Carolina Day School (Top Ranked Private School for 2026)

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Quick Facts (2026)

Top Ranked NC School
Grades: Prekindergarten-12
Enrollment: 583 students
Yearly Tuition: $26,950
Acceptance rate: 25%
Average class size: 15 students
Application Deadline: Nov. 15 / Feb. 15 / rolling
Source: ✓Verified school update

School Rankings

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

School Facts

School Membership(s)School Assoc.

National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)
Southern Association Of Colleges And Schools (SACS)
Southern Association of Independent Schools

Religious Affiliation

Nonsectarian

Grades Offered

Grades Prekindergarten-12

Students By Grade

View Data

Distribution of Students By Grade
Grade	Carolina Day School
Pre-K	30
Kind	36
1	30
2	30
3	49
4	45
5	36
6	45
7	42
8	48
9	48
10	60
11	41
12	43

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ADD/ADHD Support

Yes

Learning Difference Programs

Yes

Learning Programs Supported

Language-Based - Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Dyscalculia

Year Founded

1987

Colors

Blue, Red

School Calendar

View School Calendar

Campus Size

50 acres

Student Body

Total Students

583 students

Student Body Type

Co-ed

% Students of Color

12%

State avg.: 24%

Academics & Faculty

Total Classroom Teachers

80 teachers

Student-Teacher Ratio

7:1

National avg.: 11:1

Average Class Size

15 students

Number of AP Courses

15 courses

List of Courses Offered

Link to List of Courses

Advanced Courses

AP Art History (two sections)AP Biology

AP Calculus BCAP Chemistry

AP English LanguageAP English Literature

AP European History (two sections)AP French

AP PhysicsAP Psychology

AP SpanishAP Statistics

AP US History (four sections)Honors American Literature (semester course)

Honors Competitive Speech and Debate (semester or year course)Honors French 4

Honors JournalismHonors Macroeconomics (semester course)

Honors Math 3Honors Microeconomics (semester course)

Honors Philosophy (semester course)Honors Pre-Calculus

Honors Spanish 4Honors Studio Art

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Matriculation DataMatric. Data

View Matriculation Data

Classroom Dress Code

Casual

Standard Code of Dress

Tuition & Acceptance Rate

Admission Deadline

Nov. 15 / Feb. 15 / rolling

Yearly Tuition Cost

$26,950

View national tuition avg.

Tuition Notes

As parents, we have both the pleasure and the primary responsibility for finding the best educational experience for our children. Carolina Day School offers tuition assistance to help qualified families meet this responsibility.

% on Financial Aid

33%

Acceptance Rate

25%

National avg.: 82%

Admissions Director

Meredith Daniels

Admissions Associate

Cara Bledsoe

Sports

Total Sports Offered

14 sports

Sports

BaseballBasketball

Cross CountryField Hockey

GolfMountain Biking

Rock ClimbingSnowboarding

SoccerSwimming

TennisTrack and Field

VolleyballWeightlifting

Extracurriculars

Total ExtracurricularsTotal Extra-curric.

3 extracurriculars

ExtracurricularsExtra-curric.

Club or Organization:

Student-led Clubs

Arts and Music Programs:

EnsembleTheater

School Notes

In the classroom, on the athletic fields and within our special community of families, Carolina Day School fully engages your smart, curious child.
With a passion for learning and teaching, nationally trained in top developmental research and brain-based instruction, our exceptional faculty radiates an inspirational blend of compassion and high standards.
It's simple: bright, bold, curious, well-trained teachers and coaches lead by example and bring out the best in your child.
We are Asheville's only co-ed, independent day school for grades PreK3 through 12, and our Key School is a national leader in transforming students with language-based learning differences into high achievers and confident, capable learners.
Discover what lies in store for your child at Carolina Day School in Asheville, North Carolina.

School Motto: ‘Truth and Honor’
School Mascot: Willy The Wildcat

Our Vision of Education
Carolina Day School is a leader in educational innovation and a model of excellence for western North Carolina and beyond.Our creative and reflective educators craft a cohesive curriculum in a supportive environment where inquiry, discovery, and learning can take place.
Inquiry-based Learning
Building and giving meaning to strong foundational skills is essential and is just the starting point at Carolina Day. Students actively engage in real-world problem solving, project-based learning, service learning, and design thinking projects and activities, which allow them to practice, apply, build, and transfer these important skills in meaningful ways.Our students benefit tremendously from our special blend of teaching methods, curriculum, community, and culture. The CDS faculty practice their craft as artisans of the classroom, mixing their professional experience with research and wisdom to teach each child. There is a shared expectation between students and teachers that everyonewill push themselves in many ways to stretch and grow - intellectually, socially, emotionally - and teachers will provide the support necessary to help students face challenges head-on and learn to persevere with confidence. The craft of teaching takes grit, resolve, creativity, patience, and problem-solving. It`s an ever-evolving process of combining the best ingredients for the most successful outcomes.Our families tell us that they value their investment in a Carolina Day education because of our unique combination of highly qualified teachers, innovative curriculum, and our compassionate, friendly community. Simply put, Carolina Day children, adolescents, and young adults alike enjoy coming to school; they think hard, play hard, and celebrate their group successes and personal bests with gusto. Creating a community of well-rounded, engaged, and happy students is our vision and our passion.

Source: Verified school update

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Carolina Day School cost?

Carolina Day School's tuition is approximately $26,950 for private students.

What is the acceptance rate of Carolina Day School?

The acceptance rate of Carolina Day School is 25%, which is lower than the national average of 82%. Carolina Day School's acceptance rate is ranked among the top private schools in North Carolina with low acceptance rates.

What sports does Carolina Day School offer?

Carolina Day School offers 14 interscholastic sports: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Field Hockey, Golf, Mountain Biking, Rock Climbing, Snowboarding, Soccer, Swimming, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball and Weightlifting. Carolina Day School is ranked as one of the top 20% of private schools in North Carolina for most sports offered.

What is Carolina Day School's ranking?

Carolina Day School ranks among the top 20% of private schools in North Carolina for: Lowest average acceptance rates, Largest student body and Most sports offered.

When is the application deadline for Carolina Day School?

The application deadline for Carolina Day School is Nov. 15 / Feb. 15 / rolling (applications are due on Nov. 15 / Feb. 15 but additional applications are reviewed year-round as space permits ).

School Reviews

5 1/2/2020

The athletics at Carolina Day are very disappointing. The middle school boys' basketball team has 25 boys on the roster. It is mid-December and several of the boys are now being shuffled to a YMCA platform. The JV girls' basketball team, which has several seniors on it, is losing by scores of 85-17. They limit middle school offerings; they do not offer tennis for middle school, and the soccer team did not have enough kids to form a team. My child is lost in the shuffle. A school that is charging college tuition prices should provide a well-rounded experience, which should include competitive academics and athletics.

- Posted by Parent - Disappointed parent

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Did You Know?

The average private school tuition in Asheville, NC is $14,514 for elementary schools (read more about average private school tuition across the country).

The average acceptance rate in Asheville, NC is 65% (read more about average acceptance rates across the country).