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. 
 

Step 2 - 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, along with their release payment.  In order to avoid a late fee from Buncombe County Schools, you will want to do this before May 31st.
  • Buncombe County Schools will electronically notify Asheville City Schools of the release being completed.
• If your home school is outside of Buncombe County, you will need to get a release letter from your home school.
   

Step 3 - 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.
  • In order to avoid a late fee of $50 per family, you will want to pay tuition before May 31st.
     
• 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 - Getting released from a student’s 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, along with their release payment. In order to avoid a late fee, you will want to do this before May 31st.
  • Buncombe County Schools will electronically notify Asheville City Schools of the release being completed.
• 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.
  • In order to avoid a late fee of $50 per family, you will want to pay tuition before May 31st. 
• 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.

In order to continue your child's enrollment, you must be released from your home school and pay tuition by May 31, 2023.  If this process is not completed by May 31, 2023, your child will be removed from class rosters and will need to enroll in their home school.