Buncombe County is one of the largest school districts in the state, and newly relocated parents can understandably get confused about all the scholastic options out there. Below, Xpress offers a comprehensive list of area elementary schools, including public, charter, magnet and private. All institutions are K-5 and located in Asheville, unless otherwise noted. (A profile of each public city school is available at: buncombe.schoolwires.com.)
Buncombe County schools
• Avery’s Creek Elementary, 15 Park South Blvd., Arden. 654-1810.
• Barnardsville Elementary, grades K-4. 20 Hillcrest Drive, Barnardsville. 626-2290.
• Black Mountain Elementary, grades 4-5. 100 Flat Creek Road, Black Mountain. 669-5217.
• Black Mountain Primary, grades K-3. 301 E. State St., Black Mountain. 669-2645.
• Buncombe Community School-West, grades K-12. 128 Sand Hill School Road. 670-5040.
• Candler Elementary, 121 Candler School Road, Candler. 670-5018.
• Charles C. Bell Elementary, 90 Maple Springs Road. 298-3789.
• Emma Elementary, 37 Brickyard Road. 232-4272.
• Fairview Elementary, 1355 Charlotte Highway, Fairview. 628-2732.
• Glen Arden Elementary, 50 Pinehurst Circle, Arden. 654-1800.
• Haw Creek Elementary, 21 Trinity Chapel Road. 298-4022.
• Hominy Valley Elementary, 450 Enka Lake Road, Candler. 665-0619.
• Johnston Elementary, 230 Johnston Blvd. 232-4291.
• Leicester Elementary, 31 Gilbert Road, Leicester. 683-2341.
• North Buncombe Elementary, grades K-4. 251 Flat Creek Church Road, Weaverville. 645-6054.
• North Windy Ridge, grades 5-6. 20 Doan Road, Weaverville. 658-1892.
• Oakley Elementary, 753 Fairview Road, Oakley. 274-7515.
• Pisgah Elementary, 1495 Pisgah Highway, Candler. 670-5023.
• Sand Hill-Venable Elementary, 154 Sand Hill School Road. 670-5028.
• Weaverville Elementary, grades 2-4. 129 S. Main St., Weaverville. 645-3127.
• Weaverville Primary, grades K-1. 39 S. Main St., Weaverville. 645-4275.
• W.D. Williams Elementary, 161 Bee Tree Road, Swannanoa. 686-3856.
• West Buncombe Elementary, 175 Erwin Hills Road. 232-4282.
• William W. Estes Elementary, 275 Overlook Road. 654-1795.
• Woodfin Elementary, 108 Elk Mountain Road. 232-4287.
Charter schools
A tuition-free alternative to traditional public schools. Admission to area charter schools is competitive and based on a lottery system. Three charter schools have opened locally since their inception in 1997. All are K-8.
• ArtSpace Charter School offers arts-integrated core-content education using drama, dance, music and visual arts. 2030 U.S. Highway 70, Swannanoa. 298-2787 or www.artspacecharter.org.
• Evergreen Community Charter School uses the Expeditionary Learning Outward Bound framework to provide holistic, child-centered experiential education. 50 Bell Road. 298-2173 or www.evergreenccs.org.
• Francine Delany New School was founded by a group of educators in 1996. The school provides an experientially rich, hands-on education with an emphasis on self-directed learning. 119 Brevard Road. 236-9441 or www.fdnsc.net.
Magnet schools (Asheville City Schools)
Like charter schools, magnet schools are tuition-free and subject to space availability, although a socioeconomic balance is also integral to the enrollment process. Magnet schools often feature a strong specialization in either the arts or sciences. These five schools serve residents of the Asheville City Schools District as well as “transfers” from the county schools district. All are K-5.
• Claxton Elementary specializes in arts-integrated education incorporating art, music, drama and movement. 241 Merrimon Ave. 350-6500 or www.asheville.k12.nc.us/sites/clx.
• Hall Fletcher Elementary offers a technology-based education with emphasis on math, science and computers. 60 Ridgelawn Ave. 350-6400 or www.asheville.k12.nc.us/sites/hfe.
• Ira B. Jones Elementary features a core-knowledge theme allowing students to explore history and world cultures through an interdisciplinary, child-centered approach. 544 Kimberly Ave. 350-6700 or www.asheville.k12.nc.us/sites/jon.
• Isaac Dickson Elementary is a Foxfire Network school with an emphasis on experiential education, teachers as facilitators, and project learning. 125 Hill St. 350-6800 or www.asheville.k12.nc.us/sites/dic.
• Vance Elementary is a NASA Explorer School with an emphasis on human diversity and ecology through the use of technology and hands-on learning. 98 Sulphur Springs Road. 350-6600 or www.asheville.k12.nc.us/sites/vance.
Private religious schools
The prevalence of private schools in WNC includes many types of religious schools for those seeking a faith-based education.
