Enrollment Process K-12

Below you will find detailed information about our enrollment process, required documentation needed to begin, as well as information for in district and out-of-district residents. For questions about this process, please contact the Enrollment Office at 828-350-6111 or email acsenrollment@acsgmail.net. We are so excited you have chosen Asheville City Schools for your child's educational journey!

ACS Enrollment Process

Phase 1

Application Preparation & Submission

Step 1: Parents/Guardians have all required documentation ready before completing the digital application.

Documentation Items Needed:

Copy of Birth Certificates
Copy of ID for Legal Parent or Guardian
Copy of Proof of Residency (mortgage or lease agreement and electric, gas or water bill)
Copy of Immunization Records (within 30 days of enrollment)

Having these ready in a digital format like PDFs or JPEGs, is critical to ensure a smooth application process.

If you live outside of the Asheville City School District, your child is considered a Discretionary Admission Student. Discretionary Admissions will have an asterisk * beside required questions. If you are unsure whether you reside in the district, please feel free to search your home address with our School District Mapping Tool.

Step 2: Complete a Digital ACS Enrollment Application and Upload Required Documentation.

With all documents prepared, the parent or guardian can now complete the online enrollment application with accurate information and upload all required documents. Documents can also be emailed to acsenrollment@acsgmail.net.

Step 3: The physical, in-person verification of parent/guardian ID compared to application documents.

Parents and guardians can come to ACS Central Offices located at 85 Mountain St. Asheville, Monday-Thursday anytime between 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM to verify Identification.

Step 4: Discretionary Admission (Residing Out of District)

Parents and Guardians residing out of district will need to submit a good standing letter from your child's current school principal.

Phase 2

Administrative Review & School Assignment

Step 5: School Assignment Determination

After the application and required documents are submitted, the district Enrollment Office reviews all information. The assignment is then determined based on various factors, including the student's residential address, resources, and school capacity.

Step 6: School Assignment Notification

The district Enrollment Office officially notifies the parent or guardian of their child's school assignment.

Note for Out-of-District Residents: If you are an out-of-district parent or guardian, you will be asked to submit a tuition payment of $300. There will be an additional payment of $100 per student sibling. After receiving your child's school assignment, you will be asked to submit the Asheville City Schools tuition payment of $300 for Buncombe County residents. There will be an additional fee of $100 per sibling. Residents outside of Buncombe County will pay $1,200 tuition fee.

Step 7: School Level Communication

The School Data Manager or Registrar will review all enrollment information and request your child's records from their previous school, determine teacher/class assignments and transportation. The Data Manager will contact you within 48 hours with a start date.

Phase 3

Reassignment and Appeals

Step 8: Request for Reassignment

If a parent or guardian would like to request their child be moved to a different school, they will need to formally request a school reassignment. Details about this process and the appeals court will be included in the school assignment letter.

Step 9: Final Appeal to the School Board

If the reassignment request is denied, this is the final resort. The parent or guardian can appeal directly to the school board, which makes the ultimate decision on the student's placement. This is the last and most formal step in the process.