Asheville is served by Asheville City Schools and Buncombe County Schools. In 2025-26, 62.6% of city school tests were at grade level. ACS: 828-350-7000.
Last checked Oct. 11, 2026. Facts on this page come from the N.C. Department of Public Instruction, the National Center for Education Statistics and Asheville City Schools.
Every public school in Asheville, with its zone and report card: Asheville public schools.
Asheville has two public school districts. Asheville City Schools serves much of the city, with 3,960 students in eight schools in 2024-25, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Buncombe County Schools serves the rest of Asheville and the county, with 22,452 students in 45 schools, according to NCES. Your home address decides the district.
Who to call
- Asheville City Schools: 828-350-7000, 85 Mountain St.
- ACS enrollment: 828-350-6111; Pre-K, 828-350-2926
- Buncombe County Schools: 828-232-4160, 175 Bingham Road
- State report cards: North Carolina School Report Cards
Enrolling
Asheville City Schools offers school choice at all grade levels for families who live in the district, assigning students to their school of choice within its enrollment policies and a federal desegregation order, according to its enrollment office. Enrollment for 2026-27 is online. Students from outside the district can apply but pay annual tuition, get no bus service and must be released by their zoned school.
How the schools score
North Carolina tests students at the end of grades 3 to 8 and at the end of key high school courses. In 2025-26, Asheville City Schools students scored at grade level or above on 62.6% of state tests, compared with 59.2% statewide and 58.9% in Buncombe County Schools. On the higher college-and-career-ready bar, the city district was at 45.2%, the state 37.5%, according to the state’s 2025-26 assessment data.
| Asheville City school | Grades | At grade level | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| School of Inquiry and Life Sciences at Asheville (SILSA) | 9-12 | 72.5% | Met |
| Claxton Elementary | K-5 | 71% | Met |
| Lucy S. Herring Elementary | Pre-K-5 | 65.7% | Met |
| Asheville High | 9-12 | 65.4% | Met |
| Isaac Dickson Elementary | Pre-K-5 | 65.2% | Met |
| Asheville Middle | 6-8 | 60.1% | Exceeded |
| Ira B. Jones Elementary | Pre-K-5 | 53% | Met |
| Hall Fletcher Elementary | Pre-K-5 | 48.1% | Met |
“Growth” is the state’s measure of whether students gained a year’s learning in a year. Asheville Middle was the only city school to exceed expected growth.
Graduation: Asheville City Schools’ four-year graduation rate was 91.5%, against 89% statewide and 90.9% in Buncombe County Schools. Asheville High’s was 90.2%.
Buncombe County Schools high schools in and around Asheville posted these results:
| Buncombe County high school | At grade level | Four-year graduation rate |
|---|---|---|
| T.C. Roberson | 66.7% | 92.4% |
| A.C. Reynolds | 66.4% | Above 95% |
| Enka | 48.8% | 90.1% |
| Clyde A. Erwin | 36.6% | 87% |
Each school’s full report card, including its School Performance Grade, is on the North Carolina School Report Cards site; Buncombe County Schools’ is under district 110.
The 2026-27 calendar
From the Asheville City Schools 2026-27 elementary calendar:
| Date | What |
|---|---|
| Wednesday, Oct. 28 | End of first quarter |
| Tuesday, Nov. 3 | No school for students (teacher workday) |
| Wednesday, Nov. 11 | Holiday |
| Nov. 25-27 | Thanksgiving break |
| Friday, Dec. 18 | Early release |
| Dec. 21 to Jan. 1 | Winter break |
| Monday, Jan. 18 | Holiday; Jan. 19 is a teacher workday |
| March 22-26 | Spring break |
| Friday, June 4, 2027 | Last day of school, early release |
Elementary schools run 8 a.m. to 2:35 p.m.; middle and high schools 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Buncombe County Schools sets its own calendar.
School board meetings
The Asheville City Board of Education meets on the first and second Mondays of most months at 5 p.m. at 85 Mountain St.: a work session first, then a regular meeting with public comment. It holds no regular meeting in July or January, according to the board’s page. Agendas are on the board’s meeting portal.
What this means for you
- Check your address first: city or county district.
- In-district Asheville City Schools families can choose their school.
- No school Tuesday, Nov. 3, Election Day, for Asheville City Schools students.
More: moving to Asheville and Friday night football.
Which district and high school each part of the city is in: Asheville neighborhoods.
Frequently asked questions
What school district is Asheville in?
Two. Asheville City Schools serves much of the city, and Buncombe County Schools serves the rest of Asheville and the county. Your address decides which one, and in-district Asheville City Schools families can choose among its schools.
How do Asheville City Schools compare with the state?
In 2025-26, Asheville City Schools students scored at grade level on 62.6% of state tests, compared with 59.2% statewide and 58.9% in Buncombe County Schools, according to the N.C. Department of Public Instruction.
When is spring break for Asheville City Schools in 2027?
March 22-26, 2027, according to the district’s 2026-27 calendar. The last day of school is Friday, June 4, 2027.
What time does school start in Asheville City Schools?
Elementary schools run 8 a.m. to 2:35 p.m. and middle and high schools 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., according to the 2026-27 calendar.
What is the graduation rate at Asheville High School?
The four-year graduation rate was 90.2% in the 2025-26 accountability data, and the five-year rate was 92.5%.
Have your say