Have you heard the buzz about our area's newest charter school?
Carolina Achieve is a tuition-free public charter school of choice for students in Mebane & Orange County, NC. Their focus is building the habits of success through a whole child and learner-centered approach. Read on below to learn more about the school and what makes it different from other options in our area.
Note: While I, as publisher, have formatted the article to provide an overview of the school for area parents, the words are directly from the Founding Head of School, Trip Cogburn. You can reach out to him for more information and with any questions at: tcogburn@carolina-achieve.org.
An Entrepreneurial Approach to Education
As the NC Triad region's first and only school with an entrepreneurial approach to education, Carolina Achieve will spark children's natural curiosity by allowing them to see real-world connections to their learning, discover and pursue passions, and develop the learned confidence necessary to be the next generation of leaders. We are driven by a vision to create a diverse and inclusive school that mirrors the communities we serve, in particular, Alamance, Orange, and Durham counties. We are committed to providing access, resources, and support to underserved students, establishing an academic foundation that prepares each of them for success not just in school, but in life!
Within the local context, no other school in the Triad region has attempted an entrepreneurial education model. Because of that, the response to our school model has been tremendous from both the parent and business communities. Local businesses are already signaling interest in developing partnerships, internships, and mentoring models which we will incorporate into our plan from the start and which will grow exponentially as our students progress into higher grades.
They still have a few open spots for new students this fall!
Click here to apply to enroll your student.
School Purpose & Learner-Centered Support
Carolina Achieve understands that schools are not "one size fits all." The traditional approach of crafting schools that support the needs of the adults over those of the students is broken and backward. Our school is being built with learners at the center. That starts with our philosophy. Most schools take their diverse, curious, playful learners and drive them toward a singular definition of the ideal student. In the process, learning loses its joy as students become part of a system that tells them what they should not and cannot do.
At Carolina Achieve, we're turning that model upside down by seeing every student as the fascinating, unique learner that they are and creating an environment that inspires them to become skilled, thoughtful, self-driven, lifelong learners ready to take on the world. Our purpose goes beyond creating a great school - we want to positively change the lives of the children in this area, providing a pathway for a better future for not only them but for their families and this community for generations to come.
 Carolina Achieve Staff |
To make this a reality, we understand that our students must know they are safe, not only physically but emotionally and psychologically, to be their whole and true selves. Our students will be seen and celebrated for the unique gifts they bring to the world within a culture of belonging. With the knowledge that they are loved, our students will be open to learning the foundational language and computational skills necessary for success in every walk of life.
Our Student Success System will pair each student with a Success Coach and place them on a team of their peers. This extra layer of support will allow for differentiated, individualized instruction that will promote growth and inform our communication with parents through our Home-Family partnership. Our school will provide the type of educational experience that every parent wants for their child: challenging, exciting, and tailored to their particular needs. We will provide pathways to brighter futures as school becomes a place that students want to be, where they discover talents and interests they didn't even know they had. Cycles that lead to generational inequities will be broken through our model that teaches real-world, usable skills, habits of success, and leadership.
Key Details & Logistics
Location:
Carolina Achieve’s campus is conveniently located on a 15.7 acre parcel of land at the intersection of West Ten and Rock Quarry Road in Mebane, a very short drive from the I-40/I-85 Buckhorn Road exit between Hillsborough and Mebane.
Grades Offered:
- Initially, grades K-2 with one hundred students per grade, twenty-five in each class, each with a leader teacher and dedicated instructional assistant.
- Will add one grade per year, eventually growing into a K-8 school with 900 students by the 2031-32 school year.
Schedule:
While our schedule will change as our students grow into upper elementary and middle school initially, our model is intended to teach and reinforce basic foundational academic skills.
- Each morning will include at least one hundred minutes of Language Arts and one hundred minutes of math.
- We have three breaks built into the morning routine so that students can get outside to play, have a snack, enjoy a chat with friends, etc.
- Our Studio time will include projects that are 6-12 weeks in duration that will promote deep dives into subject matters.
- We also have an hour in the schedule for lunch and recess. Recess will include not only a playground but also field space for soccer and basketball. In addition, PE is one of our co-curricular offerings and will include opportunities for exposure to team sports, individual sports, dance, and yoga.
- Afternoons include classes on Entrepreneurship, Allyship, and Passions.
- Each afternoon also includes time with their Student Support Team and Coach, where students will work through their personalized academic plan.
- Early and after care options will also be available to give students a safe place to be for the majority of their day, and to remove a barrier for working parents who want to give our school experience to their children.
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Lunch:
We will be part of the National School Lunch Program to provide both breakfast and lunch to students of all means, as hunger prevents academic and social progress. With over a dozen picnic tables, we'll have the chance to enjoy lunch outside when the weather is nice.
Focus on Habits of Success:
In addition to a strong academic foundation and a focus on student well-being, our roots include a commitment to instilling the Habits of Success:
- Purposeful Learning
- Teamwork and Collaboration
- Resilience
- Accountability
- Critical and Creative Thinking
- Empathy
Student Support Teams:
Each student's adult team will include their classroom teacher, support coach, and parent/guardian who will be in constant communication about that child's progress and performance. Because each student is on a different academic timeline and pathway, individualized learning plans ensure personalized goals and a focus on measurable, achievable progress.
The team will have students from multiple grade levels, creating more pathways for friendship and connection beyond just the classroom. In addition, these multiage groupings provide opportunities for peer mentorship, with younger students experiencing the wisdom of older students, and older students "showing what they know" as leaders.
Next Steps
For any additional information or questions, you can contact the Founding Head of School, Trip Cogburn at: tcogburn@carolina-achieve.org. If Carolina Achieve sounds like a good fit for your family, there are still a few open spots for this fall.
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