Discretionary (Out-of-District) Enrollment

Discretionary Admission students are students who do not reside in the Asheville City Schools district but wish to attend Asheville City Schools.  Discretionary Admission assignments are made pursuant to Policy 4130.  Discretionary Admission students are evaluated in the spring of each year and must be in good standing in order to continue enrollment with Asheville City Schools.  However, discretionary admission may be revoked at any time if a student is not in “good standing” as set forth in Policy 4130-P.  Each year, discretionary admission students must complete the renewal process below in order to continue their enrollment.

If you are interested in applying for admission into Asheville City Schools as a Discretionary Admission student, please complete the following steps:

Step 1 - Complete the Online Enrollment process, including the required documents (parent/guardian ID, child's birth certificate, and two proofs of residency). 

Step 2 - Complete the Good Standing Form. This form must be completed by your child’s current school principal and returned to the Enrollment Office at Asheville City Schools (ACS) for your application to be considered complete. The purpose of this form is to confirm that your child is in “good standing” in terms of academics, attendance, and behavior at their current school as required by ACS Board Policy 4130-P. The completed form can be emailed to acsenrollment@acsgmail.net. 

Step 3- Receive acceptance notification via email from the Enrollment department. 

Step 4 - Once accepted, your student will need to be released from their home school.  Unsure of your child’s home school?  Search for your assigned school based on your home address with our School District Mapping Tool.

• If your child’s home school is in Buncombe County, you will need to complete the Buncombe County Schools Discretionary Admission/Release Application.
  • One form will need to be completed for each student.
  • A signature from Asheville City Schools is NOT needed on this form.
  • The form will need to be dropped off at the office of your child’s home school, and signed by their principal. The school will direct you on how you will receive the completed form. The form may be dropped off at our central office (85 Mountain St) or emailed to acsenrollment@acsgmail.net. 
• If your home school is outside of Buncombe County, you will need to get a release letter from your home school.
   

Step 5 - Tuition payment.

• Tuition payment rates are as follows:
  • $300 tuition fee for Buncombe County residents. There will be an additional fee of $100 per sibling.
  • $1,200 tuition fee for residents outside of Buncombe County. There will be an additional fee of $100 per sibling.
• Tuition should be submitted by one of the following methods:
  • In person or by mailing to the Enrollment Office at Asheville City Schools Board of Education, 85 Mountain St, Asheville, NC 28801 (cash, check, or money order only).
  • Online Payment - Select Central Office, then Discretionary Admission payment.  There is a convenience fee of 4% plus 0.35¢ per transaction.  If you have a child at more than one school, select one of the schools that your child attends, and payment will be applied to all students listed on the Discretionary Admission Application. 

If you are currently enrolled in Asheville City Schools as an out-of-district student, the following process will need to be completed every year:

Step 1 - Your student will need to be released from their home school.  Unsure of your child’s home school?  Search for your assigned school based on your home address with our School District Mapping Tool.

• If your child’s home school is in Buncombe County, you will need to complete the Buncombe County Schools Discretionary Admission/Release Application.
  • One form will need to be completed for each student.
  • A signature from Asheville City Schools is NOT needed on this form.
  • The form will need to be dropped off at the office of your child’s home school, and signed by their principal. The school will direct you on how you will receive the completed form. The form may be dropped off at our central office (85 Mountain St) or emailed to acsenrollment@acsgmail.net. 
• If your home school is outside of Buncombe County, you will need to get a release letter from your home school.
   

Step 2 - Tuition payment.

• Tuition payment rates are as follows:
  • $300 tuition fee for Buncombe County residents. There will be an additional fee of $100 per sibling.
  • $1,200 tuition fee for residents outside of Buncombe County. There will be an additional fee of $100 per sibling.
• Tuition should be submitted by one of the following methods:
  • In person or by mailing to the Enrollment Office at Asheville City Schools Board of Education, 85 Mountain St, Asheville, NC 28801 (cash, check, or money order only).
  • Online Payment - Select Central Office, then Discretionary Admission payment.  There is a convenience fee of 4% plus 0.35¢ per transaction.  If you have a child at more than one school, select one of the schools that your child attends, and payment will be applied to all students listed on the Discretionary Admission Application.