Arthur Morgan School (Top Ranked Private School for 2026-27)

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About the School

A progressive boarding and day Friends school for grades 7-9 offering experiential, Montessori-style education, outdoor trips, and a working farm in a no-cell phone or personal laptop environment.

Quick Facts (2026-27)

Top Ranked NC School
School Type: Montessori School
Grades: 7-9
Enrollment: 27 students
Yearly Tuition: $32,113
Acceptance rate: 85%
Average class size: 9 students
Application Deadline: None / Rolling
Source: ✓Verified school update

School News

Arthur Morgan School in the Asheville Laurel - 01/01/2018
According to Sadie Kneidel, "the Montessori philosophy is that at middle-school age the brain is recalculating." Kneidel is co-clerk and houseparent at Arthur Morgan School (AMS), a nonprofit boarding and ...moreday school in the Celo community near Burnsville.Given that premise and the fact that traditional middle schools can be difficult for some students, AMS seeks a different approach to learning, one that harks back to its founding in 1962 by Elizabeth and Ernest Morgan. Theories of educators like Maria Montessori combine with Quaker values such as simple living and consensual decision making. The result is a progressive farm school where up to 27 students-in grades seven, eight and nine-live, work, create and learn together. hide
Ernest Morgan discusses the Arthur Morgan School - 08/10/1965
Interview with Ernest Morgan about the Arthur Morgan School in Burnesville, NC that was founded by family. They discuss the teaching and learning ideology for the students (aged 12-16) who ...moreattend the school. Ernest describes the curriculum that includes outdoor learning in Black Mountain where the school is located. Includes a piece from an interview with Alexander Sutherland Neill about student and school adjustment. Ernest Morgan quotes Martin Luther King on maladjustment. hide

School Rankings

Arthur Morgan School ranks among the top 20% of private schools in North Carolina for:

School Facts

School Type

Montessori School

School Membership(s)School Assoc.

Friends Council on Education (FCE)

Religious Affiliation

Friends

Grades Offered

Grades 7-9

Students By Grade

View Data

Distribution of Students By Grade
Grade	Arthur Morgan School
7	9
8	9
9	9

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ADD/ADHD Support

Yes

Year Founded

1962

School Calendar

View School Calendar

Campus Size

100 acres

Student Body

Total Students

27 students

Student Body Type

Co-ed

% Students of Color

21%

State avg.: 24%

Academics & Faculty

Total Classroom Teachers

13 teachers

Student-Teacher Ratio

2:1

National avg.: 11:1

% Faculty w/Advanced Degree

25%

Average Class Size

9 students

List of Courses Offered

Link to List of Courses

Classroom Dress Code

Casual

no dress code.

Tuition & Acceptance Rate

Admission Deadline

None / Rolling

Yearly Tuition Cost

$32,113

View national tuition avg.

Tuition Notes

$32,113 Boarding Tuition *including room, all meals, and trips $15,052 Day Tuition *including lunches and trips

% on Financial Aid

65%

Average Financial Aid Grant

$14,000

Acceptance Rate

85%

National avg.: 82%

Application URL

Online Application

Endowment Size

$1 million

Sports

Total Sports Offered

14 sports

Sports

ArcheryBallet

BasketballClimbing

Cross CountryCycling

DanceIntramural Sports Only

Mountain BikingRock Climbing

SoccerSoftball

Ultimate FrisbeeWrestling

Extracurriculars

Total ExtracurricularsTotal Extra-curric.

15 extracurriculars

ExtracurricularsExtra-curric.

Club or Organization:

Student Government

Arts and Music Programs:

BlacksmithingFiber Arts

Fine ArtsMorning Sing

MusicPhotography

PotteryPrintmaking

Theater ProductionTheater Program

Voice

Recreational Athletic Programs:

BackpackingSoccer

Ultimate Frisbee

School Notes

The program at AMS is specially designed to fit the needs and interests of teenagers. Small academic classes provide close attention to the needs of individual students while a wide range of electives emphasize self-expression and hands-onlearning. Based on Montessori principles and Quaker values of simple living, AMS puts great emphasis on teaching practical skills through both daily chores and periodic work projects in the wider community. Located at the foot of the Black Mountains, the 100 acre campus consists mainly of woods and meadows and is largely surrounded by National Forest. This is one of the school's greatest resources and provides students with oppotunities for a wide range of outdoor activities including backpacking, rock climbing, canoeing, and cycling.
Outdoor trips in the fall and spring are supplemented by periodic day hikes and overnights. Through these trips students face challenges and experience successes that are not found in the classroom. In addition to these wilderness trips, service learning field trips are planned each year. These three week trips are planned around themes such as civil rights, U.S. government and politics, and hunger and homelessness. Students and staff organize the trips and travel in small groups to explore some of these difficult topics while providing volunteer service work.The central aim of the school is to help each student grow into a confident and responsible young person. Instead of learning to compete, students learn to cooperate, care for themselves, their world and each other.

