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Coalition member schools Archives - North Carolina Coalition for Charter Schools

Oct 09
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Welcome to Warren YES, our newest member school!

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Dave Machado with Warren YES Board Chair Caroline Hundley at the school’s dedication this week.

The Coalition is delighted to welcome Warren YES as our newest member school. Located in Norlina, Warren YES, an elementary school, is new to North Carolina’s charter landscape this year.

Here is the school’s mission:

The mission of Warren YES is to create a child-focused, place-based learning environment that motivates students to be purposeful, creative, ethical and compassionate leaders, while building a healthy future for themselves, their community, and the planet.

YES stands for Young Explorers School, with the school’s innovative approach hinging on four pillars:

  • Place-based learning
  • Outdoor and agricultural education
  • Holistic health and wellness
  • Creative expression

We’re so pleased Warren YES has joined the Coalition and look forward to partnering together! Please join us in welcoming this member school.

The Coalition serves over 100 member schools across North Carolina.

Jun 02
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Coalition welcomes multiple new member schools for 2025-26

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GLOW Academy’s Annual International Day of the Girl Event this past fall. Photo courtesy of GLOW Academy.

We’re delighted to continue welcoming new member schools to the Coalition! You’ve seen welcome articles on this blog or in our newsletter already for some new members during the 2025-26 school year. But we want to be sure to welcome each of our new members by name and share a bit about what these schools do and who they serve!

Coalition membership includes independent charter schools as well as schools that partner with EMOs and CMOs (education management or charter management organizations). Some of our schools are large while others are small. And some are brand new while others opened their doors not long after the charter law passed nearly 30 years ago.

Without further ado, here’s an introduction to more of the schools we welcomed as new members this year!

Carolina Achieve

A new charter school in Mebane, Carolina Achieve is serving students in grades K-3 for 2026-27, with the plan to increase eventually to a K-12 model. Here is the school’s mission:

Carolina Achieve prepares K – 12th-grade students to achieve their scholastic, personal, and professional goals through a learner-centered educational program focusing on a strong academic foundation, Habits of Success (entrepreneurial skills), well-being, and a Home-School partnership.

Girls Leadership Academy of Wilmington (GLOW)

GLOW is the only charter school in North Carolina to serve an all-girls student population. The Wilmington charter school serves girls in grades 6-12, with this mission:

GLOW Academy, a public charter school, educates young women from diverse backgrounds through middle and high school, in a nurturing community with rigorous college preparatory curriculum to develop leaders who succeed in college and beyond.

Honor Preparatory Academy

A new charter school that launched in Charlotte in 2025, Honor Prep serves students in grades K-5. Here’s what Paul Barnhardt, Honor Prep’s lead founder and executive director, says about the school’s mission:

At Honor Prep, our mission is to empower scholars through an education rooted in equity and opportunity.

In addition, the Coalition welcomed The Institute for the Development of Young Leaders (IDYL), Telra Institute, and Quality Education Academy this spring. We share more about those schools below. We also welcomed Excelsior Classical Academy. (Read Excelsior’s welcome article here.)

IDYL

IDYL serves K-8 students at its Durham campus, with a new campus planning to open in Wake County for the 2026-27 year. This is the school’s mission:

IDYL provides a rigorous, stimulating comprehensive educational experience that promotes school success for every child by addressing social, emotional and mental wellness and fostering a strong sense of community. We provide a high quality learning environment that promotes academic and leadership skills and content mastery.

Telra Institute

A Charlotte charter school serving students in grades K-11, Telra Institute will expand to K-12 in 2027. The school describes its approach this way:

We enable advanced learners to realize their potential by going beyond the conventional education model. Our approach is to nurture challenge, encourage tailored acceleration, and craft a unique learning journey for each child. Students will finish elementary grades being one to three grade levels ahead of the standard curriculum, move on to learn some high school content in middle school, and aim to finish high school with a college (Associates) degree complete.

