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Brush Creek Elementary

Q: Is Brush Creek Elementary a good school?

Brush Creek Elementary ranks 711 th of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

711^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 52% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Brush Creek Elementary is a K-5 school in rural Marshall, North Carolina, serving 356 students within Madison County Schools, a district rated 4 stars.

Brush Creek currently holds a 3-star state rating, placing it in the 52nd percentile statewide—a middle-of-the-pack result that hides a much stronger past. Just a few years ago, this school was a consistent 4- and 5-star performer, ranking in the 85th to 93rd percentile between 2015 and 2019. Since then, it has experienced sharp declines, particularly in upper-elementary reading and science. In the most recent testing year, only 48.4% of 5th graders were proficient in reading, compared to the state average of 55.3%. Encouragingly, 3rd and 4th grade math and reading scores rebounded strongly, but 5th grade has yet to turn around. Notably, Mars Hill Elementary—a same-district peer—now outperforms Brush Creek in most subjects, including 5th grade science (77.6% vs. 65.1%) and reading (56.5% vs. 48.4%).

What makes Brush Creek’s story complex is its population and resources. Nearly all students (99.2%) qualify for free/reduced lunch, yet the school’s economically disadvantaged students rank in the 72nd percentile statewide—a strong result. Meanwhile, similar high-poverty schools like West Buncombe Elementary (87th percentile) and Weaverville Elementary (88th percentile) achieve far better outcomes. Brush Creek also benefits from a favorable student-teacher ratio of 11.8 to 1, lower than many nearby schools, yet that advantage has not translated into higher rankings. Chronic absenteeism has improved to 22.9%, slightly better than the state average, but subgroup gaps have widened—female students rank in the 32nd percentile and special education students in the 23rd percentile. Brush Creek has proven it can be excellent; the challenge now is consistency across all grades and student groups.

356

Students ?

11.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

Community Eligibility

All students receive free meals (2024-25) ?

265 Upper Brush Creek Road
Marshall, NC 28753

(828) 649-1547

District: Madison County Schools

Students who attend Brush Creek Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Madison Middle School
High:	Madison Early College High
	Madison High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

92.7%

Hispanic:

5.6%

Two or more races:

1.4%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

Compare Brush Creek Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 85th percentile in 2016 → 52nd in 2026

Strengths

✓Above the North Carolina median (52nd percentile)

✓Small classes — about 12 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 33 percentile points since 2016

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school60%

District avg63%

North Carolina avg61%

711^th of 1,492

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Top 48%▼ down 32 pts since 2016

From top 15% (2016) to top 48% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

70^th of 246Madison 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	51.3	711 of 1492	52.3%	★★★☆☆
2025	45.2	827 of 1490	44.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	73.6	351 of 1505	76.7%	★★★★☆
2023	77.2	284 of 1502	81.1%	★★★★☆
2022	79.6	249 of 1514	83.6%	★★★★☆
2021	83.3	207 of 1489	86.1%	★★★★☆
2019	89.8	98 of 1473	93.3%	★★★★★
2018	87.4	131 of 1434	90.9%	★★★★★
2017	88.9	99 of 1429	93.1%	★★★★★
2016	80.5	217 of 1425	84.8%	★★★★☆
2015	71.2	391 of 1440	72.8%	★★★★☆
2014	34.2	949 of 1390	31.7%	★★☆☆☆
2013	44.9	747 of 1403	46.8%	★★☆☆☆
2012	60.7	586 of 1388	57.8%	★★★☆☆
2011	75.8	274 of 1381	80.2%	★★★★☆
2010	80.9	178 of 1363	86.9%	★★★★☆
2009	87.0	89 of 1354	93.4%	★★★★★
2008	85.3	120 of 1324	90.9%	★★★★★
2007	67.5	400 of 1293	69.1%	★★★☆☆
2006	54.5	634 of 1276	50.3%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2022	52.2	228 of 634	64.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	52.6	226 of 646	65.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	93.0	23 of 878	97.4%	★★★★★
2018	88.9	44 of 897	95.1%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	35.4	989 of 1447	31.7%	★★☆☆☆
2025	45.8	797 of 1451	45.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	66.8	420 of 1455	71.1%	★★★★☆
2023	80.2	208 of 1459	85.7%	★★★★☆
2022	78.6	246 of 1458	83.1%	★★★★☆
2021	79.7	227 of 1440	84.2%	★★★★☆
2019	83.5	160 of 1424	88.8%	★★★★☆
2018	87.3	109 of 1405	92.2%	★★★★★

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2019	65.3	118 of 612	80.7%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	64.6	398 of 1434	72.2%	★★★★☆
2025	44.0	823 of 1437	42.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	74.7	239 of 1450	83.5%	★★★★☆
2023	85.9	87 of 1437	93.9%	★★★★★
2022	77.8	169 of 1366	87.6%	★★★★☆
2021	93.3	32 of 1329	97.6%	★★★★★
2019	96.1	10 of 1361	99.3%	★★★★★
2018	92.5	32 of 1332	97.6%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	67.3	447 of 1451	69.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	45.2	809 of 1450	44.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	76.5	279 of 1464	80.9%	★★★★☆
2023	66.5	438 of 1461	70.0%	★★★★☆
2022	76.8	281 of 1464	80.8%	★★★★☆
2021	83.7	185 of 1444	87.2%	★★★★☆
2019	92.4	57 of 1430	96.0%	★★★★★
2018	83.0	178 of 1413	87.4%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	29.1	631 of 815	22.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	45.2	392 of 821	52.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	62.3	192 of 801	76.0%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	27.3	927 of 1146	19.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	24.9	966 of 1172	17.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	48.4	636 of 1166	45.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	54.3	556 of 1183	53.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	57.8	488 of 1194	59.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	61.9	417 of 1172	64.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	75.7	237 of 1183	80.0%	★★★★☆
2018	72.4	301 of 1178	74.4%	★★★★☆

