Francine Delany New School for Children, 119 Brevard Road: grades K-8, 188 students in 2024-25, a C (58) state grade.
Last checked Oct. 11, 2026. Sources: the school’s website; the N.C. Department of Public Instruction’s 2024-25 report card data and 2025-26 school assessment workbook; and the federal NCES school directory.
Francine Delany New School for Children is a tuition-free public charter school at 119 Brevard Road, Asheville. It is not part of Asheville City Schools or Buncombe County Schools: it has no attendance zone and admits students through its own application. The school describes a curriculum built around a social justice mission, using the Learning for Justice standards, and a 1-to-7 student-teacher ratio, on its why Francine Delany page.
Who to call
- Front office: 828-236-9441, 119 Brevard Road
- School website: fdnsc.net
- Admission: the school’s enrollment page
- State record: the school’s NC School Report Card
| Address | 119 Brevard Road, Asheville, NC 28806 |
| Phone | 828-236-9441 |
| Grades | Kindergarten to 8 |
| Operator | Public charter school (its own board) |
| State school code | 11K000 |
Enrollment and teachers
- State count: an average daily membership of 188 students in the 2024-25 school year, down from 192 in 2023-24, according to the state’s report card data.
- Federal count: 193 students in the 2023-24 school year, with 14 full-time-equivalent teachers, according to the NCES directory. That is about 14 students per teacher.
State report card
North Carolina grades every public school A to F. The grade is based 80% on student achievement and 20% on academic growth, according to the state’s 2025-26 annual testing report. For this school, achievement is measured by the state’s end-of-grade reading, math and science tests.
| School year | Grade and score | Growth |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | C (58) | Not met |
| 2023-24 | C (68) | Met |
The 2024-25 grade is the latest in the state’s downloadable report card data. From the state’s 2025-26 school assessment workbook:
- At grade level or above, all state tests: 59.1% (statewide, all tests: 59.2%)
- College and career ready (Level 4 and above): 39.5%
- Growth in 2025-26: exceeded expected growth
- Reading: 62.4% at grade level or above; math: 52.8%
The full report card, with class sizes, teacher data and school safety figures, is on the state’s NC School Report Cards site.
Admission
Enrollment for the next school year opens each January, according to the school’s admission page. For 2026-27, the lottery application deadline was March 31, 2026, and the new-student lottery was held April 13, 2026; applications after the lottery go on the waiting list in the order received. Class sizes run 20 to 22, and open seats come from students who leave. Applicants must live in North Carolina. The school’s FAQ says there is no tuition, students do not need to live in the Asheville City Schools district, and bus service is offered to families who live inside that district.
Bus service is offered to students who live inside the Asheville City Schools district, the school says. Other families provide their own transportation.
Calendar and bell times
Francine Delany New School for Children sets its own calendar, posted on the school’s calendar page. It does not follow either district’s breaks.
More
- The school’s own website
- Every public school in Asheville, with zones and report cards
- Our Asheville schools guide for district calendars, enrollment and the school boards
Frequently asked questions
What grades does Francine Delany New School for Children serve?
Francine Delany New School for Children serves kindergarten through eighth grade. It is a tuition-free public charter school, not part of either district.
What is Francine Delany New School for Children’s school grade?
Francine Delany New School for Children earned a C, with a score of 58, in North Carolina’s 2024-25 School Performance Grades. In 2025-26, 59.1% of its state tests were at grade level or above and it exceeded its growth target.
How do I apply to Francine Delany New School for Children?
Apply in the January enrollment window. A lottery sets the order of admission; for 2026-27 the deadline was March 31 and the lottery April 13, 2026.
Is Francine Delany New School for Children free?
Yes. Francine Delany New School for Children is a North Carolina public charter school: there is no tuition and no attendance zone.
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