Quality Education Academy

Located in Winston-Salem, QEA serves students in grades K-12 and is “committed to providing a rigorous, nurturing, and culturally affirming educational experience for all scholars.” Here is the school’s mission:

To maximize the educational development of our students, relative to state requirements and our
school’s mission-specific outcomes, at a per-pupil cost that is in alignment with the two largest school districts in our state and the district in which our school exists.

Thank you to these new member schools for their partnership! Coalition membership now includes more than 100 public charter schools across the state.

Apr 13
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Pinnacle Classical Academy dedicates school building

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Leaders celebrate the building dedication for Pinnacle Classical Academy on April 10. All photos courtesy of Pinnacle Classical Academy

Congratulations to Pinnacle Classical Academy on its new school building! Pinnacle dedicated the new building, which will serve students in grades 4-12, at a ceremony on Friday, April 10. A public charter school located in Shelby, North Carolina, Pinnacle currently serves over 1,200 students across grades K-12.

We share Pinnacle’s press release below:

Federal, state, and local officials joined Sen. Debbie Clary, co-founder and board chair of Pinnacle Classical Academy, at the official dedication of Pinnacle Classical Academy’s grade 4-12 school building at its Joes Lake Road campus on April 10.

Sen. Clary thanked the USDA for the $28 million in loans that made possible the building’s construction and expansion in two phrases. Clary also thanked Holland & Hamrick Architects, TC Strickland Construction, and David Clary Construction for their roles in designing and completing the building’s second phase.

“We are honored to be your partner,” Robert Hosford, the USDA’s State Director for Rural Development, said at the building’s dedication. “I can’t think of a better partner to administer your funds as a taxpayer.”

Rep. Tim Moore and Sen. Ted Alexander also addressed the gathering, as did Kevin Gordon, chairman of the Cleveland County Board of Commissioners, and Lindsay Reusser, regional director for Sen. Ted Budd.

Rep. Moore said that he was “really proud” of the development of Pinnacle Classical Academy, which Sen. Alexander described as an “exciting example” of a public-private partnership. Gordon, representing the Board of Commissioners, said that the school is a “great asset” to Cleveland County.

Pinnacle Classical Academy, a tuition-free public charter school, opened its doors as a K-6 school with 308 students in 2013. It has since grown to a K-12 school with 1,213 students. U.S. News & World Report ranks Pinnacle Classical Academy among the best elementary schools, best middle schools, and best high schools in the nation.

According to a blog post from Pinnacle, distinguished guests at Friday’s event included:

• North Carolina State Senator Ted Alexander
• A representative from the office of United States Senator Ted Budd
• United States Congressman Tim Moore
• Cleveland County Commissioner Kevin Gordon
• Cleveland County Commissioner Ronnie Whetstine
• USDA State Director Robert Hosford
• North Carolina State Senator Wes Westmoreland
• North Carolina State Senator Debbie Clary
• North Carolina Office of Charter Schools representative Joseph Maimone
• Cleveland County Register of Deeds Betsy Harnage
• PCA Board of Directors member Dr. Pauline Cahill
• PCA Board of Directors member Amy Dulin
• President of Cleveland Community College Jason Hurst
• Former PCA Board of Directors member Jason Philbeck
• PCA Board of Directors member Anthony Negbenebor
Pinnacle is a Coalition member school. Shelly Shope, the school’s CEO, also serves as vice chair of the Coalition Board of Directors.
Feb 04
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Coalition welcomes Hubrich Contracting as 2026 Summit Champion Sponsor

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The Coalition is proud to welcome Durham-based Hubrich Contracting as a 2026 Champion-level Summit sponsor! We share an introduction from Hubrich below.
Hubrich Contracting brings deep experience serving North Carolina’s charter school community and has successfully developed and delivered outstanding new school facilities and campus improvement projects for Coalition member schools across the state. To date, Hubrich has completed 53 charter school projects, helping schools expand capacity and create high-quality learning environments. Most recently, Hubrich completed projects with Durham Charter School, Riverside Leadership Academy, Carolina Achieve (modular expansion), Voyager Performing Arts Center, and Raleigh Oak Charter School—supporting each campus’s growth and long-term operational success.

