CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Parents at Calvary Christian Academy, a private K-10 school in south Charlotte, are racing against time to secure new educational options for more than 200 students after the institution announced its closure at the end of the current school year. The abrupt decision, revealed just before the Christmas break, has left families scrambling, with some expressing shock over the sudden shift from apparent relocation prospects to a permanent shutdown.
The academy, affiliated with Calvary Church on Pineville-Matthews Road, has been a cornerstone for families seeking a faith-based education in the growing south Charlotte area. According to church officials, the closure stems from logistical challenges in finding a suitable new location. They explained that expanding the school's operations would require a larger space off the church's campus, but after exploring options, no viable long-term home could be secured in the region.
Elizabeth Fichtman, a parent of two daughters at the school, shared her dismay in messages to Channel 9 reporter Erika Jackson during the holiday break. "It did seem very abrupt from, ‘We have leads. We have schools, locations for the school to move to,’ to a week before Christmas break, finding out, actually, ‘No, there’s no school. We’re indefinitely closing,’" Fichtman said. Her words capture the frustration felt by many in the close-knit community, where the school's nurturing environment had become a vital part of family life.
Fichtman praised the academy's unique approach to learning, describing it as "an amazing, supportive, grace-based learning environment that was truly individualized." This personalized education model, she noted, catered perfectly to her children's needs, fostering not just academic growth but also emotional and spiritual development. For families like hers, the closure disrupts more than just routines—it's a blow to a tailored educational experience that's hard to replicate elsewhere.
The school's board of directors addressed the situation in a statement posted on the Calvary Christian Academy website, emphasizing that the decision was "not made lightly." They acknowledged the rapid growth of the institution and the passion of its community but cited insurmountable facility constraints as the primary reason for the shutdown. The statement did not provide a timeline for the announcement's internal deliberation, leaving some parents to question the communication process.
Founded in 2018 as The Oaks Christian School, an independent institution, the academy rebranded and integrated more closely with Calvary Church in 2022. That year, it reopened with 77 students, drawing families attracted to its Christian curriculum and small class sizes. By the current school year, enrollment had surged to over 200, reflecting the demand for alternative education options amid Charlotte's booming population and strained public school systems.
South Charlotte, encompassing neighborhoods like Ballantyne and Piper Glen, has seen significant residential and commercial development over the past decade. This growth has increased pressure on local schools, both public and private, to accommodate more students. Calvary Christian Academy's expansion mirrored this trend, but the lack of affordable, spacious facilities in the area—exacerbated by rising real estate costs—appears to have sealed its fate, according to sources familiar with the church's planning.
Parents have not remained passive in the face of the news. Fichtman and other families are actively organizing to preserve elements of the school's legacy. "I know there’s groups of parents that are looking at doing a co-op situation," she said. "We and a couple of others are having conversations with another potential location that may work. That we’re hopeful for." These efforts include exploring cooperative learning models and scouting alternative venues that could host a successor program, potentially retaining some of the original faculty.
For those interested in joining the discussions, Fichtman provided an email contact: elizabeth.fichtman@gmail.com. This grassroots initiative highlights the determination of the parent community to avoid scattering students across disparate schools, which could disrupt social bonds and academic continuity. Teachers and staff, too, are in need of new placements, adding another layer of urgency to the search.
The closure comes at a challenging time for private Christian schools in the Carolinas, where enrollment has fluctuated amid debates over curriculum standards and funding. While Calvary Church has not detailed financial aspects, the emphasis on space requirements suggests operational scalability was a key hurdle. Church leaders told Jackson that initial leads on new sites fell through, possibly due to zoning restrictions or competition from other educational and religious organizations vying for property in the desirable south Charlotte corridor.
Broader context reveals that private school closures are not uncommon in rapidly urbanizing areas like Charlotte. A 2023 report from the National Center for Education Statistics noted that about 5% of private schools nationwide shuttered between 2019 and 2022, often due to enrollment dips or facility issues—though Calvary's case bucks the former with its growth. Local education experts, speaking off the record, pointed to the post-pandemic real estate crunch as a complicating factor, with commercial spaces repurposed for housing or retail amid Mecklenburg County's population influx of over 20,000 residents annually.
Students at the academy, spanning kindergarten through 10th grade, now face mid-year transitions that could affect their spring semester. School administrators have committed to wrapping up the year smoothly, but details on support services—like counseling for affected families—remain sparse. One parent, who spoke anonymously to Jackson, expressed concern over the emotional toll, particularly for younger children accustomed to the school's family-like atmosphere.
Calvary Church itself has a history of community involvement, including recent incidents like a construction worker injury from a fire at the campus in south Charlotte, as reported in local video coverage. While unrelated to the school closure, such events underscore the church's role as a multifaceted hub, now pivoting away from K-10 education to focus on worship and other ministries.
As families navigate this upheaval, the search for interim solutions intensifies. Public schools in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg district, already at capacity, may absorb some students, but waitlists and zoning could pose barriers. Private alternatives, such as nearby Christian Academy of the Carolinas or Providence Day School, have reported increased inquiries, though spots are limited for the fall.
Looking ahead, the closure raises questions about the sustainability of small private schools in high-growth suburbs. For the Calvary community, the coming months will test their resolve to rebuild. Fichtman's optimism persists: "We’re hopeful for" a new chapter, even as the original academy's doors prepare to close. Until then, parents continue to advocate, ensuring their children's education remains uninterrupted amid the uncertainty.