Ashe County Early College High

Summary:

Ashe County Early College High is a public high school in West Jefferson, North Carolina, serving 135 students in grades 9-12. This school is part of the Ashe County Schools district, which is ranked 42 out of 242 districts in the state and has a 4-star rating.

Ashe County Early College High consistently outperforms both the Ashe County Schools district and the state of North Carolina in End-of-Course (EOC) test scores, with proficiency rates as high as 96.5% in Math III, compared to the state average of 57.6%. The school ranks in the top 10% of North Carolina high schools and excels in the performance of various student subgroups, such as ranking 10th out of 594 schools for female students and 2nd out of 534 for white students. Additionally, the school has seen a significant decrease in the percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, from 97.46% in 2020-2021 to 48.15% in 2022-2023.

Compared to nearby schools like Ashe County High and Watauga High, Ashe County Early College High stands out with its exceptional academic performance and efficient use of resources, spending approximately $11,089 per student, which is slightly higher than Ashe County High but lower than Watauga High. The school's focus on academic excellence and its early college model contribute to its strong results, making it a standout institution in the region.

Detail:

Public 9-12

363 Campus Dr
West Jefferson, NC 28694

(336) 846-1881

District: Ashe County Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
49^th of 640 North Carolina High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $11,089

Student/teacher ratio: 27.5

Number of students: 131

Racial breakdown:

White:

79.4%

Hispanic:

16.0%

Two or more races:

2.3%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 97.7%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Ashe County Early College High ranks better than 92.3% of high schools in North Carolina. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 93.3. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (79.4%), Hispanic (16%), two or more races (2.3%). (See more...)

Compare Details 97.7% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Ashe County Early College High is 27.5. (See more...)

Compare Ashe County Early College High employs 4.7 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Ashe County Early College High is $11,089.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Ashe County Early College High:

SchoolDigger ranks Ashe County Early College High 49^th of 640 North Carolina public high schools. (See Ashe County Early College High in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Gifted and Talented students:

Male students:

White students:

Ashe County Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Ashe County Schools 42^nd of 242 North Carolina school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Ashe County Early College High

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Rank History for all students at Ashe County Early College High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NC State Percentile
2021	92.49	52^nd	594	91.2%
2022	96.75	9^th	621	98.6%
2023	89.23	79^th	626	87.4%
2024	93.30	49^th	640	92.3%

See the entire list of North Carolina High School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Ashe County Early College High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NC State Percentile
2022	98.96	13^th	544	97.6%
2023	89.31	78^th	597	86.9%
2024	93.75	63^rd	613	89.7%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Ashe County Early College High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NC State Percentile
2022	96.05	10^th	594	98.3%
2023	86.29	86^th	588	85.4%
2024	86.85	90^th	602	85.0%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at Ashe County Early College High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NC State Percentile
2022	82.57	22^nd	398	94.5%
2023	45.08	284^th	403	29.5%
2024	78.41	47^th	403	88.3%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Gifted and Talented Students!

Rank History for Male students at Ashe County Early College High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NC State Percentile
2022	97.05	13^th	585	97.8%
2023	90.77	77^th	602	87.2%
2024	95.71	28^th	607	95.4%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for White students at Ashe County Early College High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	NC State Percentile
2022	95.95	2^nd	534	99.6%
2023	85.72	81^st	537	84.9%
2024	90.37	55^th	553	90.1%

See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction

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Enrollment information for Ashe County Early College High

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	Two or More Races	Total
2019	54	0	0	6	0	60
2020	85	0	0	16	0	101
2021	101	0	1	16	0	118
2022	102	1	1	22	0	126
2023	105	1	2	25	2	135
2024	104	1	2	21	3	131

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Ashe County Early College High

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2019	60	3.0	20.0	36.7
2020	101	4.5	22.4	37.6
2021	118	3.8	30.4	97.5
2022	126	5.0	25.2	34.1
2023	135	5.0	27.0	48.1
2024	131	4.7	27.5	97.7

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Ashe County Early College High

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2019	60	3.0	20.0	36.7
2020	101	4.5	22.4	37.6
2021	118	3.8	30.4	97.5
2022	126	5.0	25.2	34.1
2023	135	5.0	27.0	48.1
2024	131	4.7	27.5	97.7