About Hubrich Contracting

Hubrich Contracting is a charter school–focused real estate development and construction firm specializing in full-service facility delivery. Known for innovation in the construction industry, Hubrich streamlines financing, design, and construction into a cohesive, efficient process that prioritizes quality, speed to market, and cost-effectiveness. From early infrastructure planning through final occupancy, their team partners with school leaders to deliver functional, future-ready educational spaces.

An evidence-based approach to school expansion

Research consistently shows a strong connection between well-designed school facilities and improved student outcomes. Factors such as lighting, air quality, and thoughtful classroom environments contribute to stronger academic performance and positive student behavior. Hubrich works closely with school leadership teams to design and construct facilities that not only meet enrollment and operational needs but also foster optimal learning conditions.

We’re grateful for Hubrich’s continued support of the Coalition as a Champion Summit sponsor and encourage school leaders to consider them for upcoming renovation, expansion, and new construction projects. To learn more, contact Ashley Cary, Business Director at Hubrich, at 480.459.9429 or ashley@hubrichcontracting.com.

Durham Charter School’s new campus. Courtesy of Hubrich Contracting.

Oct 30
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Coalition schools celebrate a lawmaker visit, ribbon-cuttings

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Lawmaker visit

A number of our Coalition member schools have marked big events this week! On Monday, Community School of Davidson hosted Rep. Beth Helfrich (D-Mecklenburg) for a school visit. We’re so pleased to see this happening, as we always want lawmakers to know what our amazing charter schools are doing. Inviting your elected representatives to visit your school is one of the best ways to highlight your innovative work with students. Way to go, CSD!

Ribbon-cutting/opening ceremonies

In addition, two schools this week celebrated ribbon-cutting or opening ceremonies: Socrates Academy on Tuesday celebrated a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new upper school facility. Liberty Charter Academy held its official opening ceremony on Wednesday.

Congratulations to these schools on reaching these major milestones! We’re so pleased to see our schools creating beautiful, new, and innovative spaces for their students–and also to see new schools launching statewide. Coalition Executive Director Dave Machado was on hand at both Socrates Academy and Liberty Charter Academy to celebrate these events.

We share photos below.

Pictured from L to R: Rick Gay, CSD Board Member; Amy Tomalis, Head of Upper School; Rep. Beth Helfrich; Craig Smith, CSD Executive Director. Photo courtesy of CSD/Facebook.

Socrates Academy ribbon-cutting. Pictured from L to R: Dave Machado; Vanessa Baker, Principal; John Cutchell, Board Chair. Photo courtesy of Socrates Academy.

Liberty Charter Academy’s opening ceremony. Photo courtesy of Dave Machado.

Sep 16
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Welcome to the Coalition, Socrates Academy!

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Photo courtesy of Socrates Academy.

The Coalition is delighted to welcome Socrates Academy as our newest member. The K-12 charter school, located in Matthews, North Carolina, has this goal as part of its distinctive mission: Cultivating scholars for impactful global engagement, ethical citizenship, and lifelong learning.

Here’s more from Socrates Academy about its approach:

Socrates Academy is an innovative college preparatory school that partners with local and global communities to inspire and empower scholars to reach their full academic and intellectual potential. Socratic learning fosters curiosity; scholars engage in critical thinking and problem-solving while upholding values of diversity, fairness, justice, and empathy. Advanced coursework in the Greek language and cultural heritage, the cradle of Western civilization and democracy, forms the foundation of intellectual and multicultural competencies.

Welcome to the Coalition, Socrates Academy! We’re delighted to have you as a member and look forward to partnering with you. See the latest list of Coalition members.
Aug 26
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Coalition welcomes four new member schools

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Oxford Preparatory School in Oxford, NC. Photo courtesy of Hubrich Contracting, which helped with school construction.

