I'm not a graduate of the school, but my step father was. I attended Asheville for a summer and…read morethen for 3rd form (freshman year). My father and my step father's names are confusing for tabloid researchers lol :/ Asheville is a short drive from my grandparents home in TN. I had an excellent experience here as a student, with many fond memories. I highly reccomend the experience, and have nothing but affection for the school. Unfortunately, people who never attended the school and have no connection to it wish to be associated with alumni and with the names of people they deem as socially elite - or oppressive in some way. I encourage people to be aware of this problem before making any assumptions.

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.

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

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!

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 am 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 current role involves recognizing how to support teachers and students when classroom systems, behavior needs, and emotional well-being become concerns. That background is part of why my family's experience with Francine Delany New School for Children was so difficult and concerning. In December 2024, I brought concerns to Roslyn Clapp on both a professional and parent level. Based on my experience as an educator and behavior specialist, there were aspects of the classroom environment that concerned me, including classroom structure, student behavior, and the impact the environment appeared to be having on my daughter. I was told those concerns would be addressed at the classroom level. From my perspective, I did not experience those concerns as being meaningfully resolved. As the situation continued, it led to another conference in February with Roslyn Clapp and the classroom teacher. My daughter asked to be part of that meeting so she could share her perspective directly. I did not leave with confidence that there was a clear support plan, meaningful follow-up, or sufficient response to the concerns raised. Over time, my daughter continued to struggle emotionally with the school environment. What was most upsetting was that the school's response felt reactive rather than proactive. I had tried to raise concerns early, respectfully, and constructively -- not to criticize a teacher, but as an educator and parent trying to prevent a child from reaching a crisis point. I also had interactions involving Britney Ross and Teri Padgett. In my opinion, I did not find their involvement supportive or productive for my family or my daughter. I did not experience the school's response as collaborative, child-centered, or aligned with the kind of family partnership I would expect when a child is struggling emotionally. I understand how difficult teaching is. I have lived that reality myself. My concern is that, in our case, the systems around communication, accountability, classroom support, and student emotional well-being did not function in a way that supported my daughter or our family. Before enrolling, I would encourage families to ask direct questions about how FDNSC handles parent concerns, classroom behavior issues, SEL support, documentation, follow-up after meetings, and what specific steps are taken when a child shows signs of distress. I cannot speak for every family, but based on our experience, I would urge parents to ask hard questions about communication, accountability, and student support at Francine Delany New School for Children.

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

LOVE THIS SCHOOL!! The teachers are invested in the kids, and the administration actually…read moreencourages the staff to see the students as individuals and not test scores. My kids have never looked forward to going to school so much. Plus, they get to go on the most amazing field trips. I feel so blessed with the opportunities my kids get here that they wouldn't have at another school.

Great school my kids success has skyrocket since attending would recommend would for any parentread more

i am a current student in blue ridge and iver my 2-3 years here it has sucked. I have only met at…read moreleast one teacher who has cared about her students and that was mrs fagala. the other teachers genuinely do not care. kids will be doing drug and they just won't do anything about it. the must they will do is have metal detectors and those barely even work. I wish I had never gone to the school. the teachers and students suck.

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.

Really nice staff. Beautiful, fun and clean place to play when you're in a pinch. I am new to the…read morearea and haven't found consistent daycare so this place was invaluable when I needed to be in court. My two year old had a great time.

This is the most precious, amazing place you could entrust your littles to. Everyone here is the…read moreabsolute best and encourages the wild growth of creativity as the kids explore the world around them.