October 17, 2007 12:15 am

Add another superlative to Asheville’s growing list of bests: Top 25 Places to Live to go to School in 2007.

Relocate-America, a Michigan-based company that created the Internet directory, recognized Asheville as a community with top-rated schools, including public, private and religious schools and specialized/vocational educational opportunities.

“I was pleased to see that the accomplishments of the schools systems, both Asheville and Buncombe, were being recognized across the state and across the nation,” said Allen Johnson, interim superintendent of Asheville City Schools. “We’re very pleased with it, and we want to thank the hard work and dedication of our hard-working teachers and staff.”

Buncombe County and Asheville City schools factored into the ranking, said Julie Kane, director of marketing and client services for HomeRoute, the owner and operator of Relocate-America.

“The citizens of Buncombe County have a long history of high expectations and quality performance when it comes to educating our young people,” said Cliff Dodson, superintendent of Buncombe County Schools.

Asheville also was in Relocate-America’s Top 100 Places to Live earlier this year.

The Relocate-America Web site credits the academic achievement and performance of Asheville schools, plus strong community support, parental involvement, caring faculty and staff and successful extracurricular activities for its ranking.

“This is the only list that is determined by statistics and feedback of the people who live and go to school in these communities,” read a statement at relocate-america.com.