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Community School of Davidson Archives - North Carolina Coalition for Charter Schools

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.

Aug 19
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Seven charter high schools in U.S. News Top 25 for NC

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TMSA Superintendent Ben Karaduman and Marketing Coordinator Fatih Sahin in an earlier photo with Robin Clause, VP of Sales and Marketing at Durham-Sanford Coca-Cola Bottling Co., at TMSA Triangle High School. Photo courtesy of TMSA Public Charter Schools/Facebook.

Just in time for the new school year, U.S. News & World Report today released its new 2025-26 public high school rankings. This year’s edition also includes a specialized charter ranking; see the national charter ranking here.

Congratulations to these seven charter schools, which ranked in the top 25 public high schools overall in North Carolina!

We’re so proud of these public charter schools and their excellent work with students.

View the overall ranking for North Carolina charter high schools.

See the list of top public high schools in North Carolina, including charter schools.

*Coalition member schools are in bold in the list above.

Jul 24
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Shout-out: Community School of Davidson’s Spartan Park

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Photo courtesy of Carolina Preps.

Community School of Davidson‘s athletic complex, Spartan Park, was highlighted in recent coverage from Carolina Preps’ Stadium Project. In fact, Carolina Preps called it “one of North Carolina’s newest and most impressive high school athletic facilities.” Great words–congratulations, Spartans!

Here’s an excerpt from the Carolina Preps coverage:

Spartan Park is a state-of-the-art complex that sets a new standard for high school athletics. The centerpiece is a synthetic turf football stadium, designed to deliver a high-quality game day experience for players and fans alike. The facility also includes turf practice fields and a turf baseball field, providing year-round usability and top-tier conditions for student-athletes.

From the layout to the amenities, Spartan Park is a first-class venue and a must-visit destination for high school football fans. If you’re looking for a great Friday night atmosphere in a modern, well-equipped setting, this stadium is well worth the trip.

See more from Carolina Preps.

May 29
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CSD’s Coach Johnson earns NCHSAA recognition

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Coach Ty Johnson. Photo credit: Phenom Hoop Report.

Congratulations to Ty Johnson, the men’s Varsity Basketball coach at Community School of Davidson! Coach Johnson has just been awarded the Region 6 Homer Thompson “Eight Who Make a Difference” award by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA).

The annual award honors eight coaches across the state who “exemplify exceptional sportsmanship and serve as inspiring role models for student athletes.”

Here’s more about this year’s award in a press release from the NCHSAA:

Named in honor of Coach Homer Thompson, a long-time coach and respected sportsmanship advocate from Winston-Salem Parkland High School, the award highlights the vital role of coaches who lead with character, respect, and integrity both on and off the field. These coaches are selected from each [of the] NCHSAA’s eight regions and will be recognized at the NCHSAA Annual Meeting.

Each recipient has been nominated by their peers and communities for their leadership and their positive impact on education-based athletics. The NCHSAA applauds these individuals for embodying the spirit of the “Benching Bad Behavior” initiative and promoting respect in high school sports.

Here’s what the NCHSAA wrote about Coach Johnson specifically:

Region 6: Ty Johnson
Community School of Davidson – Boys Basketball
In just his first season, Coach Ty Johnson transformed the culture of the basketball program and united the wider school community. Despite working off-campus, he regularly visits classrooms, checks on academics, and challenges his players to live “Above The Line” in all areas of life. His impact has extended beyond the court, bringing teachers, families, and students together to support one another with purpose and pride.
Read the full press release from the NCHSAA.
Congratulations to Coach Johnson and to Community School of Davidson!
Apr 01
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Community School of Davidson Holds Sweet Fun Run, Benefiting Speed for Need

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Community School of Davidson continues to give back to the community through its annual Sweet Fun Run. Students at the public charter school held this year’s fun run on March 15, the third event since the program launched. Entry fees for the race go to benefit Speed for Need, a nonprofit organization that provides customized racing wheelchairs for racers with special needs. Runners can enjoy a treat after finishing each of the four laps that make up the one-mile race.

This year, the fun run raised over $4,000 for Speed for Need.

Read about the origins of the Sweet Fun Run.

Sweet Fun Run leaders participate in Community School of Davidson’s annual event. Photo courtesy of Lindsay Krone/Lake Norman Publications.

Lake Norman Publications covered this year’s Sweet Fun Run. Here’s an excerpt from that article:

A group of high school seniors who created a charity run from scratch as sophomores found a way for their legacy to live on at Community School of Davidson.

Sweet Fun Run co-founders Alex DuBois, Logan DuBois, Owen Hamilton and Logan Cain will all graduate this spring, along with Colby Thompson, who joined them in the run’s second year. The Sweet Fun Run rewards participants with sweet treats after each lap around the track for a total of four laps (one mile) at Spartan Park on Beatties Ford Road.

The $10 participation fee is a fundraiser for Speed for Need, a nonprofit that provides customized racing wheelchairs and pushers to special needs riders in fitness events like 5Ks, 10Ks and marathons.

Alex DuBois said the founders knew they would need help to grow and continue the fun run, so last year they formed the Sweet Fun Run Club at CSD. Students interested in assisting in the fun run joined and helped at the second annual event.

Then, with senior year upon them, the founders identified new leaders within the club.

