Asheville High School

09/21/2026

AHS Attendance & Early Dismissal Policies - UPDATED PLEASE READ

Hello Cougar Families!

Here are some helpful tips on how to dismiss your student early from school and how to report full day absences:

If your student needs to leave school early for an appointment, please email us at least 1 hour in advance at [email protected]. If this is not possible, please come to the front office to dismiss your student.

Provide the student's full name as shown in Infinite Campus, the time the student needs to be dismissed, the reason they are leaving and if they will return to school that day. If a reason is not provided, the student will be marked 2A (unexcused absence).

We have a new hall pass system that is built into Infinite Campus. We are forwarding the email you send to ahsattendance to the student’s teacher and sending the student a pass in their Infinite Campus account under Notifications. Please share this new system with your student. When it is time for the student to leave, they need to check out in the office, then meet the person picking them up in front of the school or the student can drive themselves.

We can not dismiss students after 2:45.

Doctor notes can be sent to [email protected] or the student can bring the note to the front office. A doctor’s note must be provided for attendance to be marked 1B (excused doctor appointment).

Handwritten notes are not accepted.

If students are leaving school early for an AHS/SILSA athletic event, the coach or an athletic director will email the roster to staff. Students will be marked 1Q (excused school-sponsored event). The process for field trips is the same.

If your student will be absent for the entire day, please wait for ParentSquare to send you an email/text around 9:30am. ParentSquare will send you notifications throughout the day until attendance is updated.

Click on the link provided to explain the absence.

Doctor notes can be sent to [email protected] or the student can bring the note to the front office.

Handwritten notes are not accepted.

Students are allowed up to 10 illness absences (coded 1A) per class per semester. Once a student has reached 11 illness absences, a doctor’s note is required to excuse any further absences.

If your student is visiting a college (juniors and seniors only), participating in a non-AHS sponsored athletic event, is volunteering somewhere, participating in a play or ballet, etc., please have the student pick up an educational leave form in the front office.

Educational leave forms must be turned in at least 2 weeks prior to the event.

Students are allowed 3 educational leave days per semester.

Please make sure to familiarize yourself with our attendance policies, including what constitutes an excused absence at
AHS/SILSA 2026-2027 Parent/Student Handbook

Thank you!

08/30/2026

Thanks for a great first week of school! See you tomorrow at 8:30. Labor Day is September 7th - there will be no school that day!

08/25/2026

Updated athletic safety and supervision policies.

08/14/2026

For tonight’s Football Jamboree, 4”x6” bags will be allowed along with medically necessary and diaper bags. No umbrellas, outside food or drink. We accept credit, debit and tap for payment; no cash.

08/01/2026

Upcoming orientation dates for AHS/SILSA. Please be aware that Freshman Step Up on 8/20 is for freshman only. New and returning students and their families are encouraged to attend the Open House on 8/21.

07/14/2026

AHS/SILSA Student Parking 2026-2027

Senior parking passes will go on sale August 1, 2026 at 8am. Please visit gofan.co (non-athletic site). These passes will sell out fast! All requirements, rules and regulations can be found at ahs.ashevillecityschools.net.

Home - Asheville High School

06/04/2026

2026 Graduation Parking

Click on the link below to watch a video on parking details.

Direction 2026-6/3/2026, 2:42 PM.mp4
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KdeFj4fZrvk4-PEPG0uNjkgmGOg494fzI4kwcy9vlOk/edit?usp=sharing

No McDowell Street Entrance*- All traffic must enter from Victoria Road. There will be no spectator parking on campus. All spectators will park at A-B Tech. The only exception is handicapped parking. If you have guests coming from out of town, they may put Asheville High in their GPS. This will take them to the wrong entrance. Follow the directions below.

Coming from North of Campus (Parking Garage)- If coming from the northside of campus, guests will travel on Victoria Road and park in the Smith McDowell Parking lot or the A-B Tech parking garage. If you are using GPS, enter A-B Tech/Mission Health Conference Center Parking Deck or Asheville Museum of History. If you are unable to walk to the stadium from the parking garage, a bus from Young Transportation will shuttle guests to the visitors' side of the stadium.

Coming from South of Campus (A-B Tech Parking behind stadium)- If coming from the south side of campus, guests will park in the parking lots behind the stadium. If you are using GPS, enter Asheville-Buncombe Technical Bookstore. There will be traffic directors to tell you where to go.

