Founded in 1900, Asheville School is one of the few remaining true small boarding schools in America.
This is a nurturing community, where our students and faculty genuinely know one another - thanks to family-style seated meals, senior chapel talks and century-old traditions.
We offer a rigorous college preparatory program. Many of our graduates are accepted to the most prestigious schools in the country. In fact, the majority of our recent graduates are attending colleges and universities Barron's rates as "highly selective" and "most selective."
We teach 21st century and timeless skills - critical thinking, communication, collaboration and creativity - in a traditional setting, where students are known and loved.
Our acceptance rate is 40 percent, and we have alumni in all 50 states and in about 35 countries around the world.
Our 300-acre campus, with pastoral fields encircled by the Blue Ridge Mountains, is nestled in the city of Asheville, North Carolina. In fact, Architectural Digest named Asheville School the most beautiful private high school in North Carolina in 2018.
Quick Stats (2024)
- Top Ranked NC School
- Grades: 9-12
- Enrollment: 295 students
- Yearly Tuition: $57,650
- Acceptance rate: 40%
- Average class size: 13 students
- Application Deadline: Dec. 10 / Feb. 1 / rolling
- Source: Verified school update
Top Rankings
Asheville School ranks among the top 20% of private schools in North Carolina for:
Category
Attribute
SAT Score
Acceptance Rate
Advanced Degrees
Student Body
AP Courses
Sports offered
Extracurriculars
School History
School Resources
School Overview
Religious Affiliation
Grades Offered
Grades 9-12
Year Founded
1900
Student Body
Total Students
295 students
Student Body Type
Co-ed
% Students of Color
15%
State avg.: 23%
Students by Grade
Academics and Faculty
Total Classroom Teachers
38 teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
8:1
National avg.: 13:1
% Faculty w/Advanced Degree
77%
Average Class Size
13 students
Number of AP Courses
16 courses
List of Courses Offered
Advanced Courses
AP Biology, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP Chemistry, AP Computer Science, AP English Literature, AP Environmental Science, AP European English, AP European History, AP French, AP Music Theory, AP Physics B, AP Physics C, AP Spanish, AP Statistics, AP Studio Art, Honors Algebra II, Honors American Studies, History, Honors Chemistry, Honors Chinese II, Honors Chinese III, Honors Chinese IV, Honors Chinese V, Honors European Studies, History, Honors French II, Honors French III, Honors French IV, Honors Geometry, Honors Humanities Seminar, Honors Humanities Seminar II, Honors Physics, Honors Precalculus, Honors Precalculus, Advanced, Honors Spanish II, Honors Spanish III, Honors Spanish IV, Honors World Studies, English
Average SAT score
1310
Average ACT score
27
Matriculation DataMatric. Data
Classroom Dress Code
Formal
Coat and tie for boys; coat and button-down shirt for girls.
Coat and tie for boys; coat and button-down shirt for girls.
Tuition and Acceptance Rate
Admission Deadline
Dec. 10 / Feb. 1 / rolling
Yearly Tuition Cost
$57,650
Tuition Notes
Boarding tuition is $57650. Day Tuition is $33,975. There\'s a $630 international fee.
% on Financial Aid
25%
Average Financial Aid Grant
$31,000
Acceptance Rate
40%
National avg.: 85%
Admissions Director
Michael Heyward
Admissions Associate
Derry Roberson Babaoff
Endowment Size
$48.8 million
Sports
Total Sports Offered
23 sports
Extracurriculars
Total ExtracurricularsTotal Extra-curric.
37 extracurriculars
ExtracurricularsExtra-curric.
Club or Organization:
Bird Watching Club, Black Student Union, Bow Tie Society, Chess Club, Christian Fellowship, Cooking Club, Design Club, Gay Straight Alliance, Hoste Society (tour guides), International Club, Martial Arts Club, Math Club, Microlending, Mitchell Cabinet (Service Club), Multicultural Club, Peer Tutoring, Photography Club, Prefects (Senior Student Leaders), Proctors (Junior Student Leaders), Robotics, Service Projects, Student Activities Committee, Student Council, Students for Environmental Awareness, Table Tennis Club, The Ashnoca (Student Newspaper)
Arts and Music Programs:
Chapel Choir, Chorus, Dance, Drama, Handbell Choir, SongCraft, Studio Art, The Blue and White (Yearbook), The Review (Literary Magazine)
Recreational Athletic Programs:
Equestrian, Mountaineering
Bird Watching Club, Black Student Union, Bow Tie Society, Chess Club, Christian Fellowship, Cooking Club, Design Club, Gay Straight Alliance, Hoste Society (tour guides), International Club, Martial Arts Club, Math Club, Microlending, Mitchell Cabinet (Service Club), Multicultural Club, Peer Tutoring, Photography Club, Prefects (Senior Student Leaders), Proctors (Junior Student Leaders), Robotics, Service Projects, Student Activities Committee, Student Council, Students for Environmental Awareness, Table Tennis Club, The Ashnoca (Student Newspaper)
Arts and Music Programs:
Chapel Choir, Chorus, Dance, Drama, Handbell Choir, SongCraft, Studio Art, The Blue and White (Yearbook), The Review (Literary Magazine)
Recreational Athletic Programs:
Equestrian, Mountaineering
School Notes
Asheville School is one of the nation's leading boarding schools.
