Questions families ask

Not yet. The Applefarm is a school in formation, with a planned opening in fall 2028, subject to securing a site, licensing and enough enrollment. There is no enrollment, application or deposit right now. Joining the founding families is how you tell us you're interested and get the first look when applications open.

No. It costs nothing and commits you to nothing. You'll get a short welcome email, a founder update about once a month, and invitations to events. You can unsubscribe in one click.

In the north Asheville / Woodfin area. We'll share the exact location with founding families first, once the site is secured.

Kindergarten through 5th grade, all six grades from the planned opening in fall 2028.

Planned tuition is $15,750 a year. Final figures are confirmed when applications open.

Yes. We're building financial aid into the plan from the start so the school is open to families across a range of incomes. Details will be published before applications open.

We're evaluating participation in the NC Opportunity Scholarship. We'll share our decision with founding families as soon as it's made.

Yes — that's a design goal, not an afterthought. Reading, writing and math are taught explicitly and systematically every day; that's where we're most traditional. Children also leave able to sustain a long project, explain their thinking and manage themselves. 5th grade ends with a capstone project presented to an outside panel, and we're preparing children for schools like French Broad River Academy.

We don't grade, rank or test children in the classroom. Instead you'll get written learning stories every few weeks, a portfolio your child walks you through at two student-led conferences a year, and two narrative reports. Teachers track reading and math progress closely — early, brief one-to-one reading checks are how struggling readers get help in kindergarten rather than in 3rd grade.

Small classes, two teachers in every room, daily movement and time outdoors suit many children with dyslexia, ADHD, anxiety and mild processing differences well, and accommodations are normal here. We'll run a tiered support model with targeted small-group help. As a small independent school we won't have on-site therapists or special-education staff, so if your child needs intensive services we'll talk about it honestly, before you apply.

22 children in K–2 and 25 in 3–5, with two teachers in every room.

We go out. Children dress for the weather, and a rain-gear library will make sure no child misses outdoor time for lack of gear. Teachers use judgment for genuinely dangerous conditions like lightning or extreme cold, but ordinary rain, cold and mud are part of the day.

The school day runs 9:05 a.m. to 3:55 p.m. Extended care runs 7–9 a.m. and 4–6 p.m. as supervised free play, mostly outdoors — not more school.

No homework, at any grade; we only ask families to read together. No student screens from kindergarten through 5th grade.