October 12, 2025

Mountain City Public Montessori School Opens in Asheville

Asheville, North Carolina, October 12, 2025

News Summary

The Mountain City Public Montessori School has opened in Asheville, North Carolina, offering a free Montessori education for students from Pre-K through sixth grade. Founded after the closure of Asheville Primary School, the school aims to address educational gaps in the community. With a lottery admission process prioritizing low-income families, the school accepted 106 of 400 applications in its first year. Plans are underway to expand to seventh and eighth grades in 2024, amidst budget challenges facing Asheville City Schools, including a potential merger of middle schools.

Asheville, North Carolina, has welcomed a new educational opportunity with the launch of the Mountain City Public Montessori School, which opened its doors after the closure of Asheville Primary School. This newly established school aims to fill the educational gap created by that closure by providing a free Montessori education to students from Pre-K through sixth grade.

The founding group of Mountain City Public Montessori School, which includes Brittany Wager as the operations and finance director, was motivated by the need for accessible education following the significant community impact of the Asheville Primary School’s shutdown. In its inaugural year, the school received 400 applications, of which 106 students were accepted through a lottery system designed to prioritize low-income families.

Looking ahead, Mountain City Public Montessori School has plans to expand its offerings by adding seventh and eighth grades starting in fall 2024. The school received final approval from the State Board of Education in December 2022, solidifying its place as a key educational resource within the Asheville community. Rachael Shaw Marshall, the curriculum director, emphasized that the school’s free tuition and lottery admission process are intended to promote educational equity among students.

Meanwhile, Asheville City Schools is grappling with a budget shortfall of $4.5 million, which has prompted discussions about potentially merging its two middle schools. Superintendent Maggie Fehrman’s analysis suggests that such a merger could yield savings of between $1.8 million and $2.3 million each year. However, this proposal has met with substantial opposition from parents and students who express strong concerns about losing successful programs and inadequate time to assess the merger proposal, which was first announced in November.

Illustrating the contentious atmosphere surrounding these decisions, the reported capacity for Montford North Star Academy (MNSA) was recently adjusted from 765 down to 442 students. Currently, MNSA faces the lowest enrollment in the district, with only 217 students enrolled. Parents argue that this low enrollment contributes to the unique culture at MNSA, fostering a supportive environment characterized by smaller class sizes that promote community and teacher collaboration.

As the school district develops strategies to enhance enrollment figures, advocates for MNSA highlight the paradox of promoting school choice while simultaneously considering closures. There is apprehension among parents that the ACS board may perpetuate past mistakes and overlook community input in their decision-making process regarding the school closings.

Advocacy efforts have manifested in organized rallies and public meetings, emphasizing the importance of MNSA’s distinctive education program and the benefits associated with its smaller learning environment. The school has been recognized as a “School to Watch” by the N.C. Middle Level Educators Association due to its achievements, with teachers reporting high job satisfaction and commitment to their innovative educational methodology that offers project-based learning and hands-on experiences.

The deadline for the Asheville City Schools Board to make decisions about the proposed merger regarding MNSA is set for March 11, coinciding with the open enrollment period for the district. This ongoing debate echoes the community’s concerns surrounding the closure of Asheville Primary School and reflects broader discussions about educational priorities in Asheville.

FAQ

What is the Mountain City Public Montessori School?

The Mountain City Public Montessori School provides a free Montessori education for students in grades Pre-K through sixth grade.

How did the school come to be established?

The school was founded by a group of families in Asheville after Asheville Primary School was shut down, creating a gap in educational opportunities for the community.

How many applications did the school receive in its first year?

In its first year, there were 400 applications, with 106 students accepted through a lottery system.

What plans does the school have for the future?

The school plans to add seventh and eighth grades starting in fall 2024.

What budget issues are Asheville City Schools facing?

Asheville City Schools is currently facing a budget shortfall of $4.5 million, which has led to considerations of merging its two middle schools.

What concerns have parents expressed regarding school closures?

Parents have voiced strong opposition to the proposed school closures, citing concerns over successful programs being cut and not having enough time to consider the merger proposal.

Key Feature	Description
School Name	Mountain City Public Montessori School
Established	After the closure of Asheville Primary School
Educational Level	Pre-K through sixth grade (with plans for seventh and eighth grades in 2024)
Admission Process	Lottery system with extra weight for low-income families
Applications in First Year	400 applications received; 106 students accepted
Budget Issues	$4.5 million shortfall leading to potential middle school mergers
Community Response	Strong opposition to proposed school closures and mergers