Asheville School
Overview
.jpg)
Founded in 1900, Asheville School is one of the few remaining true small boarding schools in America (295 students). 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 names Asheville School the most beautiful private high school in North Carolina in 2018.



Academics
Summary: The academic work and intellectual pursuit of each student is essential to the Asheville School experience. Teachers and students thrive in small seminar-style classes that feature the Harkness Method: round table discussions that encourage critical thinking. Students also have access to one-on-one tutorial sessions, open office hours, and other supports that help them learn how to succeed. Asheville School has 62 courses, which include 22 Honors and 16 AP offerings. The academic capstone of the senior year is the Senior Demonstration, a project in which students read three books of their choosing, write two papers analyzing those books and sit for an oral defense.
Department Director Helen Plaehn
Student/Teacher Ratio: 5:1
Average Class Size: 13
Summer Programs: Offered
Full Time Teachers: 39
Number of AP Courses Offered: 16
Teachers Holding Advanced Degrees: 77%
Number of IB Courses Offered: 0
English
- Classics
- Honors
- Literature
History
- Classical History
- European History
- Honors
- Medieval History
- United States History
- World History
Foreign Languages
Sciences
- Anatomy
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Environmental Science
- Physics
Math
Computer Studies
- Computer Programming
- Computer Science
Music
- Composition
- Music Theory
Performing / Visual Arts
Special Programs
- Community Service
- Outdoor Education
Distinctive or New Programs
- I
Campus Life
Dorm Life
Number of Dorms: 4
Average Students Per Dorm: 70
Number of Girls Dorms: 2
Number of Boys Dorms: 2
Dorm Amenities
- Laundry Facilities
- Lounge
- Vending Machines
- Wireless Internet
Other Dorm Amenities
Common Room Kitchens
Student Life
Eighty percent of students are boarding students at Asheville School, which creates an immersive experience in which students learn and grow alongside their peers, teachers and mentors even after the academic day ends. Thirty percent of our students are considered multicultural; our community is truly diverse in background and committed to academic and personal excellence. We value academics at Asheville School, but we also value fun. Our Student Activities Director schedules plenty of entertainment during student downtime. On-campus pursuits include barbecues, athletic tournaments, game nights, movies, school dances and more. Students also take in concerts, plays and other art events, movies and sporting events in Asheville.
Facilities
- All-Weather Track
- Baseball Field
- Basketball Court
- Fitness Center
- Football Field
- Indoor Basketball Court
- Indoor Pool
- Volleyball Court
Other Facilities
- Alpine Climbing Tower
- Stables
- Hiking Trails
Clubs & Organizations
- Chess Club
- Community Service
- Debate Club
- Diversity Club
- Dorm Proctors
- Environmental Club
- FCA
- Foreign Language Clubs
- Honor Council
- Horseback Riding
- International Club
- Investment Club
- Literary Magazine
- Math Club
- Model UN
- Newspaper
- Peer Tutoring
- Photography Club
- Sexualities Club
- Student Activities
- Student Government
- Student Publications
- Theater Club
- Weightlifting Club
- Yearbook
- Young Democrats
- Young Republicans
- Robotics
Arts & Athletics
Summary: Students at Asheville School complete extensive work in the arts and athletics. Athletics have been a rich part of the Asheville School tradition since the institution’s earliest days. Today, 19 interscholastic sports teams compete during three separate seasons over the course of the school year. The school’s athletic facilities are considered among the best in the Southeast. All freshmen and sophomores play on one interscholastic team during the year, and approximately 75 percent of the entire student body chooses to play sports in any given year. The seasoned coaches are committed to providing an activity that suits the skill level and interest of every student. Our students also have abundant ways to explore the arts. Many perform in our winter and spring drama productions, while others create thought-provoking sculptures, paintings or mixed-media work. Asheville School is also lucky to engage with the city's vibrant arts community. We host working artists on campus and collaborate with arts professionals, which allows our students to hone their creative skills and build solid portfolios.
