The area’s only charter high school is working on a plan to move between its current location in Holly Spring nearer to Fuquay-Varina into an vacant school facility. Southern Wake Academy, a small charter high school with grades nine-12, has a current enrollment of approximately 90 students and plans to move during the summer of 2010 to the new location, formerly the Southern Wake Montessori school site on Old Powell Road near NC Highway 55.

Although the move itself will not necessitate a change in the school’s traditional year schedule, the state’s new high school graduation requirements will likely result in SWA’s adding block scheduled classes along with some traditionally year-long classes to have students meet all of the “Future Ready” curriculum requirements for high school students. The school will likely use a combination of block and year-long classes to help students meet the increased math requirements and to accommodate the upper grade level students who do not fall under the new graduation requirements.

The school’s major incentives for potential students include class size of approximately 15 as compared with 25 to 30 or more in the traditional high schools. With projected budget cuts in all or North Carolina schools for next year, class sizes could escalate in all schools. SWA does not anticipate a large growth in the class sizes because of the small school size. Yet the school is working to offer honors and regular classes, block and year-long courses, and add cross country to basketball, cheerleading, and soccer in inter-scholastic sports.

Southern Wake Academy serves students from Wake, Johnston, Harnett, and other neighboring counties along with many parts of Wake County, especially our southern area. Students currently come from Cary, Apex, Holly Springs, and Fuquay-Varina in addition to Raleigh and Garner. The school’s counselor, Mr. Dave Thomas, also serves as the primary recruiting contact person. He works with area middle and high school counselors to identify potential students who want a small learning environment.

Southern Wake Academy is accepting applications for students in Grades nine-12 for the 2010-2011 school year and will continue to accept applications until it reaches its maximum capacity. SWA is a tuition-free public high school of choice, offering the regular curriculum areas leading to a high school diploma.

The next Open House for SWA is scheduled for May 18 from 6:45 – 8 p.m.