Schools in Zip Code 28803

Zip code 28803 in Asheville, NC, is served by 8 schools — two elementary schools (Estes Elementary and Oakley Elementary), two middle/intermediate schools (Koontz Intermediate and Reynolds Middle), and four high schools (Roberson High, Asheville High, Reynolds High, and SILSA) — enrolling roughly 6,672 students across Buncombe County Schools and Asheville City Schools. Notably, Asheville High and SILSA share the same McDowell Street campus, and the schools together create a full PK-12 pathway despite unusual grade configurations.

SILSA stands out as the highest-performing high school, with top proficiency in English II (86.2%) and Biology (69.4%), a 94.9% graduation rate, and the strongest state ranking (69th percentile). Reynolds High leads in Math III at 82.4% and has the lowest chronic absenteeism (13.1%). Roberson High, the largest school with 1,479 students, posts a 92.4% graduation rate and the highest Math I proficiency (51.0%). Asheville High exceeds state averages in English II (78.3%) and Biology but reaches only 29.5% proficiency in Math I. Among elementary and intermediate schools, Estes Elementary ranks highest (63rd percentile), with strong 3rd-grade math and reading, while Oakley Elementary—also in Buncombe County Schools, with similar reported poverty rates—trails at the 19th percentile.

Every high school in the zip exceeds state averages in Biology, English II, and Math III, and graduation rates all clear the 88.8% state average. Math I is the shared weak spot, with proficiency below 52% everywhere. Parents will also notice a sharp reporting divide: Buncombe County schools here show free/reduced lunch rates near 98–100%, while Asheville City Schools show 39–41%—likely reflecting different meal-eligibility policies rather than real poverty differences. Spending tells a surprising story too: Asheville High spends $14,811 per student with a 13.7:1 ratio, while SILSA spends just $7,028 with a 23.9:1 ratio, yet SILSA outperforms it on most subjects. Chronic absenteeism also does not consistently predict performance: SILSA combines top academics with 26% absenteeism. In short, 28803 families have genuine choices, from large comprehensive high schools to a high-performing small academy, with wide variation from one school to the next.