Taro Shigenobu, the high school principal at Henderson Collegiate, with Carice Sanchez. Photo credit: Mebane Rash/EdNC.
Mebane Rash, CEO and editor-in-chief of EdNC, has written a new spotlight article on Henderson Collegiate, a K-12 public charter school operating in rural Henderson, NC. Every teacher, Rash explained, has an instructional coach, providing what she described as “in-real-time professional development.”
Founded by Eric and Carice Sanchez, Henderson Collegiate opened in 2010 and now serves more than 1,300 students.
The school’s innovative approach to student learning and teaching serves as “a blueprint for instructional practice, continuous improvement, and leadership in North Carolina and beyond,” Rash noted.
Results have been consistent–and impressive.
Here’s an excerpt from the EdNC article:
Since its founding, the school has exceeded growth goals every year and earned an A or B every year since the introduction of the state’s school grading system.
When U.S. News & World Report released its 2025-26 list of best high schools in North Carolina, Henderson Collegiate ranked #24 (top 3.5%).
According to the school, 86% of the students served are economically disadvantaged and 96% are students of color. Of the 154 people on staff, there is an 89% retention rate and 62% are people of color.
The achievement that is celebrated the most at this school? Each year in May, on senior signing day, students reveal their college of choice, celebrating 100% college acceptance. At the celebration, students and their loved ones pledge for the students to stay enrolled full-time at an accredited college, reach out for help when needed, and stay in touch with Henderson Collegiate.
At the celebration, the school welcomes back alumni who are recent college graduates to showcase “the full journey of our Pride.” The mission, says the school, “isn’t just to get students to college — but through college and into lives of impact.”
The article also highlights the work of founder and chief academic officer Carice Sanchez:
Early in 2025, education leaders from across the United States and countries including the United Kingdom, Chile, India, and Singapore visited North Carolina to observe, study, and evaluate the leadership of Carice Sanchez, including school culture, team culture, observations, data-driven instruction, and ongoing professional development.
The cohort of leaders who visited North Carolina is part of the Relay Graduate School of Education’s Leverage Leadership Institute (LLI) Fellowship, which according to the website, “is for high-performing principals and principal managers who serve in traditional school districts and charter management organizations from all over the world.”
LLI looks for leaders “who are in the top 10% of schools in their local district or state, and have led student outcomes to double-digit gains.”
Sanchez was named a “Platinum Leader in the Field.” Just eight of 200+ leaders have earned the distinction.
Read more from EdNC.
Congratulations to Henderson Collegiate on this well-deserved recognition!
The State Board of Education has made two new appointments to 
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