Excelsior Classical Academy is a public charter school. We are governed by a local, independent board and are authorized by and accountable to North Carolina State Board of Education and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction Office of Charter Schools. As a charter school, we
- are independent from Durham Public Schools,
- are able to select our own curriculum,
- are exempt from the NC law mandating school start and end dates, and
- can hire some teachers who do not have teaching licenses, such as biologists for teaching biology and chemists for teaching chemistry. (At least 50% of our teachers must be licensed.)
Unfortunately, there are funding differences between traditional public schools and public charter schools. Charter schools get no state or local funding for capital expenses, nor do they receive money from the NC Education Lottery. They do not receive any funding for teacher salary supplements.
Funding provided for
- Building Bonds
- Construction
- Buses
- Salary supplements for teachers
District schools
- Yes
- Yes
- Yes
- Yes
Charter schools
- No
- No
- No
- No
Excelsior Expenses
- $2.5 million annual debt service
- $122,228 for construction for 2024-25
- $200,000 bus leases per annum
- $125,749 for a 5% supplement for 2024-25
