One year after opening, Douglass Academy reports huge growth
The public, tuition-free charter school currently serves grades K-3 and, in these grades, reports a current enrollment of 95 students, which may rise as enrollment remains open for the school’s start on August 26.
The school’s Headmaster, Barbara Jones states that, “The State Board of Education requires a minimum enrollment of 65 students for charter schools. We are pleased to boast that our current numbers exceed the requirement and we are looking forward to another successful school year.”
Joel Medley, Director of the NC Office of Charter Schools states that his office is, “quite pleased with what we are seeing in these potential student numbers.”
Parents of the returning students are glad to hear Jones’ assurance, as several note that the school has already become a cornerstone in their community. The school offers an impressive spread of extracurricular and enrichment programs—for theater, art, music, cheer, and tennis—as well as regular field trips and guest exhibitors. Teachers use a proven Direct Instruction method to teach a classically-based curriculum, as well as employ an accelerated learning program, which parent Sharmaine Waddell cites as the school’s greatest asset, noting that through frequent assessments of student progress, her kindergartner was promoted to first grade math.
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This arrangement is proved effective by Douglass Academy’s sister schools, Charter Day School in Leland and Columbus Charter School in Whiteville, whose students are consistently the highest scorers in their respective counties. The same educational model used at these schools is employed at Douglass Academy and expected to produce similar results as the school expands to a K-5 by the year 2017.
Interested parents are invited to stop by the school’s office over the summer for questions or tours, and may enroll at douglassacademy.net or by calling 910-763-1976.