Southern Wake Academy, the only public charter high school in the southern region of Wake County, opened in a new facility this fall. Surrounded by the large traditional area high schools, Southern Wake Academy has class sizes of 12-15, is free of the problems of large, impersonal schools, and offers a safe, secure environment focused upon individual needs of students. “Our school is truly a ‘student-centered’ organization,” boasts its director, Carroll Reed.

SWA moved into a new facility at 5108 Old Powell Road, Holly Springs, having moved from downtown Holly Springs over the summer. The new facility, located between Holly Springs and Fuquay-Varina, provides “spacious classrooms and a safe environment free from the bullying and sometimes intimidating huge numbers of students in larger high schools,” reflects NCSU professor and SWA board president, Dr. James Bartlett.

The school has expanded its course offerings, adding both honors classes and new course opportunities for college-bound students. The school modified its academic program for 2010-20100, using a combination of block and year-long courses to help students meet the state’s graduation requirements.

The school’s academic success for 2009-2010 included meeting all state and federal academic standards. The school met High Growth in the state ABC’s, including a 78% performance composite, and it met the federal AYP (adequate yearly progress) requirements of “No Child Left Behind,” that includes high student achievement and graduation percentages to attain that status.

Charter schools in North Carolina are publicly supported, deriving funding from state and local governments, unlike private schools that charge tuition. SWA is tuition free and not affiliated with any religious-based organization as some may believe, but it goes about its day-to-day mission focused upon students and their success in high school. As a charter school, SWA must meet all of the state-mandated tests and exit standard requirements as do other public high schools, with some standards set higher for charter schools than the other public schools.

Now home to 75-plus students, SWA is actively working to expand its student population, with a goal of 110 to 120 students for the year. Although students have enrolled in other high schools already, SWA is actively recruiting to have students transfer now that they have found the other schools to be too large, perhaps too impersonal, or just too intimidating for those students who need more personal or individual attention or who want to be in a smaller school environment. “Our real recruiting focus is upon students who would be more successful in a smaller school environment and who want to go on to college after graduating,” states Reed.

Recruiting is not restricted to students in public schools or Wake County. Recent or current students have come from Garner, Cary, Apex, Holly Springs, and Fuquay-Varina as well as from Johnston, Harnett, Durham, Lee, and Chatham Counties. Annually, SWA has students from both private and home schools who transfer and do very well in the small-school environment. SWA provides not only the small-group or individual attention found in the private or home schools, but also the group setting and relationship-building opportunities to prepare students for working in college or other larger settings.

Current recruiting activities involve students, families, and staff members who believe in SWA’s focus upon the individual student and family. One SWA parent recently wrote: “I have a charter school in my small town that circumvented the need for more structured approaches. My (child’s) school provides community that so many children miss in the large schools. This school community provides support AND accountability - things that every child, especially one dealing with obstacles, requires.”

SWA focuses upon the unique needs of each of its students, works in small classes, and assigns an advisor for every student. All SWA students are required to complete community service, working independently or with other students to help within the school or other community. Quarterly, each student reviews his/her portfolio that contains both work accomplished and goals for the next grading period. These experiences are designed to help students gain an understanding of the needs of others, to expose them to the outside world, and to teach them to be self- reliant.

Enrollment is opened to students in all high school grade levels with an emphasis upon 9th or 10th Grade students, although the school does accept 11th and 12th Grade students focused upon graduation. For the fall, SWA has co-ed soccer and cross country athletic programs opened to all students; during the winter, the school will offer both men’s and women’s basketball.

For more information, please contact with school: 919-567-9955. Mr. Dave Thomas, school counselor, will set up an in-take interview and school tour. An application may be downloaded from the school’s website: www. southernwakeacademy.org