About Us

The School of Inquiry and Life Sciences (SILSA), located on the campus of Asheville High School, offers a unique and challenging educational experience, redesigned with an integrated curriculum centered around a life-sciences theme. Originating as part of the North Carolina New Schools Project—supported by a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation—SILSA was created to provide a rigorous, college-ready curriculum with strong academic and emotional support, preparing students with essential 21st-century skills like communication, collaboration, and problem-solving. We are proud to be recognized as one of the top high schools in Western North Carolina by the US News and World Report, a distinction we attribute to our high student success rate and unique, challenging educational experience.

Our faculty is committed to delivering dynamic courses that are more rigorous than typical Honors levels, featuring a Project-Based Learning approach. We also offer meaningful off-campus activities as part of each semester's curriculum. Our goal is to empower scholars to make informed decisions about their learning and future, equipping them for success in a rapidly evolving global economy.

Our Mission & Vision

School Mission Statement: SILSA, through rigorous and inquiry-based instruction, cultivates life-long learners who are empowered with the skills and dispositions required for success in the 21st-century.

School Vision Statement:

• SILSA faculty promises to empower our graduates to develop the skills and dispositions of the seven outcomes.

• SILSA’s core instruction is inquiry-based, rigorous, collaborative, 21st century relevant, and anchored in life science themes.

• The SILSA community is committed to serving scholars holistically, designing the complete educational experience for scholars through robust relationships and professional collaboration.

• SILSA scholars are engaged and open-minded critical thinkers who proactively seek their personal best on the path to continuous improvement.