What to know before Asheville-area school starts: Supply costs, after-school programs
ASHEVILLE- As the 2023-24 school year approaches for Western North Carolina schools some sooner than others, the Citizen Times compiled a list of important information for parents and students including school supply costs, start dates and after-school program options. ―
How much do school supply costs?
According to a news release from the National Retail Federation, has been collecting data on back-to-school shopping since 2003, "back-to-school spending is expected to reach an unparalleled $41.5 billion, up from $36.9 billion last year and the previous high of $37.1 billion in 2021. Back-to-college spending is expected to hit $94 billion, about $20 billion more than last year’s record."
United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County is working to help local families, as back-to-school shopping can be financially daunting.
The nonprofit has held a school supply drive for 17 years. In that time, it's given out over 23,000 backpacks to students in the community, Audrey Blackburn, volunteer engagement manager at United Way told the Citizen Times.
July 21 was the last day of fundraising, which brought in a little over $67,000, filling 2,300 backpacks this year, Blackburn said.
United Way doesn't distribute the backpacks directly to families and children, but instead works with 35 nonprofits, and seven community schools in Asheville and Buncombe including Asheville, Enka, Owen, Erwin and AC Reynolds middle schools and North Buncombe and Asheville/SILSA high schools.
There are three categories for the drive: elementary, middle and high school, each one slightly different.
"We work with teachers and school administrators, and we've got our own community school coordinators, and they helped us look at last year's supply list and through their best guess came up with what they think will be needed this year," Blackburn said.
She said that the retail value of the backpacks and all of the supplies in it, normally comes to around $75, but United Way is able to get it all at cost, which is around $30, allowing them to fill more backpacks and get more supplies for students.
"The fun part is that we ask the people in the community to help us pack the bags. It actually takes three full days to do it, and so we need around 230 volunteers over the span of three days," Blackburn said.
The "pack and sort" event takes place July 31-Aug. 2. The volunteer slots are already filled but there is a waitlist option available by visiting the 2023 School Supply Drive - Pack and Sort Event | Hands On Asheville-Buncombe website. The backpacks are filled on the bottom floor of Harrah's Cherokee Center on Hiawassee Street.
What's on a school supply list this year?
The Citizen Times looked up examples of school supplies lists at Asheville and Buncombe schools and calculated the price of each product that could be purchased at Walmart. Although supplies can be purchased at many stores, including Target, Staples, Amazon and Best Buy.
Asheville City Schools: 2023-24 school year for a first-grader at Claxton Elementary School.
Primary notebook: $2.97
Two wide-ruled composition notebooks: $6.56
One 1-inch binder with protective screen on the front and pockets: $3.28
Two boxes of 24-count Crayola crayons: $1
Three plain color plastic folders with prongs: $1.50
One box of tissues: $1.68
One box of Crayola Markers: $1
One box of glue sticks: $4.47
One pack of clear sheet protectors: $2.44
Two bottles of hand sanitizer: $4.88
Two pack of fine-tip black expo markers: $4.88
One pack of sticky notes: $2.98
One pack of Ticonderoga pencils: $3.97
Two containers of disinfectant wipes: $4.72
One can of Lysol disinfectant spray: $7.63
Asheville City Schools spokesperson Dillon Huffman told the Citizen Times in a July 24 email that often different community agencies and local businesses will reach out and see what the schools need in terms of supplies.
Buncombe County Schools: 2023-24 school supply list for a ninth-grader at TC Roberson High School.
One backpack: ranges from $15-$40
One package of No. 2 pencils: $3.97
One supply/pencil pouch: $1.97
One pink or white eraser: $1.48
One package of loose-leaf paper: $3.74
One package of dividers: $4.48
One 1-inch, three ring binder: $5.82
One handheld pencil sharpener: $1.71
One package of pens: red, blue and black: $9.16
One package of colored pencils: $2.38
One package of highlighters: $2.47
One package of markers: $2.47
One 12-inch ruler, inches and mm: $1.92
Six pocket folders with assorted colors: $3.62
Four single subject spiral notebooks: $5.92
One package of sticky notes assorted colors: $5.97
One pair of headphones: ranges from $6-$30
One student planner: $7.84
One USB flash drive: $10.88
One pocket dictionary: $5.95
One pocket Thesaurus: $5.95
One TI Calculator: $10
One package of masks: $5.96
One personal size hand sanitizer: $2.44
One package of disinfectant wipes: $3.38
Buncombe County Schools spokesperson Stacia Harris said in a July 24 email that each of the schools have a supply closet and counselors, social workers and staff are able to provide school supplies to students as needed throughout the year.
Asheville City School District
School resumes for the 2023-24 school year on Aug. 28. Find the 2023-24 school year calendar at ashevillecityschools.net.
In the 2021-22 school year, ACS had 4,218 students and 10 schools, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
More: New Asheville City Schools superintendent talks achievement gap, putting students first
Buncombe County School District
School resumes for the 2023-24 school year on Aug. 28. Find the 2023-24 school year calendar at buncombeschools.org.
NCES 2021-22 data shows Buncombe had 45 schools and 22,298 students.
Madison County School District
School resumes for the 2023-24 school year on Aug. 21. Find the 2023-24 school year calendar at www.madisonk12.net/.
NCES 2021-22 data shows Madison County had seven schools and 2,137 students.
More: All Madison County Schools students to receive free lunches in 2023-24
Henderson County School District
School resumes for the 2023-24 school year on Aug. 14. Find the 2023-24 school year calendar at hendersoncountypublicschoolsnc.org.
Henderson County had 23 schools and 12,768 students, according to NCES 2021-22 data.
More: Asheville City Schools votes to privatize school meals for the 2023-24 school year
After school programs
In Asheville City Schools, every elementary school has at least one on-site afterschool option for students, according to Huffman.
In terms of Buncombe County Schools, Harris said "community partners like the YMCA and Head Start provide those types of programs. They are not at every school, but they are strategically placed to be convenient to several schools."
Asheville City Schools Foundation runs an after-school program for students in sixth grade up to 12th grade, called "In Real Life."
IRL opened around 12 years ago and served 140 students last year. The program is based in Asheville Middle School ― Program Director Gregory Hall told the Citizen Times on July 25 that IRL provides a "safe space for students after school."
It runs from 3:30-5 p.m. after school Mondays through Thursdays and is priced on a sliding scale.
"We just ask families to choose which option works best for their family. We don't ask questions around their financial situation, and we will never turn child away," Hall said.
The maximum price starts at $75 for eight weeks and can drop to about $10. There is also a free option for families who need it, according to Hall. IRL also feeds the students snacks and has various activities such as bike riding, cooking classes and pottery.
For more information contact Executive Director Copland Arnold Rudolph at copland@acsf.org or 828-350-6174.
United Way offers "Community Nights" once a week. It's where families can come and get a free meal. There are tutors there that are free to help students with their homework, and they have games and fun activities for families.
"Not only do we want the families to be able to have time outside of the home to bond with each other, but we also want them to get to know other families in their own community and start to build a support system," Blackburn said.
Learn more about Community Nights and where they are being hosted at Community Nights (Featuring Homework Diners) | United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County (unitedwayabc.org)
More: Hillcrest Head Start opens after being forced to close last year: Who can sign up?
McKenna Leavens is the education reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email her at mleavens@citizentimes.com or follow her on Twitter @LeavensMcKennna. Please support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Asheville-area back-to-school dates, school supply tips