What sets us apart:
- Academics. Our challenging academic program - including 22 Honors courses and 16 Advanced Placement (AP) courses --helps give our students a competitive edge. They learn to reason and communicate clearly. They attend top colleges. Most importantly, they go on to lives of leadership and service.
- Size. We're small -- about 295 dynamic, talented students in grades 9-12. Students receive support from dedicated, inspiring faculty, most of whom live right on campus.
- Values and Opportunities. From our student-run honor system to our unwritten code of respect, values matter here. And students have many opportunities for leadership and participation in competitive athletics, the arts, and outdoor adventure.
- Campus. Our stunning 300-acre campus is in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Asheville, NC, a city that mixes cosmopolitan style with southern culture. Our facilities combine gorgeous, historic buildings with 21st-century technology.
- Sample of notable school alumni/alumnae:
- Amy "Bellamy" Young 1987 - Amy "Bellamy" Young is an actress best known for her role as First Lady Mellie Grant on ABC’s political drama series Scandal.
- Pete Dye, Jr. 1944 - Dye designed world-renowned golf courses, including Oak Tree in Oklahoma City, The Johns Island Club in Vero Beach, the Harbortown Golf Course in Hilton Head, The Saw Grass Course in Ponte Vedra and the Ocean Course in Kiawah.
- Roy Kim 2012 - In 2012, Roy Kim won Korea’s hit TV show Superstar K4. He received Mnet’s Booming Star and Hot Music Cover awards and has been at the top of Korean pop music charts.
- Jose Gonzalez 1985 - In 2017, Gonzalez was appointed as Mexico's Minister of Finance under President Peña Nieto. He previously served as the CEO of Petróleos Mexicanos, more commonly known as PEMEX.
- Charles Ries 1968 - Charles Ries was the U.S. Ambassador to Greece from 2004-2007. He served as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs from 2000-2004, overseeing U.S.-European Union economics, energy, and public diplomacy.
- Frederick F. Wherry 1990 - Wherry is a professor of sociology at Princeton University. He serves as the department representative for the Department of Sociology, and he has served as vice-president and president of the Social Science History Association.
- Jennifer Pharr-Davis 2001 - In 2011, Jennifer Pharr-Davis set the record for the fastest thru hike of the Appalachian Trail with a time of 46 days, 11 hours, and 20 minutes. She has written two memoirs: Becoming Odyssa and Called Again.
- James Hormel 1950 - James Hormel was the first openly gay person to serve as a United States Ambassador. He was appointed by President Bill Clinton in 1999 to be the Ambassador to Luxembourg. He is the grandson of George A. Hormel, founder of Hormel Foods.
- Levin H. Campbell 1944 - Honorable Judge Levin H. Campbell was confirmed to serve on the First Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in 1972. He served as Chief Judge from 1983 to 1990 and assumed senior status in 1992.
- Perla Haney-Jardine 2015 - Perla Haney-Jardine is an actress best known for her roles in Steve Jobs (2015), Future Weather (2012), Spider-Man 3 (2007) and Kill Bill: Vol 2 (2004).
Source: Verified school update
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Asheville School cost?
Asheville School's tuition is approximately $57,650 for private students.
What is the acceptance rate of Asheville School?
The acceptance rate of Asheville School is 40%, which is lower than the national average of 87%. Asheville School's acceptance rate is ranked among the top private schools in North Carolina with low acceptance rates.
Who are famous alumni from Asheville School?
Asheville School famous alumni include: Amy "Bellamy" Young 1987, Pete Dye, Jr. 1944, Roy Kim 2012, Jose Gonzalez 1985, Charles Ries 1968, Frederick F. Wherry 1990, Jennifer Pharr-Davis 2001, James Hormel 1950, Levin H. Campbell 1944 and Perla Haney-Jardine 2015.
What sports does Asheville School offer?
Asheville School offers 23 interscholastic sports: Alpine Skiing, Baseball, Basketball, Climbing, Cross Country, Dance, Equestrian, Field Hockey, Football, Golf, Kayaking, Lacrosse, Mountain Biking, Mountaineering, Rock Climbing, Snowboarding, Soccer, Swimming, Tennis, Track and Field, Ultimate Frisbee, Volleyball and Weightlifting. Asheville School is ranked as one of the top 20% of private schools in North Carolina for most sports offered.
What is Asheville School's ranking?
Asheville School ranks among the top 20% of private schools in North Carolina for: Highest average SAT score, Lowest average acceptance rates, Highest percentage of faculty with advanced degrees, Largest student body, Most AP courses offered, Most sports offered, Most extracurriculars offered, Oldest founding date and Largest endowments.
When is the application deadline for Asheville School?
The application deadline for Asheville School is Dec. 10 / Feb. 1 / rolling (applications are due on Dec. 10 / Feb. 1 but additional applications are reviewed year-round as space permits ).
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