How to Enroll

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 CFA 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 CFA 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.

Open Enrollment begins January 1 and runs through February 28 at 5:00 p.m. The Lottery is held on March 1, at 5:00 pm at Excelsior. The Lotterease program will notify parents of the results of the Lottery by email and possibly by text.

To submit an application for the upcoming year, please go to the Lotterease website for Excelsior, create an account, 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

Why choose Excelsior Classical Academy? We are glad you asked!

ECA offers:

• A rigorous college-preparatory Classical Curriculum
• A diverse Board of Directors, Faculty, Staff, and Student Body
• Transportation
• Lunch and Uniform Assistance
• Athletics for Middle and High School Students
• A dedicated, caring, and knowledgeable Faculty and Staff
• A close-knit Community
• A strong Arts Program

Information Sessions and Tours