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)

Gifted and Talented (2019)81st percentile-13 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)72nd percentile+20 vs school

Male (2026)69th percentile+17 vs school

Disabled (2022)64th percentile-20 vs school

Female (2026)32nd percentile-21 vs school

Special Education (2026)23rd percentile-30 vs school

White (2026)19th percentile-33 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Science65%-3 vs state

Mathematics63%~ state avg

Reading55%~ state avg

★

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Schools Near Brush Creek 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/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	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
Brush Creek Elementary	Public	K-5	265 Upper Brush Creek Road	Marshall	28753	Madison County	Madison County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 649-1547	356	30	11.8	—	330 (92.7%)	1 (0.3%)	20 (5.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.4%)	51.3	711^th of 1492 public elementary schools	52.3%		45.2	827^th of 1490 public elementary schools	44.5%	116	68.3	57.4	63.5	58.3	57.4	48.4	65.1	$11,596	$1,473	$10,123
Hot Springs Elementary	Public	K-5	63 Serpentine Ave	Hot Springs	28743	Madison County	Madison County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 622-3292	128	12	10.6	97.7%	114 (89.1%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (4.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (5.5%)	57.8	613^th of 1492 public elementary schools	58.9%		56.2	630^th of 1490 public elementary schools	57.7%	17	66.7	87.0	55.6	57.1	73.9	44.4	55.6	$12,379	$2,100	$10,279
Mars Hill Elementary	Public	K-5	200 School House Lane	Mars Hill	28754	Madison County	Madison County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 689-2922	445	33	13.4	—	418 (93.9%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.6%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.9%)	15 (3.4%)	66.1	489^th of 1492 public elementary schools	67.2%		45.7	821^st of 1490 public elementary schools	44.9%	332	73.4	67.5	68.2	65.6	56.6	56.5	77.6	$10,436	$1,370	$9,066
North Buncombe Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	251 Flat Creek Church Rd	Weaverville	28787	Buncombe County	Buncombe County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 645-6054	593	39	15.3	—	440 (74.2%)	9 (1.5%)	111 (18.7%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (5.4%)	68.9	437^th of 1492 public elementary schools	70.7%		67.5	436^th of 1490 public elementary schools	70.7%	1	75.6	67.2		59.7	64.8			$12,071	$1,473	$10,597
Leicester Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	31 Gilbert Road	Leicester	28748	Buncombe County	Buncombe County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 683-2341	399	26	15.3	—	322 (80.7%)	8 (2.0%)	61 (15.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	6 (1.5%)	65.2	505^th of 1492 public elementary schools	66.2%		43.9	852^nd of 1490 public elementary schools	42.8%	347	67.8	74.7		61.0	57.8			$11,642	$1,459	$10,183
Weaverville Primary	Public	PK, KG-1	39 S Main Street	Weaverville	28787	Buncombe County	Buncombe County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 645-4275	245	16	15.8	—	194 (79.2%)	0 (0.0%)	38 (15.5%)	3 (1.2%)	1 (0.4%)	1 (0.4%)	8 (3.3%)								(n/a)								$13,048	$1,194	$11,853
Weaverville Elementary	Public	2-4	129 S Main Street	Weaverville	28787	Buncombe County	Buncombe County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 645-3127	342	22	15.9	97.4%	272 (79.5%)	7 (2.0%)	50 (14.6%)	3 (0.9%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (2.6%)	85	180^th of 1492 public elementary schools	87.9%		81.6	229^th of 1490 public elementary schools	84.6%	49	78.8	81.0		69.7	73.8			$10,024	$1,099	$8,924
Barnardsville Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	20 Hillcrest Drive	Barnardsville	28709	Buncombe County	Buncombe County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 626-2290	125	11	10.9	97.6%	113 (90.4%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (4.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (4.8%)	66.9	470^th of 1492 public elementary schools	68.5%		83.9	192^nd of 1490 public elementary schools	87.1%	278	57.9	90.5		47.4	85.7			$13,378	$1,474	$11,905
Woodfin Elementary	Public	K-5	108 Elk Mountain Road	Asheville	28804	Buncombe County	Buncombe County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 232-4287	111	11	10.2	97.3%	39 (35.1%)	3 (2.7%)	60 (54.1%)	2 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (6.3%)	7	1453^rd of 1492 public elementary schools	2.6%		8.2	1442^nd of 1490 public elementary schools	3.2%	11	31.6	35.7		31.6	32.1			$17,004	$1,575	$15,428
West Buncombe Elementary	Public	K-4	175 Erwin Hills Road	Asheville	28806	Buncombe County	Buncombe County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 232-4282	580	39	14.7	—	393 (67.8%)	21 (3.6%)	140 (24.1%)	7 (1.2%)	4 (0.7%)	1 (0.2%)	14 (2.4%)	83.8	192^nd of 1492 public elementary schools	87.1%		81.9	220^th of 1490 public elementary schools	85.2%	28	86.9	76.6		70.7	68.5			$11,223	$1,315	$9,908

Frequently Asked Questions about Brush Creek Elementary

How many students attend Brush Creek Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 356 students attended Brush Creek Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Brush Creek Elementary?

Students at Brush Creek Elementary are 93% White, 6% Hispanic, 1% Two or more races.

Is Brush Creek Elementary a good school?

Brush Creek Elementary ranks 711^th of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What district is Brush Creek Elementary in?

Madison County Schools

What schools do graduates of Brush Creek Elementary attend?

Students who attend Brush Creek Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Madison Middle School
High : Madison Early College High
High : Madison High School

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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.