The YMCA of Western North Carolina has joined the Buncombe County ZOOM pass program, according to an announcement on Apr. 21. Residents can now use their library cards to reserve free day passes for any of the five YMCA locations in Buncombe County.
The addition gives community members more opportunities for exercise and recreation by removing cost barriers. The ZOOM pass is valid for one day and covers up to four people of any age at Asheville YMCA, Black Mountain YMCA, Ferguson Family YMCA, Reuter Family YMCA, and Woodfin YMCA. Visitors must show identification and sign a waiver before using equipment at the facilities.
The initiative comes as data show varying levels of college readiness among local students. Of 2,010 senior students who took the science portion of the ACT in Buncombe County school districts during the 2022-23 school year, 573—or about 28.5 percent—were considered ready for college according to state education data. Among juniors taking the same test, that figure was slightly higher at 30.1 percent out of 1,931 students.
In reading, results were stronger: Of seniors tested, 41.1 percent met college readiness benchmarks; among juniors it was even higher at 43.2 percent according to state reports. For math proficiency on the ACT exam in this period, just over a quarter (25.6 percent) of seniors demonstrated college readiness while nearly a third (32.7 percent) of juniors did so as reported by state officials.
By offering access to recreational facilities through programs like ZOOM passes and supporting educational achievement with transparent reporting on student performance metrics, county initiatives continue working toward broader community well-being.
