Undergraduate degree-seeking candidates in the Teacher Education Program are required to complete one field experience (designated by the Office of Field Experiences) in a culturally diverse setting.

This means candidates must complete at least one field experience in a culturally diverse setting in EDCI 201, PSY 323, SPED 339, “Block,” Internship, or Student Teaching.  In some cases, working with a mission group, camp, tutoring program, or Service Learning project may also fulfill this requirement.  For these alternatives, contact the Director of Field Experiences for approval and documentation requirements. 

Traditionally this is completed during EDCI 201 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.  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 requirement can be documented by using a timesheet or submission of a letter from the host institution.

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 
• Hall Fletcher Elementary
• Ira B. Jones Elementary
• Isaac Dickson Elementary
• Randolph Learning Center 
• School of Inquiry and Life Science
• Vance Elementary School

BUNCOMBE COUNTY SCHOOLS

• A. C. Reynolds High School
• A. C. Reynolds Middle School
• Avery's Creek Elementary
• Buncombe Community School
• Charles D. Owen Middle School
• Clyde A. Erwin High School
• Clyde A. Erwin Middle School
• Emma Elementary School
• Francine Delany New School for Children (Charter)
• Haw Creek Elementary
• Johnston Elementary
• Oakley Elementary
• Sand Hill - Venable Elementary
• T. C. Roberson High School
• Valley Springs Middle School
• W. D. Williams Elementary
• West Buncombe Elementary
• William W. Estes Elementary
• Woodfin Elementary

HENDERSON COUNTY SCHOOLS

• Apple Valley Middle School
• Balfour Education Center
• Bruce Drysdale Elementary
• Dana Elementary
• East Henderson High School
• Edneyville Elementary
• Flat Rock Middle School
• Fletcher Elementary
• Glenn C. Marlow Elementary
• Henderson County Early College
• Hendersonville High School
• Hendersonville Middle School
• Hillandale Elementary
• North Henderson High School
• Sugarloaf Elemetary 
• Upward Elementary

JACKSON COUNTY SCHOOLS

• Blue Ridge School
• Jackson County School of Alternatives (The HUB)
• Smokey Mountain School (Elementary/Middle School)

MACON COUNTY SCHOOLS

• Cartoogechaye Elementary
• East Franklin Elementary

McDOWELL COUNTY SCHOOLS

• Eastfield Elementary
• Marion Elementary
• McDowell County Early College

POLK COUNTY SCHOOLS

• Polk Central
• Tryon Elementary

RUTHERFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS

• Chase High School
• Chase Middle School
• 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

• Cherokee Extension High School 
• Mountain Discovery School (Charter)
• Swain County East Elementary
• Swain County High School
• Swain County Middle School

TRANSYLVANIA COUNTY SCHOOLS

• Brevard Elementary
• Brevard Middle School (Beginning Fall 2011)

YANCEY COUNTY SCHOOLS

• Burnsville Elementary