South Asheville School Report
If children are involved in an upcoming move to the South Asheville region, school districts are certainly a top-of-mind consideration for parents. South Asheville is fortunate to have a variety of public and private education options. The majority of South Asheville and Arden are zoned for the Roberson District of the Buncombe County School system.
It’s important to note, however, that the northernmost area of what would be considered the South Asheville region actually feeds into the Asheville Public Schools. For example, Kenilworth, Biltmore Village, and some homes along Hendersonville Road, beside the Biltmore Estate entrance, are within the Asheville City limits and therefore zoned for Asheville City Schools.
Buncombe County has 45 schools spread across 6 districts and is the 13th largest school system in North Carolina. It is the largest school system in Western North Carolina, serving over 22,000 students. Buncombe County also reports that it ranks 16th in the nation for the number of National Board-Certified Teachers that are employed within the districts.
Education information is a primary pillar of the local lifestyle; explore more resources in our Ultimate Guide to South Asheville.
What is the difference between Asheville City Schools and Buncombe County Schools?
One important difference between the two school systems is that Asheville City Schools’ elementary schools operate on a magnet system where students select their top choices of magnet-themed schools. Students from outside the district can apply for discretionary admission with a small application fee if they are Buncombe County residents. Buncombe County’s elementary schools are set up in location-based zones.
What should I know about the Roberson District of Buncombe County Schools?
T.C. Roberson High School is the largest high school in the district, with nearly 1,500 students in attendance and a 16:1 student-to-teacher ratio. Founded in 1962, T.C. Roberson High School was created after Valley Springs High School and Biltmore High merged. T.C. Roberson High School’s location on Overlook Road is shared by nearby Charles T. Koontz Intermediate School (5th and 6th grades) and Valley Springs Middle School (7th and 8th grades).
Unlike other districts in the Buncombe County school system, the cluster is very convenient for students’ schooling experience. W.W. Estes Elementary School, also located on Overlook Road, where Glen Arden Elementary and Avery’s Creek Elementary School are located in Arden, typically serves around 500 students.
The Roberson District reports a 91% average graduation rate and offers a variety of honors and dual enrollment programs through AB Tech Community College.
Which Private Schools are Located in South Asheville?
Veritas Christian Academy is a K-12 school in the Fletcher area, in proximity to Arden.
Christ School is an all-boys Episcopal boarding and day school in the Arden area. It serves around 300 students.
Carolina Day School is a K-12 independent school located off Hendersonville Road. The school has a 7:1 student-to-teacher ratio and has over 600 students enrolled.
South Asheville Charter Schools
FernLeaf Community Charter School is a nature-based school and serves over 700 students in grades K-11th on its Fletcher campus. It has the closest proximity to Arden and South Buncombe County.
Closer to West Asheville, the IC Imagine K-12 school is the largest charter school in the area, with around 1,200 students.
Want to know which school district your home falls within? Click the link to find out: https://www.buncombeschools.org/page/help-which-district-am-i-in