Beginning Fall Semester 2002, students in the teacher education program are required to complete one field experience (designated by the Office of Field Experiences) in a diverse setting. This means students must complete one field experience in a diverse setting in EDCI 231, PSY 321, SPED 335/336/337, BLOCK, Internship, or Student Teaching.
These schools identified as a diverse setting 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.
It is the goal of this committee to continue looking at diversity in Western North Carolina public schools, not only on the basis of race and ethnic background, but exceptionalities and socioeconomic status as well. For now we will work with the information we have accumulated and add to it as it becomes available.
We realize many students have difficult schedules, making it hard for them to travel to a school on the list, however the committee plans to work with specific departments on scheduling, and students will know ahead of time that this is an expectation at some point in their coursework, so they will be able to plan for a semester where they may have to travel at least one hour.
This is an important issue in that students need to have experiences in diverse school settings so that they will be better prepared for their careers in the educational profession.
The following schools may be used for the diversity placement with additional schools being added periodically:
Schools Meeting Diverse Field Experience Requirements
Asheville City Schools
- Asheville High School
- Asheville Middle School
- Claxton Elementary
- Hall Fletcher Academy
- Isaac Dickson Elementary
- Ira B. Jones Elementary
- Randolph Learning Center
- School of Inquiry and Life Sciences
- Vance Elementary
Buncombe County Schools
- A. C. Reynolds Middle School
- Avery’s Creek Elementary
- Charles C. Bell Elementary
- Clyde Erwin Middle School
- Emma Elementary
- Johnston Elementary
- Haw Creek Elementary
- Oakley Elementary
- T. C. Roberson High School
- Valley Springs Middle School
- W. D. Williams Elementary
- West Buncombe Elementary
- William W. Estes Elementary
- Woodfin Elementary
Cherokee Central School (Qualla Boundary/BIA)
- Cherokee Elementary
- Cherokee Middle School
- Cherokee High School
Henderson County Schools
- Apple Valley Middle School
- Balfour Elementary
- Bruce Drysdale Elementary
- Cedar Creek Elementary
- Dana Elementary
- Edneyville Elementary
- Flat Rock Middle School
- Hendersonville High School
- Hendersonville Middle School
- Hillandale Elementary
- Upward Elementary
Jackson County
- Smokey Mountain Elementary
McDowell County
- Eastfield Elementary
- Marion Elementary
Polk County
- Tryon Elementary
- Polk Central
Rutherford County
- East Rutherford High School
- East Rutherford Middle School
- Forest City Elementary
- Forrest W. Hunt Elementary
- R. S. Middle School
- R. S. Central
- Rutherford County Early College
- Spindale Elementary
Swain County
- Swain County High School
- Swain County Middle School
- Swain County East Elementary
Transylvania County
- Brevard Elementary
Yancy County
- Burnsville Elementary