• Adonai Christian Academy serves grades PK-12. 119 Cumberland Ave. 254-4203.
• Asheville Catholic School, PK-8. 12 Culvern St. 252-7896. www.ashevillecatholic.org.
• Asheville Christian Academy, Swannanoa. PK-12. 74 Riverwood Road. 581-2200. www.acacademy.org.
• Asheville-Pisgah Church School, Candler. PK-8. 90 Academy Drive. 667-3255.
• Carolina Christian School, PK-12. 48 Woodland Hills Road. 658-8964. www.carolinachristianschool.org.
• Crossroads Christian Academy, PK-4. 20 S. Bear Creek Road. 254-5727.
• Emmanuel Lutheran School, PK-8. 51 Wilburn Place. 281-8182.
• Georgetown Baptist Academy, Leicester. K-12. 1 Dix Creek Road. 683-6396.
• Glory Tabernacle Academy, 1-11. 1221 Sweeten Creek Road. 274-0750.
• Happy Valley Christian Academy, K-12. 28 Happy Valley Road. 254-6655.
• Hope Christian School. 215 Bull Creek Road. 254-3976.
• Maccabi Academy of Asheville (WNC’s only Jewish day school). K-5. 229 Murdock Ave., Suite 100. 254-5660. www.maccabiofasheville.org.
• Merriman Christian School, PK-12. 10 Ben Lippen School Road. 252-9305.
• Mt. Sheba Baptist Academy, Weaverville. K-12. 20 Old Jupiter Road. 658-1417.
• Nazarene Christian School, PK-8. 385 Hazel Mill Road. 252-9713. www.ashevillefirstnazarene.org.
• New Hope Christian School, Candler. K-12. P.O. Box 216. 665-0009.
• North Asheville Christian School, PK-11. Will add 12th grade in Fall 2008. 20 Reynolds Mountain Blvd. 645-8053. www.northashevillechristian.org.
• Rock Christian Academy, Candler. K-8. 273 Monte Vista Road. 670-7645.
• Swannanoa Christian Academy, Swannanoa. 1-12. 220 Lytle Cove Road. 686-3977.
• Temple Baptist School, K-12. 985 1/2 Patton Ave. 252-3712.
• Veritas Christian Academy, Fletcher. K-12. 17 Cane Creek Road. 681-0546.
Independent private schools
From Montessori—which features multi-age classes and self-directed learning in a structured environment—and alternative to holistic and special needs, these institutions provide a unique learning experience for students of all faiths.
• Asheville Montessori School provides an authentic, child-centered Montessori experience for ages 3 through K. Two locations: 15 Julia St. (254-6014) and 360 Weaverville Highway (645-3433). www.ashevillemontessorischool.com.
• Blue Ridge Montessori School, another venue for preschool and kindergarten Montessori-style learning in a lovely North Asheville location. 38 Sycamore St. 281-0505.
• Carolina Day School, a private, non-sectarian school serving grades PK-12 with an emphasis on hands-on, integrated learning. 1345 Hendersonville Road. See www.cdschool.org or call 274-0757.
• Katuah Sudbury School, recently relocated to 5 Woodland Drive in West Asheville, is modeled after the 40-year-old Sudbury Valley School in Massachusetts. Self-initiated learning and democratic governance (for kids kindergarten age through 16) are the school’s stated missions. See www.katuahsudbury.org for details or call 505-2337.
• Montessori Learning Center of Asheville is a PK-K institution utilizing traditional Montessori principles. It has been established locally for more than 20 years. Spanish and swimming are among the school’s offerings. 1 School Road. 259-9880. www.montessori-learningcenter.org.
• The New Classical Academy, for grades K-10, teaches Latin starting in third grade and has no computers in its classrooms. Instead, the school “provide[s] an intellectual community for both parent and child through a classical education in a hands-on environment,” according to a passage on its Web site. 38 Stoney Knob Road in Weaverville. 658-8317. www.thenewclassicalacademy.org.
• Odyssey Community School provides a holistic, whole-child learning environment for grades PK-8 at 90 Zillicoa St. in Montford. For info, call 259-3653, 259-3564, or see www.odysseycommunity.org. (In 2008-2009, Odyssey will be adding secondary education, one grade level each consecutive year.)
• Rainbow Mountain Children’s School provides multi-age, creative, experiential education for grades PK-8. 574 Haywood Road. 258-9264. www.rmcs.org.
• The Learning Community School in Black Mountain is a holistic alternative school for grades K-8 with an emphasis on compassionate, cooperative learning; service; creativity; and the arts. P.O. Box 1143. 686-3080. www.thelearningcommunity.org.
• Swannanoa Valley Montessori School has greatly expanded since its 2003 inception; it is now the only area Montessori to offer a full elementary school. In fall of 2007, classes were added for kids up through age 12. Located at 130 Center Ave. in Black Mountain. Call 669-8571 or see www.swanmont.org for more info.
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