School start times, lunch menus: What to know as Henderson County kids head back to school

Dean Hensley, Hendersonville Times-News
Updated ·5 min read

HENDERSON COUNTY - Here's what to know as Henderson County Public Schools begin the 2023-24 school year on Aug. 14, two weeks ahead of the state's mandated start date.

Henderson County Public Schools office is located on Fourth Avenue West in Hendersonville.
Henderson County Public Schools office is located on Fourth Avenue West in Hendersonville.

School start times

The start/end times for each of the county's schools are listed below:

Elementary schools

  • Atkinson: 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

  • Bruce: 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

  • Clear Creek: 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

  • Dana: 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

  • Edneyville: 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

  • Etowah: 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

  • Fletcher: 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

  • Glenn Marlow: 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

  • Hendersonville: 8 a.m.-2:45 p.m.

  • Hillandale: 8:05 a.m.-3 p.m.

  • Mills River: 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

  • Sugarloaf: 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

  • Upward: 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

Middle schools

  • Apple Valley: 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

  • Flat Rock: 8 a.m.-3:05 p.m.

  • Hendersonville: 8 a.m.-3:05 p.m.

  • Rugby: 7:45 a.m.-2:50 p.m.

High schools

  • Career Academy/Early College: 8 a.m.-2:45 p.m.

  • East Henderson: 8 a.m.-3:05 p.m.

  • Hendersonville: 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

  • North Henderson: 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

  • West Henderson: 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

School bus information

Henderson County Public School buses will have different pick-up times, according to Transportation Director Shelley Brown, but the earliest pick-ups will be starting at 6 a.m., with school days beginning no later than 8 a.m.

Buses will leave the schools after the final bell rings to end the day, and those times are also varied, she said.

"Some elementary schools let out at 2:45 p.m. and most of the other schools let out at 3 p.m.," she said.

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Schools' contact information for parents

High schools:

  • East Henderson: 150 Eagle Pride Drive, East Flat Rock, NC 28726. Phone: 828-697-4768

  • Hendersonville: 1 Bearcat Blvd., Hendersonville, NC 28791. Phone: 828-697-4802

  • North Henderson: 35 Fruitland Road, Hendersonville, NC 28792. Phone: 828-697-4500

  • West Henderson: 3600 Haywood Road, Hendersonville, NC 28791. Phone: 828-891-6571

  • Early College: 300 East Campus Drive, Flat Rock, NC 28731. Phone: 828-697-4561

Middle schools:

  • Apple Valley: 43 Fruitland Road, Hendersonville. Phone: 828-697-4545

  • Flat Rock: 191 Preston Lane, East Flat Rock. Phone: 828-697-4775

  • Hendersonville: 825 North Whitted St., Hendersonville, NC 28791. Phone: 828-697-4800

  • Rugby: 3345 Haywood Road, Hendersonville. Phone: 828-891-6566

Elementary schools:

  • Atkinson: 2510 Old Kanuga Road, Hendersonville, NC 28739. Phone: 828-697-4755

  • Bruce Drysdale: 271 Bearcat Blvd., Hendersonville, NC 28792. Phone: 828-697-5568

  • Clear Creek: 737 North Clear Creek Road, Hendersonville, NC 28792. Phone: 828-697-4760

  • Dana: 690 Ridge Road, Hendersonville, NC 28792. Phone: 828-685-7743

  • Edneyville: 2875 Pace Road., Hendersonville, NC 28792. Phone: 828-685-7600

  • Etowah: 320 Etowah School Road, Etowah, NC 28729. Phone: 828-891-6560

  • Fletcher: 500 Howard Gap Road, Fletcher, NC 28732. Phone: 828-684-0580

  • Hendersonville: 1039 Randall Circle, Hendersonville, NC 28791. Phone: 828-697-4752

  • Hillandale: 40 Preston Lane, East Flat Rock, NC 28726. Phone: 828-697-4782

  • Glenn C. Marlow: 1985 Butler Bridge Road, Mills River, NC 28759. Phone: 828-654-3225

  • Mills River: 94 School House Road, Mills River, NC 28759. Phone: 828-891-6563

  • Sugarloaf: 2270 Sugarloaf Road, Hendersonville, NC, 28792. Phone: 828-697-4600

  • Upward: 45 Education Drive, Flat Rock, NC 28731. Phone: 828-697-4764

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School lunch menus for opening day

Effective Jan. 3, K-12 breakfast is now at no charge for all students district-wide. K-5 full pay lunch is $3.50, 6-12 full pay lunch is $3.75 and grades 6-12 Mega Meals are $4. Currently, reduced-price lunch for all grades is $0.40. Below are the lunch menus for opening day:

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HHS and East:

  • Carolina BBQ Pork Sandwich

  • Burger, Mega Cheesy

  • Lettuce and Tomato

  • Smart Mouth Pepperoni Pizza

  • Smart Mouth Cheese Pizza

  • Baked Beans

  • Sweet Potato Fries

  • Fresh Fruit

  • 100% Fruit Juice

North, West and Early College/Career Academy:

  • Turkey/Swiss on Brioche, Hot

  • Carolina BBQ Pork Sandwich

  • Burger, Mega Cheesy

  • Lettuce and Tomato

  • Sweet Potato Fries

  • Baked Beans

  • Fresh Fruit

  • 100% Fruit Juice

All middle schools:

  • Carolina BBQ Pork Sandwich

  • Turkey/Swiss on Brioche, Hot

  • Papa John's Pepperoni Pizza

  • Papa John's Cheese Pizza

  • Sweet Potato Fries

  • Baked Beans

  • Fresh Fruit

  • 100% Fruit Juice

All elementary schools:

  • Chicken & Waffles

  • Grilled Cheese

  • Sweet Potato Fries

  • Broccoli Florets

  • Chilled Peaches

Prohibited items to bring to schools

  • Weapons: This includes weapons of any kind, concealed or open.

  • Gang-related items: Like clothing, jewelry, emblems, badges, symbols, signs or other items with the intent to convey membership or affiliation in a gang.

  • Drugs and alcohol: The only exception to such possession, use, or transmission is by authorization by law and school regulations, or unless as prescribed by and taken in accordance with the prescription of a physician.

  • Inappropriate/obscene/pornographic materials: A student shall not have possession of any written material or pictures that convey offensive, derogatory, obscene, or sexually suggestive messages on school property, including the school bus.

  • Smoking/tobacco and vaping products: In an effort to reinforce the teaching of the harmful effects of tobacco use and to provide a healthful working environment for employees, students, and the public, the Henderson County Board of Public Education directs that there be no tobacco use by anyone while in its buildings or on school grounds. The Student Code of Conduct states that for the purposes of this policy, the term “tobacco product” means any product that contains or that is made or derived from tobacco and is intended for human consumption, including all lighted and smokeless tobacco products, as well as electronic cigarettes, vaporizers and other electronic smoking devices even if they do not contain tobacco or nicotine.

For more on Henderson County Public Schools, visit hendersoncountypublicschoolsnc.org/. Each school's website is accessible by going to the "Select a School" tab at the top right of the website.

Dean Hensley is the news editor for the Hendersonville Times-News. Email him with tips, questions and comments at DHensley@gannett.com. Please help support this kind of local journalism with a subscription to the Hendersonville Times-News.

This article originally appeared on Hendersonville Times-News: Be prepared: What to know for 2023-24 Henderson County School year