My boy attends pre-school here. It is fantastic. The teachers are amazing, caring, run a tight…read moreship, and my boy is doing so so well. All the kids are great. Huge classrooms. Drawbacks are it is a preschool and not a daycare. Expect some "days off" that you just need to be ready for. That said, they adjust well and help out in a pinch. Not cheap either. But truly worth it.

Our move to Asheville was for lifestyle choice and for the Rainbow school. My first grader was…read morefloundering in public kindergarten where she was happy socially but not otherwise.  She had some mild special needs. Rainbow school is a godsend for us!  She is thriving; the teachers completely *get her*,  the school's philosophy truly resonates with our family and my child is fully seen for the resilient, joyful spirit that she is. The teachers go out of their way to ensure that every child feels safe, seen, understood, and supported. My kid now smiles ear to ear when she sees her teachers, her new friends, and the beautiful school we now call HOME.

There are some really good people who work here. There are also some really terrible ones. Faculty…read moreand staff are a revolving door. Most people don't stay long because Sgro and his wife are tyrants who treat everyone else like dog s*** on the bottom of their shoe, all while being so fake and pretentious about how much they supposedly care about others. Most students are fine. Lots of entitlement though.

bathrooms smell terrible and all the buildings look like they were built my grandfather, 60 years…read moreago.

My child was bullied mercilessly at this school for years. The teachers and administrators turned a…read moreblind eye, rather than deal with the significant behavioral issues in the classroom. In this way, they enabled and protected the perpetrators. It is easier for them to let disfunction be the norm because there aren't enough staff to deal with the problems. The classroom ratio is 1 teacher (and one part time teacher ) for 26 kids. The classrooms are small. The state funding challenges make things even worse for this school. This school may claim to be environmentally friendly, holistic and nature centered, but it is not a healthy environment for a child. Don't do it if you win the Evergreen lottery. It isn't worth putting your child through hell.

Fantastic magnet school focusing on engaged and experiential learning. Amazing community garden…read morewith chickens. Great teachers, involved parents, and diversity

I'm sharing this as both a parent and a veteran teacher with over a decade of experience in the…read morelocal school system. Part of my professional background involves supporting teachers and students when classroom systems, behavior needs, and emotional well-being become concerns. Because of that background, my family's experience with Francine Delany New School for Children was especially difficult and disappointing. In December 2024, I brought concerns to school leadership as both a parent and an educator. My concerns involved classroom structure, student behavior, communication, and the impact the environment seemed to be having on my child. I was told the concerns would be addressed at the classroom level. From my perspective, I did not feel those concerns were meaningfully resolved. As the situation continued, we had another meeting in February with school leadership and the classroom teacher. My child wanted to share her perspective directly, which was important to our family. After that meeting, I did not leave with confidence that there was a clear support plan, consistent follow-up, or a strong response to the concerns we had raised. Over time, my child continued to struggle emotionally with the school environment. What was most frustrating for me was that the response felt more reactive than proactive. I had tried to raise concerns early, respectfully, and constructively -- not to criticize a teacher, but to help prevent the situation from reaching a more serious point. I understand how difficult teaching is. I have lived that reality myself, and I respect the work educators do every day. My concern is that, in our family's experience, the systems around communication, accountability, classroom support, follow-up, and student emotional well-being did not function in a way that supported my child or our family. I cannot speak for every family's experience, but based on ours, I would encourage parents to ask direct questions before enrolling. Specifically, I would ask how FDNSC handles parent concerns, classroom behavior issues, SEL support, documentation, follow-up after meetings, and what steps are taken when a child shows signs of emotional distress. Based on our experience, I would urge families to ask careful questions about communication, accountability, and student support at Francine Delany New School for Children.

My family loves this school. My children attended during their middle school years, and I had the…read moreopportunity to work as an intern there for a teacher on maternity leave. The one word I would use to describe this school is community. The teachers, staff, parents and children form a sweet, safe space where children are encouraged to learn, grow, and be themselves. I only wish Francine Delany went on to high school!

I started at Asheville Catholic as a pre-ker (it was called ACCS, Asheville Catholic Community…read moreSchool, at the time) and graduated 8th grade in 1996. The school helped me form good study habits, encouraged me to achieve my highest potential, and provided me with a supportive community. ACS gave me the foundation I needed to get into a great private high school and eventually excel in college. The relationships I established at ACS have survived the test of time. I am still friends with many of the kids I went to 1st grade with! One of the most important things ACS taught me was to not fear my teachers. I quickly learned how much teachers want to help, and how much they can help. I loved my teachers, many of whom are still there today. Clearly, they love what they do. Asheville has some wonderful Public schools, but Asheville Catholic is a fantastic alternative for parents seeking more than just a school. ACS offers a vibrant, nurturing community.

Have had 2 kids finish ACS. If you desire a loving,accepting community with strong academic and…read moremoral expectations--this is the school for your family. They are beginning a badly needed building campaign for their structures; that said, they've been building great kids that learn how to contribute to the larger community for years.

In Fall 2018 The biology teacher kept picking on and targeting every single black student everyday…read more He was not wanting to teach the class with them in their, and began targeting me and anyone who dared to stand up for them and send us to suspension. Everytime anyone tried to record he would force everyone to put their phones in this basket or he would call the principal and the school resource officer to arrest them. Everytime someone tried to record him he knew. He kept verbally harassing these black kids and making up accusations to make them look bad and making up excuses to not teach the class. He kept sending them to suspension at random times when he felt like. He would set up his own private cameras to watch them in the bathroom and in the classroom. One time he loudly threatened to send one of the innocent black girls to guantamo bay. one time one of the black girls he was terrorizing everyday was crying and screaming for help. that week she wasnt seen in class. One time, the biology teacher said his name wasnt his real name. and another time he loudly admitted in class that he was watching all the black kids walk to their homes through the satellites. One time while he was harassing black kids he forced everyone to look forward at the white board and made them not pay attention. And he stood in front of me and made me look at his deck. He saw that I felt uncomfortable and he liked it and laughed. i was afraid to stand up for the black kids and afraid to report everyone involved. I am still traumatized by all of these events to this day.

they don't get enough pizza or milk to feed their students, the school food itself is terrible and…read moremost students starve themselves instead of eating

My daughter attended the CDS Key school for 5 years, left for middle school and 2 yrs of high…read moreschool then returned as a Jr. We could not be happier. The academics are outstanding and the level of teacher engagement--and simply caring about the kids-- is unparalleled. The kids have integrity and support one another. Very happy with the Upper School!