

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school91%

District avg59%

North Carolina avg60%

83^rd of 662

North Carolina public high schools ?

Top 13%▼ down 4 pts since 2021

From top 9% (2021) to top 13% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina High 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	89.2	83 of 662	87.5%	★★★★☆
2025	90.6	71 of 641	88.9%	★★★★☆
2024	88.6	94 of 640	85.3%	★★★★☆
2023	87.1	92 of 626	85.3%	★★★★☆
2022	87.2	94 of 621	84.9%	★★★★☆
2021	92.7	51 of 594	91.4%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	88.7	76 of 629	87.9%	★★★★☆
2025	87.8	81 of 610	86.7%	★★★★☆
2024	85.3	106 of 602	82.4%	★★★★☆
2023	81.1	110 of 588	81.3%	★★★★☆
2022	82.0	111 of 594	81.3%	★★★★☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	74.7	22 of 407	94.6%	★★★★★
2025	81.3	15 of 412	96.4%	★★★★★
2023	64.3	161 of 403	60.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	61.5	179 of 398	55.0%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	94.9	35 of 474	92.6%	★★★★★
2025	92.9	43 of 462	90.7%	★★★★★
2024	86.9	65 of 454	85.7%	★★★★☆
2023	86.6	62 of 449	86.2%	★★★★☆
2022	89.0	59 of 436	86.5%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	92.6	70 of 620	88.7%	★★★★☆
2025	92.2	69 of 606	88.6%	★★★★☆
2024	93.6	64 of 613	89.6%	★★★★☆
2023	91.8	70 of 597	88.3%	★★★★☆
2022	95.9	37 of 544	93.2%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	89.0	91 of 624	85.4%	★★★★☆
2025	93.4	51 of 601	91.5%	★★★★★
2024	90.6	79 of 607	87.0%	★★★★☆
2023	93.7	51 of 602	91.5%	★★★★★
2022	91.5	73 of 585	87.5%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	82.1	97 of 551	82.4%	★★★★☆
2025	88.5	61 of 542	88.7%	★★★★☆
2024	89.5	64 of 553	88.4%	★★★★☆
2023	87.8	68 of 537	87.3%	★★★★☆
2022	85.8	83 of 534	84.5%	★★★★☆

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)

Gifted and Talented (2026)95th percentile+7 vs school

Hispanic (2026)93rd percentile+5 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)89th percentile~ school

Female (2026)88th percentile~ school

Male (2026)85th percentile~ school

White (2026)82nd percentile-5 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Math III100%+31 vs state

