An intentionally small co-ed boarding school set in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, our supportive community is a place where all are known and valued.
In their time on our campus, students develop strong character and essential life skills through a rigorous academic curriculum and robust co-curricular offerings.
They leave here ready to shape a changing world.
Our picturesque home along 300 idyllic acres is a safe haven where students learn and thrive both in and outside of the classroom. Framed by mountains, criss-crossed by walking paths, and dotted by pines, it is a place where we feel inspired, connected, and welcome.
This special stamp of soil is more than a picturesque learning environment; it defines our experience.
Quick Stats (2024-25)
- Grades: 9-12
- Enrollment: 297 students
- Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students): $74,450
- Yearly Tuition (Day Students): $44,660
- 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 boarding schools (out of 280 schools) for:
Category
Attribute
Offering Breadth
Offering Breadth
School Overview
School Focus
College Preparatory
College Preparatory
Grades Offered
9-12
9-12
School Type
Co-ed
Co-ed
Year Founded
1900
1907
Campus Size
300 acres
125 acres
Student Body
Enrollment
297 students
314 students
% Students of Color
15%
27%
% International Students
22%
20%
% Students Boarding
75%
70%
SAT range (25th-75th percentile)
1170 - 1350
-
Offers Post-Grad Year
No
No
Academics and Faculty
Saturday Classes
No
No
Student : Teacher Ratio
5:1
7:1
# of AP / Advanced Courses Offered
37
18
ESL Courses Offered
No
Yes
% Faculty with Advanced Degree
34%
71%
Summer Program Offered
No
Yes
Tuition Cost
Endowment Size
$69.2 million
$28 million
Yearly Tuition
(Boarding Students)
(Boarding Students)
$74,450
$66,200
Yearly Tuition
(Day Students)
(Day Students)
$44,660
$35,600
Tuition international students
$74,450
$57,500
% Students on Financial Aid
35%
40%
Acceptance Rate
Application Deadline
Dec. 10 / Feb. 1 / rolling
Jan. 15
SSAT Required
Yes
Yes
Average Percentile SSAT
63%
-
Acceptance Rate
40%
60%
Director of Admissions
Michael Heyward
Megan Markovic
Megan Markovic
Associate Director of Admissions
Derry Roberson Babaoff
AP / Advanced Courses
# of AP / Advanced Courses Offered
37
18
Courses
Advanced Topics in Mathematics (Advanced), American History (Advanced), American Literature (Advanced), Art Portfolio Development (Advanced), Biology (Advanced), Biology (Honors), Calculus AB (Advanced), Calculus BC (Advanced), Chemistry (Advanced), Chemistry (Honors), Computer Science A (Advanced), Economics (Honors), Environmental Science (Advanced), French II (Honors), French III (Honors), French IV (Honors), French Language (Advanced), French Literature (Advanced), Physics (Honors), Physics 1 (Advanced), Physics C (Advanced), Precalculus (Advanced), Precalculus (Honors), Quantitative Reasoning 1 (Honors), Quantitative Reasoning II (Honors), Spanish II (Honors), Spanish III (Honors), Spanish IV (Honors), Spanish Language (Advanced), Spanish Literature (Advanced), Statistics (Advanced), Studio Art III: Advanced Art (Honors)
Sports
# Interscholastic Sports Offered
25
16
Sports
Ballet, Baseball, Basketball, Climbing, Cross Country, Cross Country Running, Cycling, Dance, Equestrian, Field Hockey, Football, Golf, Kayaking, Lacrosse, Mountain Biking, Mountaineering, Rock Climbing, Skiing, Snowboarding, Soccer, Swimming, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball
Extracurriculars
Total Extracurricular Organizations
36
23
Extracurriculars
Club or Organization:
Bird Watching Club, Black Student Union, Chess Club, Christian Fellowship, Cinema, Cooking Club, Cycling, Design Club, Forensics, 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, Robotics, Student Activities Committee, Student Council, Table Tennis Club, The Ashnoca (Student Newspaper), Theatre Performance
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, Chess Club, Christian Fellowship, Cinema, Cooking Club, Cycling, Design Club, Forensics, 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, Robotics, Student Activities Committee, Student Council, Table Tennis Club, The Ashnoca (Student Newspaper), Theatre Performance
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
College Matriculation
Year:
10 Most Popular College Choices (# Enrolled)
School Notes
- 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.
- Asheville School accreditations: NAIS, TABS, SACS
- 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.
- 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 $74,450 for boarding students and $44,660 for day students.
What is the acceptance rate of Asheville School?
The acceptance rate of Asheville School is 40%, which is lower than the boarding school average of 60%.
Who are famous alumni from Asheville School?
Asheville School famous alumni include: Amy "Bellamy" Young 1987, Pete Dye, Jr. 1944, 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 25 interscholastic sports: Ballet, Baseball, Basketball, Climbing, Cross Country, Cross Country Running, Cycling, Dance, Equestrian, Field Hockey, Football, Golf, Kayaking, Lacrosse, Mountain Biking, Mountaineering, Rock Climbing, Skiing, Snowboarding, Soccer, Swimming, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field and Volleyball. Asheville School is ranked as one of the top boarding schools for most sports offered.
What is Asheville School's ranking?
Asheville School ranks among the top 20 boarding schools for Most sports offered and High # of AP/advanced courses offered.
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 ).
Alumni Reviews Review School
Review
Description
Asheville School is situated in the most beautiful area of the country. My dorm looked out over the Blue Ridge Mountains. Nothing could have been better for a teenager to wake up to. . .
Required Afternoon Activities made our campus pretty special. You were forced to sign up for either a sport, music, theater, or art to take up your afternoons. It was pretty beneficial because it. . .
What really sets Asheville School apart are the teachers and how much they care about the students. I have never seen or heard tell of another faculty as devoted to their students and to helping. . .
Show more reviews (1 review)
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