News and Announcements

Asheville City Schools is leading the way in literacy! Our school district was recently featured in an article by EdNC for our remarkable success in reading proficiency, with 3rd-grade scores standing nearly 15 percentage points above the state average. This progress is fueled by our deep-rooted community partnerships and unified K-5 reading curriculum grounded in evidence-based phonics.

In Asheville City Schools, we believe literacy is the bedrock of critical thinking- a skill that is becoming increasingly vital in today’s complex and rapidly changing world.

We are incredibly grateful to our community partners, tutors, families, teachers, and mentors, who dedicate their time to nurturing early literacy. Not only do they instill a love of reading in our children, they provide the building blocks needed for our students to unlock their greatest potential and limitless imagination. 

Click here to read the full article.

Marianne Simmons (first grade teacher at Hall Fletcher Elementary) and Amy Sheeler (AVID teacher at Asheville Middle School) were honored as Teachers of Excellence by the Rotary Club of Asheville. We are incredibly fortunate to have such distinguished educators in our classrooms, whose dedication creates a profound and lasting impact on the lives of students. During the ceremony, Amy and Marianne delivered powerful speeches about the teachers who inspired them, and how their students and colleagues give them hope for the future. Each teacher was awarded checks of $2,500. Congratulations, Amy and Marianne, on this well deserved recognition and your unwavering commitment to teaching. 

Asheville High School is excited to announce the inaugural class of the Asheville High School Athletic Hall of fame. The inductees' achievements, character, and lasting impact on our athletic community have helped shape the rich tradition of excellence at Asheville High, and we are proud to recognize them as members of this historic first class. To launch this new tradition, our premier class is intentionally expansive. We are beginning by formally enshrining those legendary athletes and coaches whose contributions were so significant that their jerseys have already been retired, or our facilities bear their names. Furthermore, while this Hall of Fame celebrates the legacy of Asheville High School, we believe it is vital to honor our roots. We are proud to include four distinguished individuals who will represent the exceptional athletic heritage of Stephens-Lee and Lee Edwards High Schools, ensuring their stories remain a central part of our community’s history.

Asheville City Schools is incredibly honored to announce that six of our schools have been voted Best in Asheville! This prestigious recognition from Asheville Media Group is a powerful affirmation of the hard work and passion that define our district.

• Award-Winning Schools: Asheville High School, Ira B. Jones Elementary, Claxton Elementary Elementary, Isaac Dickson Elementary, Hall Fletcher Elementary, and Lucy S. Herring Elementary.

Click here to review the complete list of 2025 Winners.

Asheville City Schools is thrilled to announce that Blair Johnston of Asheville Middle School, has been named the 2026 ACS Principal of the Year! A dedicated member of our Cougar Crew for 18 years, Blair's commitment to student success is evident in his outstanding leadership.

Blair was celebrated at our annual Convocation and was recognized for his collaborative approach to building a strong school community. Join us in celebrating Principal Johnston and the powerful impact he has on our students, staff, and community!

This year's Asheville High and SILSA graduation featured three outstanding student speeches! This is the fourth year that our high schools have invited members of the senior class to submit speeches for graduation. Each speech was peer and staff reviewed and selected. 

Please click on the link below to hear the inspiring student speeches from the Asheville High and SILSA Class of 2025 Graduation.

2025 GRADUATION SPEECHES

Asheville City Schools Educator, Luca Clemens of Hall Fletcher Elementary School has been named a finalist for the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) 2025 Burroughs Welcome Fund Beginning Teacher of the Year.

Asheville City Schools is hosting a Career Fair on Saturday, March 15th! There are so many benefits to working in our school district, from our vibrant community, to our engaging and hands-on teaching strategies and professional development opportunities, join us as we invest in the next generation of leaders and innovators! 

Asheville High School is proud to announce the dedication of its newly renovated gymnasium floor to Coach Vette, (Sonita Warren-Dixon) a beloved figure and highly respected Asheville City Schools Athletic Director. This special ceremony took place on Friday, January 3rd, in the Asheville High School gym.

Asheville City Schools has been acting in service in the wake of Hurricane Helene. Read about how our district has become a beacon of hope and symbol of resilience as our community recovers and rebuilds.