Rigorous foundations
Explicit, evidence-based teaching in reading, writing and math, so every child reads fluently and reasons mathematically.
K–5 school in formation north Asheville / Woodfin area Planned opening fall 2028
A K–5 school where children explore the real world, master the foundations, and leave believing they can make things better.
Childhood outdoors, every day — with reading and math done right.
Raising children who believe they can make things better.
Reading and math taught carefully, real questions investigated for weeks, and 90 minutes or more outdoors for every child, every day.
Three pillars
Rigor, curiosity and the outdoors, held together
Most schools make you choose between a strong academic start and a childhood spent outside. We don’t think you should have to.
Guided inquiry
Multi-week expeditions built on real questions, ending in work children are proud to show a real audience.
Natural exploration
Children explore the real world — forest, garden, fieldwork and free play — where natural wonders meet the daily curriculum and drive curiosity and creativity.
The promise
Creative confidence
Children leave believing they can make things better.
Everything at the school builds toward one thing: a child who sees a problem — a muddy path, a story that needs telling, a creek bank that's washing away — and believes they can do something about it. They get there by making real things, revising them until they're good, and showing them to people who matter.
Our commitments
What we will and won’t do
No homework
Time at home belongs to families, reading together and play.
No grades
We don't grade, rank or test children in the classroom. Teachers document growth in portfolios and written learning stories instead.
No student screens
Children use pencils, paint, saws and books. Teachers use technology for planning only.
90+ minutes outdoors
Every day, in every weather, as part of learning — not a reward for it.
Classes of 22 in K–2 and 25 in 3–5, with two teachers in every room. School day 9:05 a.m.–3:55 p.m.; extended care 7–9 a.m. and 4–6 p.m..
A day in brief
Focused work, then outside. Repeat.
The hardest thinking happens in the morning, in short blocks, each followed by time outdoors. The afternoon belongs to the forest, the garden and the studio.
A sample schedule. The final schedule will be set by our Head of School.
- Arrival, singing and morning meeting
- Literacy: phonics, reading and writing
- Outdoor break Outdoors
- Math
- Outdoor break Outdoors
- Expedition work
- Family-style lunch, served by children
- Outdoor learning: forest, garden, fieldwork Outdoors
- Art, music, handwork and woodworking
- Closing circle and chores
- Dismissal
The founding timeline
Where things stand
A K–5 school in formation. Planned opening fall 2028, subject to site, licensing and enrollment.
- Now Founding-family list openTell us you're interested. It's free and commits you to nothing.
- Winter 2026–27 Info sessions and nature-play pop-upsMeet the founder, ask hard questions, let the kids get muddy.
- 2027 Campus site announcedOnce the site is secured, founding families hear first.
- Later, once the site is secured Applications openFounding families get the first look.
- Fall 2028 Planned opening, K–5Subject to site, licensing and enrollment.
Founding families
Join the founding families
Get a first look when applications open, invitations to events, and a voice in shaping the school.
Joining is free and commits you to nothing. It takes under a minute.