School Profile

Excelsior Classical Academy, a Challenge Foundation Academy, is a tuition-free public charter school with a rigorous, college-preparatory, liberal arts focus.

We started in the 2015–2016 school year with 252 students in grades K–4. We are adding a grade a year to grow to K–12. Our first graduating class will be the class of 2024.

ECA School Profile

School Hours:

• Monday–Friday 8:30 am–3:30 pm.
• Drop-off begins 7:55 am and pick-up begins at 3:30 pm.
• School office hours are Monday–Friday 7:30am–4:00pm.

School Calendar:

We have a modified year-round calendar. We typically start at the beginning of August and end after the first week in June. We have a one-week Fall break, a two to two-and-a-half week Winter Break, and a two to two-and-a-half week Spring Break. Students have about seven weeks off in the summer.

Our Mission

Excelsior Classical Academy is a public charter school dedicated to providing excellence and equity in education by developing in every student a foundation of knowledge, a practice of reason, a quality of eloquence, and a habit of virtue, to prepare each student for a lifetime of learning and citizenship.

Our Vision

Excelsior Classical Academy is animated by the vision that human beings are inherently driven to the exploration of the unknown, the acquisition of knowledge, the creation of community, and the appreciation of beauty. At Excelsior Classical Academy, we cherish every student as an individual and we believe in providing an excellent and equitable education for all students. Our students will graduate with:

• Habitual practice of virtues, such as honesty, responsibility, and integrity.
• High personal expectations, a strong sense of self, and the pursuit of excellence.
• Knowledge that hard work and perseverance lead to intellectual growth.
• Appreciation of culture, a broad base of knowledge, and a thirst for continual learning.
• The ability to communicate clearly and expressively.
• Good judgment, reason, and hunger for truth.
• Zeal for fairness and justice.
• Understanding and fulfillment of civic duty.
• Respectful behavior and a kind attitude toward others.

We value the partnership which exists among school, parents, and community, and we recognize the part it plays in realizing this vision.

Our Core Values

Equity

• We are kind to all and are considerate of the feelings of others
• We respect each person’s right to dignity and safety
• We work together to create a community that is fair and equitable
• We advocate for all to receive appropriate opportunities, access, and resources 
• We provide support where needed

Excellence

• We have expectations of excellence for ourselves and others
• We believe everyone can learn and grow
• We value learning and protect the learning environment
• We recognize that learning can be hard and persevere when it is
• We work to have and encourage a growth mindset
• We strive for mastery
• We hold ourselves accountable
• We are goal-oriented and set goals that are challenging but achievable

Integrity

• We are honest with ourselves and each other
• We take responsibility for our own actions and strive to be our best selves
• We work with diligence
• We are open-minded and listen to the suggestions and opinions of others
• We are reliable and trustworthy
• We are humble in success and failure and graciously acknowledge the successes of others
• We think before acting or speaking and consider the consequences to ourselves and others

Community

• We treat each other with kindness and respect
• We collaborate with others and work together to achieve our goals
• We show appreciation for one another whenever possible
• We show compassion for the struggles and sufferings of others
• We think of others more than self and try to find a win-win outcome
• We are solution-oriented and avoid blaming, complaining, and gossiping
• We choose to serve, looking for ways to help and benefit others
• We practice good citizenship, giving back to our school and community

Our Program

Excelsior means “higher” in Latin, and at Excelsior Classical Academy CFA, we strive for continuous improvement in academics and character. We will help each student reach higher by providing a rigorous, rich curriculum in an environment that promotes responsibility, integrity, diligence, and excellence.

We firmly believe in making this educational option accessible to all students in the Durham area. We intentionally pursue diversity in our Board, our staff, and our student population. Our goal is to reflect the diversity of the Durham area. In order to allow anyone who wants to attend our school to do so, we

• Offer busing.
• Provide free or reduced-price lunch to those who qualify.
• Provide assistance with uniforms to those who qualify.
• Offer a Before- and After-School Program.

Equity Statement

Excelsior Classical Academy desires to be a safe space for all students and staff to live out their purpose while embracing and supporting the goals and vision of excellence.  Students and staff of ECA will: 

• Respect everyone’s dignity
• Engage in difficult conversations while trusting and assuming good intentions
• Listen to everyone’s unique perspectives and experiences and share yours
• Invest in the personal growth of children and adults alike
• Examine our biases and endeavor to overcome them
• Foster belonging, connection, and safety

Curriculum

• A classical curriculum based on the Trivium of Grammar, Logic, and Rhetoric
• The Core Knowledge Sequence in grades K–8
• The Core Knowledge Language Arts Program in grades K–3
• Singapore Math
• Daily physical activity
• Spanish in grades K–5
• Latin in grades 6–8
• Additional two years of language study in high school
• Fine arts instruction in grades K–12
• Character education and service learning
• Dual enrollment options at Durham Tech for 11th & 12th graders to earn both HS and College credits with the opportunity to earn an Associate’s Degree by the time they graduate from high school

Teaching Methods

• Direct instruction/lecture
• Socratic questioning
• Class discussion
• Seminars
• Differentiation
• Individual and group work, as appropriate

Philosophy

Teachers will foster a growth mindset, encouraging all students to believe that intelligence can increase through learning, perseverance, and hard work. All students will be treated as individuals, with high academic expectations for all.

Dress Code

Our students wear uniforms to place the focus on academics; instill school pride, unity, and spirit; and remove distinctions of socio-economic status.