25 New Charter Schools Approved

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25 New Charter Schools Approved

Special Report - September 10, 2012
The State Board of Education (SBE) has given preliminary approval to 25 new charter schools scheduled to open across North Carolina in the fall of 2013. The SBE voted unanimously on September 6 to approve 25 new charter schools that were recommended to the board by the North Carolina Public Charter School Advisory Council. The SBE approved the following 25 schools, which still must receive final approval in March 2013 by proving they will be ready to open in the new school year:

Aristotle Preparatory Academy (Mecklenburg)
Cabarrus Charter School (Cabarrus)
Cameron Creek Charter (Mecklenburg)
Charlotte Choice Charter (Mecklenburg)
Douglass Academy (New Hanover)
Falls Lake Academy (Granville)
Flemington Academy (Columbus)
Howard & Lilian Lee Scholars (Orange)
Invest Collegiate (Mecklenburg)
Island Montessori Charter (New Hanover)
Langtree Charter Academy (Cabarrus)
Longleaf School of the Arts (Wake)
NC Leadership Academy (Guilford or Forsyth)
Oxford Preparatory High School (Granville)
Paul R. Brown Leadership Academy (Bladen)
Pinnacle Classical Academy (Cleveland)
Southeastern Academy (Robeson)
STEM Education for a Global Society Academy (SEGS) (New Hanover)
StudentFirst Academy (Mecklenburg)
Summerfield Charter Academy (Guilford)
The Expedition School (Orange County)
The Institute for the Development of Young Leaders (Durham)
Uwharrie Charter Academy: (Randolph)
Willow Oak Montessori (Chatham)
ZECA School of Arts & Technology (Onslow)

According to Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina (PEFNC), the SBE has approved a total of 34 charter schools this year, including “eight schools in counties previously without a charter.” Once the schools open in 2013, the total number of charter schools operating in the state will grow to 132 in 54 counties. The approval of the additional charter schools was made possible last year, when the General Assembly voted to approve S8—No Cap on Number of Charter Schools, which lifted the 10-year old cap on the number of charter schools allowed to operate in the state at one time.

"It is great to see charter school applications and approvals back on track after the lost years created by the arbitrary cap on charters," commented Bill Brooks, president of the North Carolina Family Policy Council. "Research shows conclusively that children learn differently and that parents want the best choice in education for each child. Charter schools help to provide that choice."

Related resources:
Charter School Report Disputed - August 23, 2012
NC Voters Support Charter Schools - July 19, 2012
Board Approves Nine Charter Schools - March 2, 2012
Positive Charter School Closings - December 22, 2011
SBOE Approves Charter Fast Track - September 2, 2011
Charter School Council Formed - August 5, 2011
Charter Bill Heads to Conference - April 15, 2011
Charter School Checkmate - FNC - July 2010
Charter Schools Shortchanged - May 25, 2010
Charter Schools Get the Rap - February 5, 2010
Group Says Lift Charter School Cap - January 22, 2010
Charter School Myths Debunked - January 7, 2010
Charter Schools Close Achievement Gap - October 5, 2009
Charter Schools Have Financial Benefits - November 7, 2008