How to Apply
Our target student population is anyone in the Durham area who desires a rigorous, college-preparatory education in a classical, liberal arts setting.
Excelsior Classical Academy is committed to enrolling a diverse student population and will abide by the provisions in NC G.S. § 115C-238.29F(g)(5) that forbid discrimination on the basis of of intellectual ability, measures of achievement or aptitude, athletic ability, disability, race, creed, gender, national origin, religion, or ancestry. Excelsior Classical Academy is a public school that does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, disability, religion, creed, gender, gender expression, or sexual orientation.
By law, students must live in North Carolina to attend. The school will enroll any eligible student who submits a timely application through Lotterease or at the school unless the number of applications exceeds the capacity of the school. In that case, all applicants for any grade for which a lottery is necessary shall be admitted through a random selection process.
The school will endeavor to achieve racial/ethnic balance through a comprehensive marketing plan, in accordance with NC G.S. § 115-238.29F(g)(5). It is the goal of the school to reflect the racial, ethnic, and special population demographics that compose the general population of the area. The school will focus its efforts on recruiting students in a manner consistent with the racial/ethnic balance of the community it serves. This effort will include marketing specifically to underrepresented populations.
Application Process
Prospective students must apply each year, even if they are already on a waitlist. Waitlists, by law, cannot carry over from year to year.
The lottery application period, called Open Enrollment, begins December 1 and runs through February 10. The Lotterease program will notify parents of the results of the Lottery by email and/or by text on or before February 15.
To submit an application for the upcoming year, parents/legal guardians or custodians must have a valid email address or phone number. Parents/legal guardians or custodians can go to the Lotterease website for Excelsior, create an account, and add the children for whom you wish to submit applications. When the Open Enrollment starts, you can select the appropriate lottery for each child.
Students may still apply once the lottery has run, and applications received after the lottery will be placed at the end of the waitlist for the appropriate grade. Students will move from the waitlist to the accepted list as space becomes available. Enrollment for the waitlist is ongoing, and families are encouraged to apply.
Learning About Our School
Information Sessions and Tours
Kindergarten/Grammar (K-5) School Tour Tuesday, October 29 at 9:30 am
Kindergarten/Grammar School Tour Thursday, November 21 at 9:30 am
Kindergarten/Grammar School Tour Thursday, December 12 at 9:30 am
Upper School (6-12) Tour Tuesday, October 29 at 10:30 am
Upper School Tour Thursday, November 21 at 10:30 am
Upper School Tour Thursday, December 12 at 10:30 am
High School Information Session Tuesday, December 10 at 6:30 pm
Why choose Excelsior Classical Academy? We are glad you asked!
ECA offers:
- A rigorous college-preparatory Classical Curriculum
- Accreditation by Cognia, a non-profit, non-governmental organization that accredits primary and secondary schools throughout the United States and internationally
- A diverse Board of Directors, Faculty, Staff, and Student Body
- Bus transportation
- Lunch and Uniform Assistance for those who qualify financially
- Athletics for Middle and High School Students
- Student Council in Middle and High School
- A small, safe environment
- A dedicated, caring, and knowledgeable Faculty and Staff
- A close-knit Community
- An active Parent Teacher Student Organization (PTSO)
- A strong Arts Program
- High school credits earned during middle school
- Honors and Advanced Placement level classes available
- Dual Enrollment for earning high school and college credit simultaneously from Durham Tech
- The potential to earn, along with a high school diploma, an Associate Degree in Arts, Science, Engineering, Nursing, Fine Arts in Visual Arts, and Arts or Science in Teacher Preparation