“We invited people to come to some of our meetings, as our leaders, and some of them decided that they really enjoyed it. And they wanted to stick around, and then they’ve been with us all year helping make everything happen and bringing new ideas to the event,” Cain said. “We’re super grateful for all of them helping out and hopefully they will continue on next year and make it all be better.”

Those new leaders are Lucy Faubert, Ethan Tomko, Abbey Cain, Jackson Hartsell and Max Holtz.

Read the rest of the article here.

We’re proud of these caring and enterprising students at Community School of Davidson!

Community School of Davidson is a Coalition member school.

Mar 19
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Community School of Davidson hosts Fresh Take Conference

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Earlier this month, Community School of Davidson (CSD) shared insights and encouragement with 300 educators at the school’s annual Fresh Take Conference.

The conference, notes CSD, “is dedicated to reigniting the passion within educators, helping them rediscover the joy of teaching, and reminding them of the profound impact they have on students’ lives.” Learn more about the conference here.

Lake Norman Publications covered this year’s event.

Here’s an excerpt from that article:

“The founder had the vision to create an opportunity for educators to share best practices and to spread good teaching,” said Leslie Bragg, high school student life leader.

“It’s so gratifying to fill the building with educators who are eager to learn and hungry to share and connect. It fills our buckets and we all learn from each other so much while we’re here,” she continued. “It’s such a valuable part of our mission and our school year.”

Bragg said the conference draws hundreds from around the state who rotate through seven various workshop sessions and hear a keynote address, one geared toward elementary educators and one toward middle and high school educators. This year’s speaker was John Almarode, an education professor at James Madison University, where he continues to work with students while actively pursuing research interests, including the science of learning and the design and measurement of classroom environments that promote the greatest gains in student learning.

Educators at CSD’s Fresh Take Conference. Photo courtesy of Lindsay Krone/Lake Norman Publications.

Read more about this year’s Fresh Take Conference from Lake Norman Publications. We’re so pleased to see our member charter schools doing amazing things to inspire and help other educators.

May 07
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N.C. Charters Earn Top Spots in New U.S. News High School Ranking

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U.S. News & World Report is out with new high school rankings for 2024, and the news is very good for public charter schools!

In North Carolina, public charter schools occupy 14 of the top 50 spots among the state’s leading public high schools.

Here’s the list of those charter schools:

  • Raleigh Charter High School, #4
  • Woods Charter, #5
  • Lake Norman Charter, #15
  • Research Triangle High School, #17
  • Triangle Math & Science Academy, #18
  • Pine Lake Prep, #21
  • NC Leadership Academy, #24
  • Eno River Academy, #27
  • Gray Stone Day, #28
  • Community School of Davidson, #29
  • Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy, #30
  • Henderson Collegiate, #35
  • Oxford Prep, #40
  • The Hawbridge School, #49

Congratulations to these schools, and especially to Coalition member schools!

Read more:

Oct 03
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Niche: Charter schools among N.C.’s top-ranked public schools

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Education platform Niche has released its 2024 school rankings, with N.C. charter schools earning top honors among the state’s public schools. One N.C. charter school–Raleigh Charter High School–is ranked #4 on the list of the country’s best charter high schools. Among elementary schools in North Carolina, 18 of the top 20 public schools are charter schools!

These charter schools made Niche’s list of the state’s top public high schools:

In addition, these charter schools made Niche’s list of the state’s top public elementary schools:

  • Southeastern Academy, #1
  • Metrolina Regional Scholars Academy, #2
  • The Academy of Moore County, #3
  • Quest Academy, #4
  • The Expedition School, #5
  • Woods Charter, #6
  • Sterling Montessori, #7
  • Summerfield Charter Academy, #8 (Ranked #1 among best public elementary schools in the Greensboro area)
  • Greensboro Academy, #9 (Ranked #2 among best public elementary schools in the Greensboro area)
  • Endeavor Charter, #10
  • Magellan Charter School, #11
  • Willow Oak Montessori, #13
  • Tiller School, #14
  • Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy, #15
  • Socrates Academy, #16
  • Lake Norman Charter, #17
  • Pine Springs Preparatory Academy, #18
  • New Dimensions, #19

Read more about just charter schools:

*Coalition member schools are in bold.

Aug 30
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Sixteen N.C. Charter Schools Make Annual List of Best High Schools

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Sixteen North Carolina charter schools earned a top-50 spot in U.S. News & World Report’s annual ranking, released yesterday, of the state’s best public high schools. Top 2023-24 high schools across the nation, according to the publication, were those producing high student test scores and “strong underserved student performance, college readiness and curriculum breadth, as well as graduation rates.”

Today the Coalition distributed a press release highlighting the achievement of these 16 charter schools. Find the release here.

The N.C. charter schools earning a top-50 spot for 2023-24 were:

  • Raleigh Charter High School, #5
  • Woods Charter School, #9
  • Community School of Davidson, #13
  • Pine Lake Preparatory, #15
  • Gray Stone Day School, #16
  • Lake Norman Charter, #21
  • Research Triangle High School, #22
  • The North Carolina Leadership Academy, #27
  • The Hawbridge School, #37
  • Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy, #38
  • Longleaf School of the Arts, #40
  • Triangle Math and Science Academy, #43
  • Franklin Academy, #45
  • Oxford Preparatory School, #46
  • Henderson Collegiate, #47
  • Pinnacle Classical Academy, #49

Six of these schools are Coalition member schools (highlighted in bold).

See the ranking of all N.C. public high schools here. View the charter-only list of top public high schools here.