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Ashe County Early College High

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$346 (3.1%)	$10,742 (96.9%)	$11,089

Data source: North Carolina Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Ashe County Early College High

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
End of Course English II (Ashe County Early College High)	100	88.2	11.8%
End of Course English II (Ashe County Schools)	56.8	63.9	7.1%
End of Course English II (North Carolina)	59.7	58.5	1.2%
End of Course Math I (Ashe County Early College High)	93.2	84.6	8.6%
End of Course Math I (Ashe County Schools)	54.7	40.8	13.9%
End of Course Math I (North Carolina)	41.2	35.9	5.3%
End of Course Math III (Ashe County Early College High)	85.7	81.8	3.9%
End of Course Math III (Ashe County Schools)	58.2	68.3	10.1%
End of Course Math III (North Carolina)	46.8	58.3	11.5%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	60	135	125%
African American	0	1
American Indian	0	0
Asian	0	2
Hispanic	6	25	316.7%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	54	105	94.4%
Two or More Races	0	2
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	36.7%	48.1%	11.5%

Schools Near Ashe County Early College High

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				EOC Biology (2024)	EOC English II (2024)	EOC Math I (2024)	EOC Math III (2024)	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/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	EOC Biology End of Course	EOC English II End of Course	EOC Math I End of Course	EOC Math III End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Ashe County Early College High	Public	9-12	363 Campus Dr	West Jefferson	28694	Ashe County	Ashe County Schools	No	No	No	No	(336) 846-1881	131	5	27.5	97.7%	104 (79.4%)	1 (0.8%)	21 (16.0%)	2 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (2.3%)	93.3	49^th of 640 public high schools	92.3%		89.2	79^th of 626 public high schools	87.4%	30	84.2	94.9	81.8	96.5	$11,089	$346	$10,742
Ashe County High	Public	9-12	184 Campus Drive	West Jefferson	28694	Ashe County	Ashe County Schools	No	No	No	No	(336) 846-2400	778	53	14.6	98.3%	647 (83.2%)	6 (0.8%)	100 (12.9%)	5 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (2.6%)	44.8	335^th of 640 public high schools	47.7%		49.3	293^rd of 626 public high schools	53.2%	42	51.9	59.1	41.6	53.6	$10,958	$817	$10,142
Watauga High	Public	9-12	300 Go Pioneers Drive	Boone	28607	Watauga County	Watauga County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 264-2407	1,279	105	12.2	33.1%	1,046 (81.8%)	17 (1.3%)	151 (11.8%)	23 (1.8%)	4 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	38 (3.0%)	75.2	153^rd of 640 public high schools	76.1%		78.8	133^rd of 626 public high schools	78.8%	20	69.7	72.8	62.6	78.3	$11,160	$624	$10,536
Watauga Innovation Academy	Public	9-12	300 Go Pioneers Drive	Boone	28607	Watauga County	Watauga County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 264-2407	305	0	60.8	42.6%	264 (86.6%)	2 (0.7%)	30 (9.8%)	4 (1.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.3%)	64.6	207^th of 640 public high schools	67.7%		60.4	223^rd of 626 public high schools	64.4%	16	68.2	62.0	54.7	69.9	$2,667	$110	$2,557
West Wilkes High School	Public	9-12	6598 Boone Trail	Millers Creek	28651	Wilkes County	Wilkes County Schools	No	No	No	No	(336) 903-6710	614	40	15.3	98.5%	487 (79.3%)	5 (0.8%)	103 (16.8%)	2 (0.3%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (2.4%)	51.4	290^th of 640 public high schools	54.7%		45.8	318^th of 626 public high schools	49.2%	28	54.5	59.9	54.0	56.1	$9,570	$787	$8,783

Frequently Asked Questions about Ashe County Early College High

What is the racial makeup of Ashe County Early College High?

Students at Ashe County Early College High are 79% White, 16% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

How many students attend Ashe County Early College High?

In the 2023-24 school year, 131 students attended Ashe County Early College High.

What district is Ashe County Early College High in?

Ashe County Schools

Is Ashe County Early College High a good school?

Yes. Ashe County Early College High ranks in the top 7.7% of North Carolina high schools.

Rate Ashe County Early College High!

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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.