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.

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.

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'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.

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

Oakley Elementary School is a fantastic school with marvelous teachers, students and staff members…read more They strive to assist their students excel and become outstanding members of the community.

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.

We expected a good school when our kid started Kindergarten, but instead got a great school! Our…read morekid loves it here - the teachers and staff are phenomenal.

Horribly rude administration. Has the entire street blocked of so that residents cannot park. For 6…read moremonths they allowed us to park in the grass lot in the middle of the bus turn around, as long as the buses were not blocked. Then they suddenly towed multiple cars

Issac Dickson in exile!…read more Was Randolph alternative school until Issac Dickson Elementary was moved there. They did a fabulous job of getting the school into tip top shape for the move. Plenty of space and Dickson is still a great school.