Arts Department Director: Kathy Leiner
Athletics Department Director: Carl Boland
Arts
Interscholastic Sports
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Cross Country Running
- Equestrian
- Field Hockey
- Football
- Horseback Riding
- Lacrosse
- Nordic Skiing
- Soccer
- Swimming
- Tennis
- Track and Field
- Volleyball
- Wrestling
Recreational Sports
- Aerobics
- Alpine Skiing
- Alpine Ski Racing
- Basketball
- Camping
- Canoeing
- Dance
- Equestrian
- Hiking
- Horseback Riding
- Ice Climbing
- Kayaking
- Mountain Biking
- Nordic Ski Racing
- Outdoor Education
- Rafting
- Rock Climbing
- Skateboarding
- Snowboarding
- Ultimate Frisbee
- Weight Lifting
Graduates
Summary: In our work with students and their families, we seek to provide an informed and organized program that educates and guides. The college process is most effective when school, parent and student work together toward a common objective: the right match.
College Information
Percentage of graduates who attend college: 100%
Middle Percentile of SAT Scores | Reading | Math | Writing |
---|---|---|---|
25th percentile | 600 | 550 | 31 |
75th percentile | 700 | 680 | 34 |
College attended in the past 5 years by our graduates:
Notable Alumni
Dr. Ralph Millard
Class of 1937
One of 10 surgeons nominated “Plastic Surgeons of the Millennium” in 2000 by the American Society of Plastic Surgery.
Allen C. Mayer
Class of 1940
Former Vice President and Chairman of Oscar Mayer & Co.
Pete Dye, Jr.
Class of 1944
World-renowned golf course designer
Leigh H. Perkins
Class of 1946
President, CEO and owner of The Orvis Company
Samuel C. Johnson
Class of 1946
Former Chairman of S.C. Johnson & Son Inc., noted philanthropist and environmentalist, founder and head of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development.
Charles Ries
Class of 1968
Former U.S. Ambassador to Greece, and US Minister for Economic Affairs in Iraq
Ralph E. Garner
Class of 1970
President of T.W. Garner Food Company, primarily known for the hot sauce “Texas Pete.”
Marisha A. Pessl
Class of 1995
Writer of Special Topics in Calamity Physics, New York Times “Top 5 Best Books of 2006 – Fiction”
Jennifer Pharr-Davis
Class of 2001
Set the record for the fastest thru hike of the Appalachian Trail (46 days), and writer of "Becoming Odyssa"
Quotes From Alumni
Merit
Merit Scholarships: Offered
Students Receiving Merit Scholarships: 4%
Average Merit Scholarship: 12,500
Current Endowment Amount: $48,825,000
Vital Information
Student Body Type: Coed
Total Boarding: 207
Total Day: 84
Total Enrollment: 291
Boys: 137
Girls: 154
Boarding Grades Offered: 9-12
Day Grades Offered: 9-12
School Type: High School
Dress Code: Formal
Applications Accepted: SAO
Application Deadline: Rolling
Tuition & Financial Aid
7-Day Boarding: $57,650
5-Day Boarding: N/A
Day Tuition Fee: $33,975
Need-Based Aid: Offered
Payment Plans: Offered
Students Receiving Aid: 25%
Average Awarded: $31,000
School Finances
Merit Scholarships: Offered
Students Receiving Merit Scholarships: 4%
Average Merit Scholarship: $12,500
Current Endowment Amount: $48,825,000
Contact
Director of Admissions: John Smith
Admissions Phone: 828 254 6345
Fax: 828 210 6109
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.ashevilleschool.org
Nearby Schools
- Christ School - 10mi / 17 km
- Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School - 60mi / 97 km
- Tallulah Falls School - 72mi / 116 km
- Riverside Preparatory Academy - 109mi / 176 km
- Salem Academy - 139mi / 223 km
- McCallie School - 154mi / 247 km








