Homeschool benefits and savings in Asheville
Asheville Parks and Recreation runs a fall 2026 homeschool recreation hub of midday programs at city community centers, including free weekly physical education for ages 6-12 (Dr. Grant Gym Rats, Mondays at Wesley Grant Southside Center) and free programs for teens. The other classes cost $5 to $20, and you register ahead through the city's WebTrac site.
Asheville homeschool recreation hub
Who qualifies
Is 6 to 18 years old
Youth programs are for ages 6-12 and teen programs for ages 12-18. Some gaming club dates are for ages 10 and up, and Learn to Climb is for ages 8-12.
Can attend midday
The programs run late morning or early afternoon on weekdays, scheduled to break up a homeschool day.
Registers in advance
REC-Cess requires advance registration, and the city says many hub programs fill up, so sign up through WebTrac before the start date.
What each program costs
Prices and dates come from the City of Asheville's fall 2026 homeschool recreation hub schedule.
- Dr. Grant Gym Rats physical education, ages 6-12
- Free
- REC-Cess active games, ages 12-18
- Free
- Level-Up Hub courses, ages 12-18
- Free
- Homeschool Tabletop Gaming Club
- $5
- Art Garage, ages 6-12
- $10
- Learn to Climb, ages 8-12
- $20
Learn to Climb runs three Thursdays, December 3-17, and a parent or guardian must attend and belay the child.
How to join
- Before a program starts
Register on WebTrac
Find each program on the city's WebTrac site from the links in the hub schedule and sign up before it fills.
- Mondays through Dec. 28
Gym Rats physical education
Ages 6-12 meet at Wesley Grant Southside Center from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. for games, sports, and activities.
- First and third Wednesdays
REC-Cess for teens
Ages 12-18 play active group games at Linwood Crump Shiloh Center from noon to 1:30 p.m. through December 16.
- Dec. 3-17
Learn to Climb
Beginner indoor climbing at Tempie Avery Montford Center, Thursdays from noon to 2 p.m.
What it includes
Included
- Physical education games and sports
- Active group games for teens
- Level-Up Hub courses in clay, vehicle care, and healthy relationships
Not included
- Fees for Art Garage, the gaming club, and Learn to Climb
- Learn to Climb without a parent or guardian on site
Who to contact about homeschool programs
Asheville Parks and Recreation runs the homeschool hub programs and answers questions about schedules and registration.
828-251-1122 Homeschool recreation hub schedule
Asheville SOAR financial assistance
Who qualifies
Is an Asheville resident
The city says all residents are eligible to apply. SOAR is based on financial need, and the page lists no school-enrollment requirement.
Shows financial need
Households that receive free or reduced lunch, SNAP, a housing choice voucher such as Section 8, Medicaid, SSI, SSDI, a pension, or other public assistance should apply to see if they qualify.
Attaches financial documents
Attach copies of your financial documents to the SOAR application. All financial information is kept confidential.
Has an APR account
Discounts are applied to your household account at avlrec.com, so create one or update your household members before you apply.
What it is worth
The terms come from Asheville Parks and Recreation's SOAR page, which does not publish discount amounts or income limits.
- Programs covered
- Summer camps, afterschool, break camps
- Approval length
- 2 years from the award date
- Processing time
- Up to 3 weeks
- Fees paid while you wait
- Overpayment returned as account credit
- Refunds
- Account credit, 2 weeks before start
- Renewal
- New application required
The page gives no discount percentage or income table, so ask soar@ashevillenc.gov what discount your household would receive and which documents to attach.
From applying to keeping it
- Before you apply
Set up your account
Create an Asheville Parks and Recreation account at avlrec.com, or check that your household members are current.
- Any time
Submit the SOAR application
Fill out the application online and attach your financial documents. Call 828-259-5800 if you need an appointment or have no email.
- While it is pending
Register and pay
The application does not register your child, so sign up and pay for programs while you wait. If you are approved, any overpayment becomes account credit.
- Within 3 weeks
Hear back
The city notifies you by email, or by phone if you prefer, and the discount then applies automatically at checkout.
- After 2 years
Reapply
Renewal is not automatic. The city emails a reminder before the renewal window, and you submit a new application.
What it pays for
Covered
- Youth and teen summer camps
- APR Afterschool
- Fun Day Out on teacher workdays
- Spring and winter break camps
Not covered
- Cash refunds
- Refunds when a participant is dismissed
- Automatic renewal
Who to contact
The SOAR team reviews applications and answers questions about eligibility and documents; report income changes to parks@ashevillenc.gov.
soar@ashevillenc.gov 828-259-5800 SOAR financial assistance
Homeschool rules and statewide help in North Carolina
You must file the Notice of Intent with DNPE at least five business days before home instruction begins; wait for DNPE acknowledgment before withdrawing or starting. No annual renewal is required while operating; notify DNPE when the school closes.
North Carolina sets these rules:
- Subjects: Parents choose the curriculum. Operate on a regular schedule for at least nine calendar months each year, excluding reasonable holidays and vacations.
- Testing: Administer a nationally standardized achievement test each year covering English grammar, reading, spelling, and mathematics.
- Records: Keep attendance and immunization records. Retain annual test results for at least one year and make them available to DNPE on request.
- Teachers: The teaching parent needs a high school diploma or equivalent in North Carolina.
North Carolina also has an education savings account that home-educated students can use.
- Education Student Accounts (ESA+) pay $9,000 a year, or $17,000 for certain disabilities, to students with a documented disability, including homeschooled students. Funding can run out before the school year starts.
Read the North Carolina homeschooling guide See statewide programs in North Carolina
Questions parents ask
- Do we have to live in Asheville to join the homeschool recreation hub?
- Not as far as the schedule shows. It lists no residency rule or nonresident fee, so call Parks and Recreation at 828-251-1122 before you register if you live outside the city.
- What games does the Asheville homeschool hub gaming club play?
- Mysterium on October 23, Lords of Waterdeep on December 4, and 7 Wonders on December 11, at the sessions for ages 10 and up. The club meets twice a month on Fridays from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. at Tempie Avery Montford Center.
- Can a homeschool family get SOAR?
- Yes. Any Asheville resident can apply, and approval depends on your household's finances rather than where your child goes to school.
- Does SOAR cover the midday homeschool hub classes?
- Not as far as the city says. SOAR lists only camps, APR Afterschool, Fun Day Out, and break camps, so ask the SOAR team about other classes.
Turn support into your child’s next lesson
Camps and local activities give your child new interests to explore. Their discoveries can shape the examples and questions they study at home.
$149/month per child after the trial.
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