Educating our Children
Educating our Children
One of the most important considerations when moving to a new area is the quality of education. Families new to Western North Carolina will enjoy a range of schools dedicated to providing a positive learning environment. The public school districts that serve the area include the Asheville City Schools as well as the school districts for Buncombe, Henderson, Haywood, Madison, Transylvania and Jackson counties.
ASHEVILLE CITY SCHOOLS
With more than 4,000 students, the Asheville City Schools (www.asheville.k12.nc.us) is composed of nine schools: a pre-school, high school, middle school, alternative middle school and five elementary schools. Intending to promote diversity, achievement and choice, the Asheville City Schools allows parents to choose from any elementary school in the district if space is available and the school is racially balanced. Each elementary school is a magnet school with a distinct “theme”, and students may choose the theme which best matches their interests.
Parents are encouraged to apply for their chosen elementary school by February. Although every effort is made to accommodate the request, space is limited and preference is given I order of the date the application was received.
For the past few years, Asheville City Schools has focused on the basics – reading, writing and math – in its elementary schools. The district promotes mastering skills in the early grades in order to ensure success in high school and beyond. Additionally, as part of the artistic culture of Asheville, there is a focus on the arts including band, video production, drama, debate and choir.
Part of Asheville City Schools, Asheville Preparatory Academy is an academically intense school for fifth- through eighth- graders to prepare them for high school, college and the world beyond. With an extended day lasting from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Asheville Preparatory Academy also holds class for five hours on Saturdays and a month during the summer. Additionally, students take a yearly field trip to destinations including Washington D.C., Boston, Utah and New York.
Claxton Elementary and Isaac Dickson Elementary schools were name Schools of Distinction in 2006, with at least 80 percent of its students at or above grade level. Asheville High School’s average SAT score was an impressive 1124, this is 116 points higher than the state average and 103 points higher than the national average. The school was also recognized in Newsweek’s top 100 high schools for student participation in Advanced Placement courses.
Asheville City Schools highly encourages parental and community involvement. In fact, more than 30 businesses are involved with Asheville City Schools, and a large number of volunteers offer their time to help students with their studies during and after school.
BUNCOMBE COUNTY SCHOOLS
The areas outside of Asheville are served by the Buncombe County Schools (www.buncombe.k12.nc.us). With nearly 26,000 students enrolled in 23 elementary schools, an intermediate schools (grades 5-6), seven middle schools and six high schools, Buncombe Coumnty Schools is the 10th largest district in North Carolina and the largest in Western North Carolina.
The distrct has one of the highest SAT score averages in the state with 1,052, 31 points higher than the national average and 44 points above the state average.
According to the ABCs state accountability model, Buncombe County schools achieved higher than the state average at every grade and course level.
Glen Arden Elementary School was named an Honor School of Excellence, meaning that 90 percent of its students perform at or above grade level and it also achieved Adequate Yearly Progress according to the federal No Child Left Behind Act. Cane Creek Middle School in Fletcher has been named a North Carolina School of Excellence for the past four years.