Biology92%+33 vs state

English II88%+24 vs state

Math I74%+32 vs state

★

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Schools Near Early College

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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)				EOC Biology (2026)	EOC English II (2026)	EOC Math I (2026)	EOC Math III (2026)	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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	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	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
Early College	Public	9-12	340 Victoria Road	Asheville	28801	Buncombe County	Buncombe County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 232-4123	271	11	24.8	—	138 (50.9%)	10 (3.7%)	110 (40.6%)	3 (1.1%)	1 (0.4%)	2 (0.7%)	7 (2.6%)	89.2	83^rd of 662 public high schools	87.5%		90.6	71^st of 641 public high schools	88.9%	12	91.7	88.2	74.2	100.0											$7,736	$216	$7,520
Center for Career Innovation	Public	9-12	340 Victoria Road	Asheville	28801	Buncombe County	Buncombe County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 232-4123	41	4	10.2	43.9%	27 (65.9%)	3 (7.3%)	9 (22.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (4.9%)								(n/a)															$10,465	$251	$10,214
Asheville High	Public	9-12	419 McDowell Street	Asheville	28803	Buncombe County	Asheville City Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 350-2500	1,221	89	13.7	41.3%	804 (65.8%)	173 (14.2%)	121 (9.9%)	12 (1.0%)	2 (0.2%)	19 (1.6%)	90 (7.4%)	57.2	272^nd of 662 public high schools	58.9%		53.4	270^th of 641 public high schools	57.9%	2	65.5	78.3	29.5	71.1											$14,811	$688	$14,123
Silsa	Public	9-12	419 McDowell Street	Asheville	28803	Buncombe County	Asheville City Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 350-2700	332	14	23.9	39.2%	214 (64.5%)	64 (19.3%)	35 (10.5%)	4 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	14 (4.2%)	67.2	204^th of 662 public high schools	69.2%		76.9	145^th of 641 public high schools	77.4%	59	69.4	86.2	47.5	76.7											$7,028	$199	$6,830
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	372	17	21.8	—	307 (82.5%)	4 (1.1%)	31 (8.3%)	16 (4.3%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	12 (3.2%)	94.4	12^th of 662 public high schools	98.2%					(n/a)	98.8	100.0	88.9	99.9											$7,222	$451	$6,771
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	717	56	12.9	37.8%	567 (79.1%)	25 (3.5%)	73 (10.2%)	6 (0.8%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	45 (6.3%)	55.1	285^th of 662 public high schools	56.9%		55.3	261^st of 641 public high schools	59.3%	24	63.8	74.7	34.8	75.7	41.0	65.7	58.6	31.9	57.8	61.8	57.6	71.0	57.3	68.1
Reynolds High	Public	9-12	One Rocket Drive	Asheville	28803	Buncombe County	Buncombe County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 298-2500	1,169	65	17.9	—	768 (65.7%)	133 (11.4%)	171 (14.6%)	17 (1.5%)	2 (0.2%)	3 (0.3%)	75 (6.4%)	59.6	258^th of 662 public high schools	61.0%		59.3	233^rd of 641 public high schools	63.7%	25	66.1	68.2	44.2	82.4											$9,315	$663	$8,652
Erwin High	Public	9-12	60 Lees Creek Road	Asheville	28806	Buncombe County	Buncombe County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 232-4251	1,013	69	14.6	—	481 (47.5%)	94 (9.3%)	359 (35.4%)	4 (0.4%)	5 (0.5%)	23 (2.3%)	47 (4.6%)	15.4	582^nd of 662 public high schools	12.1%		17.7	541^st of 641 public high schools	15.6%	41	35.7	40.7	23.4	46.8											$10,603	$744	$9,859
Roberson High	Public	9-12	250 Overlook Road	Asheville	28803	Buncombe County	Buncombe County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 654-1765	1,479	86	17.2	—	756 (51.1%)	179 (12.1%)	382 (25.8%)	43 (2.9%)	4 (0.3%)	8 (0.5%)	107 (7.2%)	60.3	252^nd of 662 public high schools	61.9%		56.2	255^th of 641 public high schools	60.2%	3	64.3	72.7	51.0	75.8											$10,511	$1,345	$9,166
Enka High	Public	9-12	475 Enka Lake Road	Candler	28715	Buncombe County	Buncombe County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 670-5000	1,051	64	16.4	—	710 (67.6%)	40 (3.8%)	266 (25.3%)	5 (0.5%)	2 (0.2%)	2 (0.2%)	26 (2.5%)	31.9	466^th of 662 public high schools	29.6%		38.7	387^th of 641 public high schools	39.6%	79	53.8	57.7	21.4	58.2											$9,892	$617	$9,276

Frequently Asked Questions about Early College

What district is Early College in?

Buncombe County Schools

Is Early College a good school?

Early College ranks 83^rd of 662 North Carolina high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Early College?

Students at Early College are 51% White, 41% Hispanic, 4% African American, 3% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

How many students attend Early College?

In the 2024-25 school year, 271 students attended Early College.

Rate Early College!

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Latest North Carolina data All new data »

2020–21 through 2025–26 immunization ratesNewOct 19, 2026

2022–23 immunization rates (updated)NewOct 19, 2026

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

2025–26 EOC & EOG test scoresSep 2, 2026

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.