Charlotte Secondary School is in a race against the clock to avoid an abrupt shutdown, with leaders saying they must vacate their east Charlotte campus today. Without either a new building or a short-term home base, the 6–12 charter school could be forced to close ahead of the fall semester, leaving families and staff in limbo.
Where things stand
According to WBTV, Head of School Johanna Miller said the school has not been able to reach a timely agreement with its landlord and is urgently searching for both temporary and permanent space. "If we don’t have a temporary location tomorrow, we would put our stuff in storage and continue searching," Miller told WBTV.
One parent, Jenn Harmon, described the emotional toll of the uncertainty, telling the station, "It’s definitely causing anxiety to not know if they’re going to be in the same space next year." Families, students, and staff are effectively stuck waiting to find out where school will happen in just a few months.
Deadlines and next steps
School leaders said the current building has housed Charlotte Secondary for roughly 13 of the school’s 18 years, and that they must be out by Thursday unless an agreement is reached, WBTV reported. Miller told the station the school’s deadline to secure a new property is July 15.
Administrators say that if no site is lined up, they will store the school’s belongings and keep up their enrollment outreach while they continue the search. Behind the scenes, that means juggling landlord talks, scouting short-term locations, and trying to reassure families who still hope to send their children back in the fall.
School snapshot
Charlotte Secondary’s website lists the school’s address as 8601 McAlpine Park Drive and notes it has served students for 18 years. Federal enrollment data from NCES show the school had about 157 students in 2024–25. The school’s site highlights small class sizes and a college-preparatory focus as core parts of its model.
Why finding a building is hard
Securing and paying for facilities has long been a headache for North Carolina charter schools, which do not receive the same dedicated capital funding that traditional district schools get. The NC Association for Public Charter Schools’ legislative agenda points to the need for a proposed revolving loan program and calls out zoning rules that can slow or block construction projects.
A 2025 report from WUNC detailed a nearly $53 million federal grant aimed at helping North Carolina charter schools cover facility and expansion needs. Even with that kind of support, though, actually landing a building in the right place, at the right price, and on the right timeline can be a steep climb.
How to help
The school is asking the community to share leads on possible temporary space and to consider donations to support the transition. The school’s website maintains contact details and a donor page with more information on how to pitch in.
School officials say they will continue enrolling students for the fall while they hunt for a viable site, and they plan to update families directly as the search continues. Leaders say they intend to pursue every available option between now and the July 15 deadline, and parents and neighbors can expect more news from Charlotte Secondary in the coming days as negotiations and site visits play out.
