Traditionally this is completed during EDCI 231 or as early into the Teacher Education Program as possible. While many students have difficult schedules making it hard to travel to a school on the list, this is important in the overall preparation for their teaching careers. The Field Experience Committee continues to review the diversity policies to better incorporate these experiences and in the future plans to address additional issues such as poverty and disabilities.
The following schools may be used for the culturally diverse placement with additional schools being added periodically. These schools identified were chosen because of the percentage of minority students enrolled in each individual school. The percentage of minority students in Western North Carolina public schools is approximately 13%. The percentage of minority students in North Carolina public schools is approximately 40%. A committee made up of several faculty and staff looked at the data collected on North Carolina public schools and decided that schools in Western North Carolina with a minority percentage of 20% or more would be considered diverse settings. This is 7% above the average for Western North Carolina.
Schools Meeting Diverse Field Experience Requirements in Partnership School Systems (other NC schools outside the region also meet the requirement):
Asheville City Schools:
- Asheville High School
- Asheville Middle School
- Claxton Elementary School (Magnet)
- Hall Fletcher Elementary
- Ira B. Jones Elementary (Magnet)
- Isaac Dickson Elementary (Magnet)
- Randolph Learning Center (Alternative)
- School of Inquiry and Life Science
- Vance Elementary School (Magnet)
Buncombe County Schools:
- A. C. Reynolds Middle School
- Avery's Creek Elementary
- Buncombe Community School
- Charles. C. Bell Elementary
- Clyde A. Erwin High School
- Clyde A. Erwin Middle School
- Emma Elementary School
- Haw Creek Elementary
- Johnston Elementary
- Oakley Elementary
- Sand Hill - Veneble Elementary
- T. C. Robinson High School
- Valley Springs Middle School
- W. D. Williams Elementary
- West Buncombe Elementary
- William W. Estes Elementary
- Woodfin Elementary
Catawba County Schools:
- Blackburn Elementary
- Bunker Hill High
- Catawba Elementary
- Catawba Rosenwald Ed.
- Catawba Valley Early College
- Claremont Elementary
- Harry M. Arndt Middle
- Lyle Creek Elementary
- Maiden Elementary
- Maiden High School
- Maiden Middle School
- Mountain View Elementary
- Oxford Elementary
- River Bend Middle School
- St Stephens Elementary
- St Stephens High School
- Startown Elementary
- Sweetwater Elementary
- Webb A Murray Elementary
Cherokee Central Schools (Federal):
- Cherokee Elementary
- Cherokee Middle
- Cherokee High
Henderson County Schools:
- Apple Valley Middle School
- Balfour Education Center
- Bruce Drysdale Elementary
- Clear Creek Elementary
- Dana Elementary
- Edneyville Elementary
- Flat Rock Middle School
- Fletcher Elementary
- Glenn C. Marlow Elementary
- Hendersonville High School
- Hendersonville Middle School
- Hillandale Elementary
- North Henderson High School
- Upward Elementary
Jackson County School:
- Blue Ridge School
- Smokey Mountain School
Macon County Schools:
- East Franklin Elementary
- South Macon Elementary
McDowell County Schools:
- Eastfield Elementary
- Marion Elementary
Polk County Schools:
- Polk Central
- Tryon Elementary
Rutherford County Schools:
- East Rutherford High School
- East Rutherford Middle School
- Forest City - Dunbar Elementary
- Forrest W. Hunt Elementary
- R. S. Central High School
- R. S. Middle School
- ROC Rutherford Opportunity Center
- Rutherford Early College High School
- Rutherfordton Elementary
- Spindale Elementary
Swain County Schools:
- School of Applied Sciences
- Swain County East Elementary
- Swain County High School
- Swain County Middle School
Transylvania County Schools:
- Brevard Elementary
Yancey County Schools:
- Burnsville Elementary