Handicap Parking- Handicap access to the stadium is available but limited. Guests will park in the lot across from the student parking lot and in the reserved spaces within the student parking lot. Once parked, a Designated Handicapped Vehicle (RAV4) will take guests to the stadium and bring them back at the end of graduation. If planning to need handicap parking and seating, please complete this Handicap Parking Form.

*Parents dropping off students. Parents dropping off students but not parking, will enter from McDowell Street, drop off graduates at the front of the school and then exit back onto McDowell Street. There will be no parking for graduates at the front of the school.

After Graduation- Once the students recess off the field, they will go to the old boys' gym (lower gym in the main building) to pick up their diplomas. No parents are permitted inside the buildings or onto the field. You can meet your graduate on the front steps of the school, in the Cougar Den area between the main building and the counseling center, or back at the stadium. Please plan in advance where you would like to meet. The bus will shuttle guests back to the parking garage and we will use Designated Handicapped Vehicles to transport handicapped guests to the parking lot.

The bag policy is the same as athletic games: 4"x6"x1" bags are allowed. Medical and baby needs are also allowed. All bags are subject to search. No smoking including v**e pens. No umbrellas allowed.

2026 Graduation Parking Click on the link below to watch a video on parking details. @ No McDowell Street Entrance*- All traffic must enter from Victoria Road. There will be no spectator parking on campus. All spectators will park at A-B Tech. The only exception is handicapped park...

04/29/2026

William Shakespeare’s AS YOU LIKE IT presented by AHS Theatre in a whole new groovy way. Please join us!

04/18/2026

Dear Asheville City Schools Families and Staff,

Asheville City Schools will need to implement an optional teacher workday on Friday, May 1, due to the significant number of staff members who have requested personal or unpaid leave to attend the Kids Over Corporations rally in Raleigh. The school system cannot provide adequate supervision of students due to the volume of leave requests that have been submitted. I reviewed various options in lieu of closing schools. With such a high number of staff out of the building on a single day, ensuring we can appropriately monitor students becomes exceedingly challenging.

The rally is scheduled for May 1, at Halifax Mall and is being organized by the North Carolina Association of Educators, along with educators, parents, and community allies from across the state. We recognize that many educators feel compelled to participate in order to make their voices heard on issues affecting public education, including teacher pay, school funding, and the recent Leandro decision developments. The North Carolina Constitution affirms the state’s obligation to provide every child with the opportunity for a sound basic education, and the Leandro rulings have long underscored that constitutional duty.

The Kids Over Corporations campaign goal is to increase investment in public schools, oppose corporate tax breaks and voucher expansion, and strengthen support for teachers and students. The rally is part of a broader effort to advocate for smaller class sizes, modern facilities, better compensation for teachers and staff, and well-resourced public schools across North Carolina.
Several community groups are partnering together to ensure all students and their families have access to food and fellowship on May 1st. School principals will send additional details to families next week.

We appreciate the professionalism of our staff and the understanding of our families as we adjust our schedule to maintain the smooth operation of our schools.

Sincerely,
Dr. Fehrman

04/18/2026

Are you ready for a closet clean-out? Are you looking to spruce up your wardrobe affordably and sustainably?? 👗👕👖👟

Well you’re in luck, because Sustainability & Ecology Club are hosting a CLOTHING SWAP & SHOP on APRIL 28th during 5th period & after school in Room 300.

For every item of clothing you bring in, you will get 1 item free. You can bring in clean, gently used clothes to Ms. Harris’s room (room 300) before school or during 5th period from April 20th - 27th. We will NOT be collecting any undergarments (underwear or socks). However, we will be collecting GENTLY USED, CLEAN BRAS to donate to I Support The Girls, a nonprofit supplying bras to women in need. PLEASE wash your clothes before bringing them in.

Don't have any clothes to bring in? That's ok! Clothes will be available for purchase (cash only). Profits will be put towards campus-wide sustainable programs.
WHY? Buying used clothing is much more sustainable (and cost efficient) than buying new clothes / fast fashion!

Stop by room 300 or contact Ms. Harris with any questions.

NOTE: We can only take cash!
Hope to see you all there!
Happy spring cleaning🌱🌿🌳