TRANSITION
TO KINDERGARTEN

Families and caregivers often have questions about how to prepare their children for kindergarten. While there are many different opinions and perspectives about what makes a child “kindergarten ready,” remember that every child is unique. At Buncombe Partnership for Children, we strive to be a supportive partner with families and caregivers by:  

• Providing webinars, trainings, and resources for families on child development, the school registration processes, and other information related to transition to kindergarten  
• Partnering with local organizations and schools to ensure educators and other stakeholders are in communication about how to best support children and families in our area 
• Working with Pre-K teachers in programs across the county to support their use of developmentally appropriate practices in preparing rising kindergarteners  

If your child will be 5 by August 31, 2022, you may enroll them in kindergarten! Here are some important dates and information for you to consider: 

Public – Families may apply to a variety of free public schools depending on where they live.  You can find out which school you are zoned for here (Link to district map) Though you are zoned for Asheville City Schools or Buncombe County Schools, families do have a degree of choice in terms of where their child attends school. Asheville City Schools and Buncombe County Schools allow for applications for out of county/district school assignments, though placement is not guaranteed. If you wish to apply for out of district or county, you should contact the school system as soon as possible to determine your options. 

Asheville City Schools – Magnet schools that offer a special area of focus along with the standard curriculum (like art or ecology). First choice is given to families living in the Asheville City School district.

• Asheville City Schools Enrollment Link
•  Asheville City School Elementary Schools’ Drop-In Open House/Tours: January 20th-27th, 3:30-6:30pm 
• The open enrollment period for the Asheville City Schools’ 2022-2023 school year is February 7-March 14
• Families will be notified of in district school assignments by April 16th
• Families will be notified of out-of-district school assignments by April 30th

County Schools – Children living in the Buncombe County school district will be assigned to a school (though you can still apply to a magnet, charter, or private school). https://www.buncombeschools.org/enrollment  

Charter– Free public schools with an independent curriculum.  Available to children living in the state of North Carolina.  Enrollment is usually based on a lottery of all applicants. 

Artspace Charter School: Application deadline Monday March 14 

Asheville Peak Academy : Ongoing open enrollment under charter school list 

Evergreen Community School: Application deadline Thursday, March 31 

Francine Delany New School for Children: Application deadline Thursday, March 31 

Franklin School of Innovation: Application deadline Thursday, March 31 

Invest Collegiate Imagine Public Charter School: Application deadline Thursday, March 31

Please fill out the following form to gain access to the link to the link to the recorded Ready for Kindergarten! session from November 17, 2021. Once we have your recorded responses and you have viewed the webinar, we will reach out to you regarding your free Kaplan Kindergarten Readiness kit.

Link to form

Do you have questions about transitioning your child to kindergarten? Contact Stevie Alverson stevie@buncombepfc.org.  

• Let’s Get Ready! A Family’s Guide to Supporting Kindergarten Readiness 
• NC Early Learning Inventory for Families  
• Learn the Signs. Act Early: Information for Families on Tracking Developmental Milestones   
• Blog post: Ready for Kindergarten Readiness?