Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Elementary· 45 schools in district

Leicester Elementary

31 Gilbert Road, Leicester, NC 28748Buncombe County Schools →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades PK–04Non-Charter
367
Students
Total enrolled
$14,785
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
~avg
12.0 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
↓ 22% vs nat'l
42/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
↓ 17% vs nat'l
⇄ Compare with another school
Mid-sized public school
Serves 367 students in grades PK–04 in Leicester, 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 42th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

Leicester Elementary is a mid-sized elementary in Leicester, North Carolina, serving grades PK–04 with 367 students. The district invests $14,785 per student — close to the national average of $14,347, and maintains a 12.0:1 student-teacher ratio — smaller than the national norm of 15.4:1. About 70% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting significant economic challenges in the surrounding community.

Student Body & Demographics at Leicester Elementary

367
Total Students
12.0 : 1
Student:Teacher
70%
Free Lunch
31
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 Distribution168 male · 199 female
46%
54%
Male 46%Female 54%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility70%
National avg 52% · 257 students
Student Composition
82%
13%
White82%
Hispanic / Latino13%
Black1%
Multiracial3%
Native American1%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 370045000154

Academic Outcomes at Leicester Elementary

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
42
/ 100
Below-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 42th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 37th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 28748

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
  • 12.0:1 student-teacher ratio — smaller classes than the national norm of 15.4:1
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
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)683-2341
NCES ID: 370045000154
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in Leicester 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
31 Gilbert Road, Leicester, NC 28748
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.