Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Middle· 45 schools in district

Enka Middle

390 Asbury Road, Candler, NC 28715Buncombe County Schools →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades 07–08Non-Charter
602
Students
Total enrolled
$14,785
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
~avg
14.8 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
~avg
36/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
↓ 29% vs nat'l
⇄ Compare with another school
Mid-sized public school
Serves 602 students in grades 07–08 in Candler, North Carolina.
Near-average funding
District spends $14,785 per pupil — close to the national average of $14,347.
Below-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 36th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

Enka Middle is a large middle in Candler, North Carolina, serving grades 07–08 with 602 students. The district invests $14,785 per student — close to the national average of $14,347, with a 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio near the national norm. About 65% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a mixed-income student body. A neighborhood opportunity score of 36/100 — below the national median of 50 — is worth factoring into a fuller picture of long-term student outcomes.

Student Body & Demographics at Enka Middle

602
Total Students
14.8 : 1
Student:Teacher
65%
Free Lunch
41
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
PK
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Highlighted grades (07–08) are served by this school
Gender Distribution302 male · 300 female
50%
50%
Male 50%Female 50%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility65%
National avg 52% · 390 students
Student Composition
69%
23%
White69%
Hispanic / Latino23%
Black4%
Multiracial2%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 370045000161

Academic Outcomes at Enka Middle

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
36
/ 100
Below-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 36th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 11th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 28715

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$14,785Near avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$14,785
State avg
$13,042
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$6,505
Student Support$2,809
Administration$1,774
Operations$2,218
Other$1,479
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $14,785 spent per student, an estimated $6,550 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
49%
29%
State government
49.5%
Local (property tax)
29.3%
Federal programs
21.3%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Worth Considering
  • Below-median neighborhood opportunity score (36/100) — national median is 50
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
K–12 Pathway in District
Elementary
Estes ElementaryFairview ElementaryWest Buncombe ElementaryNorth Buncombe Elementary
+9 more
↓
Middle
Koontz IntermediateValley Springs MiddleEnka IntermediateErwin Middle
+6 more
↓
High School
Roberson HighReynolds HighErwin HighEnka High
+3 more
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelMiddle
Grades07 – 08
Location—
CountyBuncombe County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictBuncombe County Schools →
Phone: (828)670-5010
NCES ID: 370045000161
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in Candler seeking a public middle school, especially those prioritizing a solid, no-frills public education. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

More in Buncombe County Schools
High
Roberson High
1,491 students · 09–12
● 45 opp43% FRL
High
Reynolds High
1,133 students · 09–12
● 45 opp42% FRL
High
Erwin High
1,096 students · 09–12
64% FRL
High
Enka High
1,045 students · 09–12
● 36 opp58% FRL
High
North Buncombe High
956 students · 09–12
● 40 opp42% FRL
Elem
Estes Elementary
732 students · PK–05
● 45 opp49% FRL
High
Owen High
689 students · 09–12
● 32 opp48% FRL
Elem
Fairview Elementary
659 students · KG–05
● 39 opp41% FRL
District School Rankings
Location
390 Asbury Road, Candler, NC 28715
Data Sources & Transparency
Enrollment & Profile
NCES Common Core of Data. Grades, enrollment, demographics, school characteristics. Updated annually.
Funding & Spending
NCES F-33 Finance Survey. District-level spending data. School-level breakdowns are not publicly reported.
Graduation Rate
EDFacts Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR). High schools only. Small cohorts may be range-coded for privacy.
Opportunity Score
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census Bureau). Census tract outcomes for children born in the 1980s.
Fact-Based Rankings
Best-school rankings are computed from federal metrics only — enrollment, per-pupil spending, student-teacher ratio, opportunity score, and graduation rate. No editorial opinion or paid placements.
Equity Data (Coming Soon)
AP access, counselor ratios, and chronic absenteeism from the CRDC will be added in a future update.

Questions to Ask on Your School Visit

Research shows the most important factors are invisible in the data. Here is what to ask when you visit.

Middle
1
How does the school support the transition from elementary?
Orientation programs, peer mentoring
2
What electives and clubs are available?
Arts, STEM, sports, extracurriculars
3
How are students grouped for core subjects?
Tracking policies can affect equity
4
What is the school's homework and study policy?
Look for balance and academic support
5
How is bullying and social pressure addressed?
Anti-bullying policies, counselor availability
6
What advanced or enrichment options exist?
Honors courses, gifted programs
7
What does the school do with student performance data?
How data is used to personalize instruction
8
How would you describe teacher retention here?
High turnover can disrupt continuity of learning
9
What's the culture around student diversity and inclusion?
How differences are celebrated and managed

Frequently Asked Questions

About this school and the data on this page

About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.