Asheville’s Castle on the Hill
WLOS reports on Stephens-Lee High School’s important place in Black history.
The history of America is shaped by courageous people willing to take a stand — and in Asheville, that courage came from students.
In an episode of Amazing America which aired on February 5, 2026, WLOS News 13 looks at Stephens-Lee High School, the first and only all-Black high school in Asheville, and the students who helped drive the fight for racial justice during the Civil Rights era.
Known as the “Castle on the Hill,” Stephens-Lee was more than a school. It was a hub for the Black community, a place that shaped future leaders, and a launching pad for change. Alumni like Rita Waters and Buncombe County Commissioner Al Whitesides reflect on their experiences growing up in a segregated system — from using hand-me-down textbooks to being barred from lunch counters, theaters, and restaurants.
WLOS explores how students formed the Asheville Student Committee on Racial Equality (ASCORE), meeting after hours to plan peaceful protests and challenge segregation throughout Asheville and Buncombe County. Their efforts helped open doors — literally — and pushed the Civil Rights movement forward in Western North Carolina.
Stephens-Lee closed in 1965 after desegregation, ending an era but marking the success of a movement led by young people determined to make a difference. Though the Castle was torn down, its legacy — and the voices that once filled its halls — still echo today.
