APPLICATION ELIGIBILITY: 
Students apply to attend Early College in the spring of their 8th grade year. 

Students from any of our six attendance districts in Buncombe County Schools can apply. Also, 8th graders who attend a private, charter, or home school AND who are residents of Buncombe County may apply.

Each year, 60 new students will be selected to attend through an application and lottery process.  Those who are not selected by the lottery will be placed on a waiting list.
Our team visits Buncombe County Middle Schools during the spring of each year to inform students about BC Early College, announce application times, and make students aware of open house dates.

APPLICATION PERIOD

The application period for the 2025 -2026 school year will be posted by mid January.

APPLICATION CHECKLIST

* This form should be completed by the student and parent(s)/guardian(s) together. 

* It will take at least thirty minutes to complete this form. 

* The form must be completed in one sitting.  If it is closed before you finish, it will not save the responses and you will need to start over. 

* Written response should be ready for submission.  Please spend time and effort to submit your best work.  We are most interested to see the ideas you share and hear your unique voice; not necessarily concerned with grammatical errors.  In a minimum of 250 words: 

 Tell us about your educational journey so far (successes, challenges, interests, aspirations, etc.) and       

  why you are applying to Buncombe County Early College to continue this journey and achieve your goals.

*  You may want to collect the following items before you begin:  

  - Contact information for the student and parent(s)/guardians(s) 

  - Student PowerSchool number 

  - Family's current annual income 

  - Parents education level 

  - Email address for two middle school teachers who have agreed to complete an online recommendation for the student.  One from an 8th grade Math or English teacher and one from another staff member 

* If you are not a BCS student (e.g. if you attend a charter school, private school, or home school) you can upload academic documents (grades, test scores, and attendance) for 6th - 8th grades. 

Please note, this application should be completed at one time as the responses will not be saved. 

SCHOOL TOURS
On Campus Tours for Interested Students

 TBD - North Buncombe Middle School

TBD- Owen Middle School

TBD-AC Reynolds Middle School

TBD- Valley Springs Middle School

TBD-Erwin Middle School

TBD- Cane Creek Middle School

TBD- Enka Middle School

Tours above are scheduled specifically for BCS 8th grade students.  Please see your counselor if you are interested in participating.

OPEN HOUSE
We will also host three open house events for any interested students and families. These events will start at 6:00 pm at our main school building, BIRCH, on the AB Tech campus (GPS Location: 17 Student Circle Dr.).

Open house dates will be announced in the spring of 2025.

Students who are not currently enrolled in a Buncombe County School are welcome to join any Open House noted above. Please keep in mind that applicants must be in their 8th grade year and must reside in one of the six Buncombe County School Districts (not the Asheville City School District).