We’re delighted to welcome four new member schools to the Coalition: Oxford Preparatory School, Carolina International School, Quest Academy Charter School, and Aspire Trade High School. Oxford Preparatory, Carolina International School, and Quest Academy are brand new members. Aspire Trade High School joins as a regular member following a Ready to Open/first year membership.

Oxford Preparatory, a K-12 school in Oxford, has this mission:

Oxford Preparatory School’s purpose is to graduate future leaders who have completed a rigorous curriculum, performed community service, and developed an appreciation of the arts in preparation for the challenges of the college of their choice. With support from our diverse community, we will cultivate intellectual curiosity in well-rounded students by engaging in critical thinking and experiential learning.

Carolina International School, a K-12 school in Concord, has this mission:

Our mission is to nurture students’ natural curiosity and joy of learning while they achieve academic excellence through a challenging, interdisciplinary, international curriculum.

Quest Academy Charter School, a K-8 school in Raleigh, has this mission:

The mission of Quest Academy (Quest) is to provide a quality, accelerated academic program for motivated students pursuing high intensity training outside the classroom. The students may be involved in athletic participation or performances in fine arts. The activity does not equate with religious or youth activities and should include professional instruction outside the home. Quest believes high expectations are the key to achievements.

Aspire Trade High School, located in Huntersville, is the first trade high school in the Charlotte area. This is the school’s mission and vision:

We empower students to explore skilled trades, gain real-world experience, and graduate ready to build successful careers in their chosen industries.

We’re so pleased to welcome these new schools to the Coalition!

See the latest list of Coalition member schools.

Jul 15
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Welcome to the Coalition, Faith Academy Charter School!

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The Coalition is delighted to welcome Faith Academy Charter School as our newest member school! Located in the small town of Faith, North Carolina, northeast of Charlotte, Faith Academy serves around 940 students in grades K-11. Here is the school’s mission:

Faith Academy Charter School will prepare a diverse student body for college and career through Project Based Learning, life skills courses, and College and Technical Education pathways. Through this challenging and supportive learning environment, students address real-world problems to become successful citizens and community leaders in a rapidly changing world.

Faith’s facility journey

Last fall, after visiting the school, the Coalition published a story about Faith Academy’s amazing facility journey. If you missed it, you can find the article here. It’s inspiring and worth reading to know how this tight-knit community came together to found a public charter school and serve the needs of local schoolchildren.

Welcome to the Coalition, Faith Academy! We’re so glad to have you on board. See the latest list of Coalition member schools.

 

Nov 01
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Coalition Welcomes Longleaf School of the Arts as a Member

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Longleaf School of the Arts provides students with a college preparatory curriculum and an arts-based focus. Photo credit: Longleaf/Facebook.

We’re delighted to welcome Longleaf School of the Arts as our newest Coalition member! A public charter school located in Raleigh, Longleaf offers students a college preparatory curriculum, with a focus on the arts.

Longleaf has as its mission the goal of developing students into “confident, responsible, and successful contributors in college, career, and community through mentorship and a challenging curriculum that integrates academics and the fine arts.” In 2024, U.S. News & World Report ranked Longleaf among the top 10 public high schools in the Raleigh area.

We share more about Longleaf below, in the school’s own words:

Longleaf School of the Arts is the first charter high school in Raleigh, NC that integrates academics with the fine and performing arts. We are a college preparatory school that prepares students for university rigor while allowing them to explore their creative and artistic side. We use a small high school setting to address the needs of students who are hard-working and dedicated to receiving a quality education, and who may be looking for an alternative to a traditional high school setting. Longleaf offers a variety of Advanced Placement classes, as well as a wide variety of classes in the following fine and performing arts: choral music, dance, instrumental music, musical theatre, theatre, and visual art.

Welcome to the Coalition, Longleaf!

More than 90 North Carolina public charter schools are members of the Coalition. School members are large and small; some are independent, while others are affiliated with education or charter management organizations. See the latest list of Coalition member schools.