Carolina Collegiate High School Opens Doors to Inaugural Class

DURHAM, NC, UNITED STATES, October 3, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- Carolina Collegiate High School, a new public charter high school in Durham, North Carolina, has opened its doors to its inaugural class this fall, marking a significant milestone in the region's educational landscape. The school, which focuses on STEM education, is the result of a partnership between Carolina Collegiate, Great Schools North Carolina (GSNC), and Civic Builders.

Carolina Collegiate, founded on the vision of providing globally competitive STEM education, has been in the works for years. The school opened with a ninth-grade class and plans to add a grade each year, ultimately serving about 600 students in grades 9-12 at full scale. GSNC, which invests in promising education leaders and schools across the state, provided early support to Carolina Collegiate through its Startup Grant, offering startup funding and strategic support as the school moved from concept to reality.

Civic Builders, a nonprofit lender and developer of public charter schools, played a crucial role in securing a high-quality, financially sustainable facility for the new school. The organization acquired the property at 100 Capitola Drive and is leading a nearly $13.8 million, multiphase renovation and adaptive reuse of the three-story, 65,568-square-foot former office building into Carolina Collegiate’s long-term campus. The first phase of the renovation was completed in time for the 2026-27 school year, with additional renovation planned over the next two years as the school adds grades and enrollment. Civic Builders’ development structure also provides Carolina Collegiate with a pathway to ultimately purchase the facility.

The project marks Civic Builders’ first school development in North Carolina, expanding the organization’s work to remove real estate barriers for mission-driven public charter schools.

The milestone will be formally celebrated on October 6 with a ribbon-cutting at Carolina Collegiate’s Durham campus. To mark the school’s first academic year, this event will recognize the students, families, educators, community members, and partners who helped bring the school from concept to completion. The school’s educational model emphasizes rigorous academics, innovative teaching and learning, and a student body reflective of the diverse communities it serves.

Financing for the project was provided by Durham-based Self-Help Credit Union, supporting the phased renovation of the campus. The project team also includes DTW Architects & Planners Ltd., JD Beam Inc., Edmundson Engineers, and Morningstar Law Group. Together, Carolina Collegiate, Great Schools North Carolina, Civic Builders, and the project’s financing and development partners have created a foundation designed not only for the school’s first year but for its growth in the years ahead.