FAQs

Our school day begins promptly at 8:20 a.m. and ends at 2:50 for K/3 students and 3:20 for 4/8 students. Afterschool clubs are from 3:25-4:25, Mon-Thurs. There are no clubs on Friday, when our school day ends at 2:30 for K/8.

School typically begins at the end of August and ends in late May. 

Enrollment is capped at 75 students each year.

TLC is approximately 10 minutes from downtown Black Mountain and 20-25 minutes from Asheville.

There is a limited amount of funds available for financial aid to attend TLC. Students must first be admitted to TLC before the process of applying for aid can begin, and priority is given to students currently enrolled in the financial aid program.

Because we are an independent school, we are required by the state to test at the end of the 3rd and 6th grades. End-of-year standardized testing is optional for students in the 7th and 8th grades.

Our class size is a 10:1 student/teacher ratio for academic classes.

TLC students spend a great deal of time outdoors! Children get a 15-30 minute mid-morning break and a 30-minute lunch break, during which the vast majority of children eat their meals outdoors. Many of their morning and afternoon learning activities take place outside when possible. Students often complete reading assignments, skits, and science lessons outdoors, in addition to art, PE, organic gardening, and sometimes even music!

TLC offers an after-school homework club and after-school recess club that runs from 3:25-4:25 Monday – Thursday for a fee of $4-$5/day. There are a variety of other after-school clubs that meet once a week either in the fall or spring semester. These club offerings often include choices such as yoga, art, chess, and track. Please note that there are no after-school options on Friday.

We would love to have you visit our school! Please see “Tours and Information Sessions” for more information.

TLC graduates do extremely well upon entering high school. With a firm understanding of TEAM and conflict resolution, they seem self-assured in handling any differences that might arise with their new peers.They are routinely more academically advanced.