Nestled in the mountains and surrounded by Christmas tree farms, Ashe County Middle School is a small, rural school in the far northwest corner of North Carolina. Recognized nationally for its fine academic and co-curricular programs, the school prepares students for high school and real-life situations by teaching important concepts, essential skills, and problem solving behavior. All students and staff members are expected to meet high academic standards through a rigorous curriculum and a "no-excuses" approach that ensures that all students are held accountable for learning. Teachers use a variety of instructional strategies to engage, challenge, and captivate students. In this article, the author discusses how relationships in the school and in the community drive the success of Ashe County Middle School.