Sample of notable school alumni/alumnae:
- Indigo De Souza - https://www.newyorker.com/goings-on-about-town/night-life/indigo-de-souza
- Chip Thomas - https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/17/arts/design/native-american-enslavement-colorado-exhibition.html/?unlocked_article_code=AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACEIPuonUktbfqohlSlUaBCbcR8Q86RGLnvnAxvs6j2P_MiXQQDNP1eUeCo7F9kHWYaN9at4-2SjeT9hFN6UmSPs3w_9fPkZsVwivpN2EhJEBaW0TmL6EY1kXjdjLTKxqtnjjdHW4I-Nyg-Lu5h6PYWXpRKDe1XQ-IFozo49vd1v7xXMOx_zAEOQj3oZ53-wzRcwvHUd2byaKv_DiDx50KY_GOkmasl9qLrkfDTLDntec66YDcxFRDz_FSnB94WU66bBMKY9dffa_f1N7Jp2I0fhGAXdoLYyqG5UxW4LX8r1vurfOohGOo9GkwmXYR0hDb387S2EmBGHCdQ

Source: Verified school update

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Arthur Morgan School cost?

Arthur Morgan School's tuition is approximately $32,113 for private students.

What schools are Arthur Morgan School often compared to?

Arthur Morgan School is often viewed alongside schools like Anami Montessori School by visitors of our site.

What is the acceptance rate of Arthur Morgan School?

The acceptance rate of Arthur Morgan School is 85%, which is higher than the national average of 82%.

Who are famous alumni from Arthur Morgan School?

Arthur Morgan School famous alumni include: Indigo De Souza and Chip Thomas.

What sports does Arthur Morgan School offer?

Arthur Morgan School offers 14 interscholastic sports: Archery, Ballet, Basketball, Climbing, Cross Country, Cycling, Dance, Intramural Sports Only, Mountain Biking, Rock Climbing, Soccer, Softball, Ultimate Frisbee and Wrestling. Arthur Morgan School is ranked as one of the top 20% of private schools in North Carolina for most sports offered.

What is Arthur Morgan School's ranking?

Arthur Morgan School ranks among the top 20% of private schools in North Carolina for: Most sports offered, Most extracurriculars offered and Oldest founding date.

When is the application deadline for Arthur Morgan School?

The application deadline for Arthur Morgan School is rolling (applications are reviewed as they are received year-round).

School Reviews

5.00 out of 5 (2 reviews)

5 4/21/2023

We are grateful that our son was able to attend Arthur Morgan School for three formative years, and we will always credit the school community and its generous teachers with instilling in him a strong sense of self and a passionate desire to learn about and question the world around him. AMS's responsive curriculum and immersive field trips tapped into his natural curiosity and blurred the line between school and life. Hikes and overnight camping built confidence and community, and connected him to the natural world. Our son developed practical life skills and a genuine sense of what it means to contribute to the greater good. Most importantly, he learned a great deal about who he is and who he is capable of becoming.

- Posted by Parent - Leslie

5 1/20/2023

The number one reason parents send their students to AMS is that AMS doesn't have personal screens. Students can use home phones to call friends and family, boarding houses can watch a movie together once a week if they choose, and students can check out laptops to use in a public location for school work with a staff sponsor. This school also has about 12 teachers and about 27 students each year and teachers are matched up with 2 students to spend a few hours with every week doing fun activities like biking, making cookies, playing games, visiting a weird antique store in town, or swimming in the river - this gives students an adult they feel comfortable with outside of academics to come to for social/emotional care. Especially in this time of middle schoolers dealing with a lot of trauma, it's important for them to feel comfortable talking to teachers about what's going on behind anything behavioral like not completing homework. The academics at AMS are also impressive.

- Posted by Teacher - Christina

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Did You Know?

The average private school tuition in North Carolina is $12,588 for elementary schools and $13,935 for high schools (read more about average private school tuition across the country).

The average acceptance rate in North Carolina is 82% (read more about average acceptance rates across the country).