Central Carolina Academy, a new charter school set to open in August, will take occupancy of its new location at 1801 Douglas Drive in February.

Central Carolina Academy, a new public charter school scheduled to open in August, has announced it will be located at 1801 Douglas Drive, just off North Horner Boulevard in Sanford.

The school, a replication of the Chatham Charter School in Siler City, has entered into a contract to occupy and renovate the location beginning in February.

School leadership will hold several interest meetings for families of potential students in the coming weeks. Leaders will also be posting information about the school on its website and social media accounts to give families insight into plans for the academic program.

Enrollment is through a lottery system. The online student application period opened January 1. If more students apply than there is space for, a lottery will be held. As a public charter school, there is no tuition to attend Central Carolina Academy.

Approximately 22 to 25 staff will be needed as the school opens for grades 6 through 10 in 2022. In subsequent years enrollment will expand until the school serves approximately 664 students in grades 6-12.

In February of 2020 staff from the N.C. Department of Public Instruction approached Dr. John Eldridge, Chatham Charter’s head of school, about replicating Chatham Charter’s successful high school program. Eldridge formulated a unique conglomeration of partner schools concept during the creation of the Central Carolina Academy application. The two schools will work collaboratively while each retains its unique identity.

Central Carolina Academy will be a college preparatory middle/high school. The public charter school will be a rigorous academic program within a traditional middle and high school setting that includes clubs, sports and other student organizations. Using the N.C. Career and College Promise in partnership with Central Carolina Community College, students can graduate with in excess of 40 transferable college credits, potentially saving over an average of $24,000 a year on college tuition. Business partnerships and internships will be key components of a well-rounded Central Carolina Academy experience.

Central Carolina Academy is now accepting student applications for students who will be in grades 6-10 during the 2022-23 school year. Students do not have to live in Lee County in order to attend the school.