The mission of Grandfather Academy is to provide special educational opportunities for students who have been estranged by emotional, sexual,or other abuse.

Educational Focus

Grandfather Academy has been established to meet the educational needs primarily of two groups of children: those children who have been placed at Grandfather Home for Children and children from the local area who need this specialized education. The children at Grandfather Home have become estranged from their families by emotional, sexual or physical abuse. One result of the abuse is that they are not able to function appropriately in a typical public school. Each child will have an Individual Education Plan (IEPs for Special Education students and IEGs for all other students). These will take into account the child's strengths and weaknesses with the educational program focusing on improving skills. Grandfather Academy students will be grouped with the same peers in their treatment group; others will be placed in the group appropriate for his/her needs. The Academy will focus not only on helping students make satisfactory educational progress but will also help them become prepared to function in a public school. The students of Grandfather Academy need to have the best possible educational experiences to help them overcome past traumas and be successful in their lives. A charter school designed to meet the needs of these children and others with similar adjustment problems offers the best hope for their future.


Instructional Program
The school calendar of Grandfather Academy will include 210 instructional days each academic year. The instructional program is designed to facilitate learning for each individual student to their maximum abilities. All instructors use various curriculum design and methods to best accomplish the learning needs of the individuals. All classrooms are self-contained. Ages and levels of academic achievement will vary in each classroom. Each child's IEP (Special Education) or IEG will define his/her academic needs. From this plan the teacher in concert with therapeutic staff will work to nurture and stimulate the child's interest in learning. The use of current educational materials, computer learning and enhancement experiences within the North Carolina Standard Course of Study are part of the model of learning at Grandfather Academy.