Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Elementary· 45 schools in district

Johnston Elementary

230 Johnston Boulevard, Asheville, NC 28806Buncombe County Schools →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades PK–04Non-Charter
203
Students
Total enrolled
$14,785
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
~avg
10.6 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
↓ 31% vs nat'l
⇄ Compare with another school
Small public school
Serves 203 students in grades PK–04 in Asheville, North Carolina.
Near-average funding
District spends $14,785 per pupil — close to the national average of $14,347.
10.6 : 1 student-teacher ratio
This is well below the national average — smaller classes of 15.4:1.
About This School

Johnston Elementary is a mid-sized elementary in Asheville, North Carolina, serving grades PK–04 with 203 students. The district invests $14,785 per student — close to the national average of $14,347, and maintains a 10.6:1 student-teacher ratio — smaller than the national norm of 15.4:1. About 99% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting significant economic challenges in the surrounding community.

Student Body & Demographics at Johnston Elementary

203
Total Students
10.6 : 1
Student:Teacher
99%
Free Lunch
19
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
PK
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Highlighted grades (PK–04) are served by this school
Gender Distribution115 male · 88 female
57%
43%
Male 57%Female 43%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility99%
National avg 52% · 200 students
Student Composition
32%
33%
25%
Asian1%
White32%
Hispanic / Latino33%
Black25%
Multiracial6%
Pacific Islander3%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 370045000153

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
  • 10.6:1 student-teacher ratio — smaller classes than the national norm of 15.4:1
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Worth Considering
  • 99% of students on free or reduced lunch — a high share that can indicate resource pressure
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
+8 more
↓
Middle
Koontz IntermediateValley Springs MiddleEnka MiddleEnka Intermediate
+7 more
↓
High School
Roberson HighReynolds HighErwin HighEnka High
+3 more
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelElementary
GradesPK – 04
Location—
CountyBuncombe County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictBuncombe County Schools →
Phone: (828)232-4291
NCES ID: 370045000153
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in Asheville seeking a public elementary school, especially those prioritizing smaller class sizes and more individualized teacher access. 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
230 Johnston Boulevard, Asheville, NC 28806
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.

Elementary
1
How is early reading and literacy taught?
Look for evidence-based, structured approaches
2
How does the school communicate with families?
Frequency, channels, translation support
3
What support exists for students who fall behind?
Tutoring, intervention programs, IEPs
4
What's the average class size here?
National avg is ~23 for elementary
5
What before/after-school programs are available?
Important for working parents
6
How is student social-emotional wellbeing supported?
Counselors, community circles, conflict resolution
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.