Sledge Institute is a new charter school opening in Vance County in August 2025, with a focus on project-based learning that links students with the community to put into action what they’re learning in the classroom.
Chandra Sledge Mathias, Ed.D, founder and chief executive officer, said the enrollment period is open now through Feb. 28, 2025 for students who will be in kindergarten, first, second and sixth grades.
The school will have 125 students in the first year, but once all 13 grades are in place, the school could have a maximum enrollment of 800, Sledge Mathias said on Monday’s TownTalk.
Construction is underway now to get the former Dabney Elementary School ready for its new occupants, and school leaders are scheduling info sessions across the area to help parents decide whether Sledge Institute is a good fit for them and their children.
Sledge Mathias said the school is for students who live in the Kerr-Tar region, which includes the counties in the WIZS listening area.
“Our model is allowing students to use what they’re learning in schools, project-based, hands on activities,” Sledge Mathias said, “and work alongside professionals in the community.” The plan is to offer mentorships to students and involve the community in the school.
“We want communities to feel like they can be a part of the school and engage with the school,” she said. Each project will have a community partner associated with it.
As students are learning concepts, however, they’re also going to be learning so-called “soft skills” that future employers are looking for in employees.
“We also want them to learn habits so that they’re living their lives well,” she added. “We’re integrating both the academics and the social emotional learning” into school programming.
There are several successful charter schools in the area, Sledge Mathias said, but Sledge Institute will offer something a little bit different.
“We want to make sure that all students have an option that serves them well, Sledge Mathias said. “We’re bringing an option that currently doesn’t exist in the region.”
Board President Dr. Wykia Macon said the school’s core values – ECHO – are excellence, community, heart and opportunity. The board’s role is to ensure the school remains consistent to its mission as it moves closer to its 2025 opening.
In addition to supporting students learn who they are and where their passion and talent lies, Sledge Mathias said the school will emphasize the students as global citizens and members of the global community.
“We want them to know what’s happening in the world,” she said, and how to thrive in the global environment. The school is establishing partnerships with other education leaders in Scotland, Ghana, Japan and Chile to create a network to extend its network across continents.
“They’re ready to visit us, they’re opening their doors to our students to travel and visit them,” Sledge Mathias said.
“These opportunities are really exciting because it allows our student to not only work through project-based learning in their own communities but collaborate with their peers across oceans…and problem solve together.”
As its president, Macon said the board’s role is to make sure everyone has what they need – and right now, that focus is on enrollment and recruitment. Parents interested in learning more can come to an info session at Warren Memorial Library on Tuesday, Jan. 21 at 5:30 p.m. Additional sessions are being planned in Granville County.
Visit sledgeinstitute.org/ to learn more, email info@sledgeinstitute.org or find the school on Facebook, Instagram and Linkedin.
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