Getting ready
Teachers move into Holy Trinity Middle School in Charlotte Aug. 12 to prepare for the opening of the school year on Aug. 20. This academic year, more than 8,300 students will return to Catholic schools in the Diocese of Charlotte, with most of the 20 schools in the diocese at or near capacity following years of steady growth. (Photos by Troy C. Hull | Catholic News Herald) CHARLOTTE — Catholic school students across the Diocese of Charlotte will return to new digs and new educational opportunities next week, as schools launch a variety of new learning pathways and wrap up more than $8.4 million in summer construction and widespread refresh work.
More than 8,300 students are set to return to schools from Asheville to Charlotte to Greensboro beginning the week of Aug. 18, with most of the diocese’s 20 schools at or near capacity following years of steady growth.
St. Ann, a Charlotte elementary school, will debut a $5.1 million transformation of its campus. Less than a mile away, Holy Trinity Middle School invested more than $3.4 million in the first phase of two-year renovation, as the school also introduces educational changes. Read more.
“It’s a great time to be a part of our diocese,” said Greg Monroe, superintendent of schools. “Our enrollment has increased by about 20 percent over the past five years, and we’re one of the fastest growing Catholic school systems in the country. That’s a testament to the vibrancy of our system. Parents are trusting their kids are going to get a fantastic academic education, and one that also helps form them into good people.”
Despite capacity challenges, schools are still fielding calls and giving tours to interested families, Monroe said. His office is evaluating the possible addition of a new school in the Charlotte-Union County corridor.
Through the summer, schools in Western North Carolina continued restoration work after Tropical Storm Helene.
Asheville Catholic School replaced its gym roof, and Bishop McGuinness High School in Greensboro invested more than $500,000 in a new athletic track. Our Lady of the Assumption in Charlotte launched construction of a Marian grotto. And Charlotte Catholic High School spent more than $1.5 million on a variety of improvements, from renovating its weight room, to repaving a parking lot, to replacing windows and painting its chapel.
“There’s really a sense of joy as our schools and our students continue to thrive,” Monroe said. “Our kids deserve the very best learning environments responsive to their needs, and we recognize that beautiful spaces and updated facilities are part of that.”
Expansion is also ongoing academically, with several schools offering new programs to respond to students’ needs and interests.
Faculty at Holy Trinity are engaged in ongoing professional development as the school prepares to switch to a hybrid educational model that blends single-sex and co-ed classes in 2026-27.
“We’re working on developing teaching and academics across the board – initiatives we believe will take us to the next level,” said Kevin Parks, school president.
Monroe said Catholic schools want to provide diverse academic pathways for students such as the new St. Augustine Scholars program at Charlotte Catholic High School, which has enrolled 15 freshmen in its inaugural class this year. The Catholic liberal arts program is a four-year honors track that will take students through coursework exploring philosophy, logic, Latin and primary classical texts.
Kallah Oakes was thrilled to find the Scholars program for her son.
“My eldest son is a rare kid – he taught himself to read in preschool and was enjoying Tolkien by the third grade,” Oakes said. “When he saw the reading list for the St. Augustine program, he lit up. The idea of finding other people his age who have a similar curiosity and passion is so exciting for him. This program is a huge gift!”
Charlotte Catholic’s Head of School Kurt Telford said his school remains focused on its core mission of educating students both academically and spiritually – preparing them for the some of the country’s best colleges and to serve as disciples of Christ.
Teachers begin to reset their classrooms at St. Ann School in Charlotte Aug. 12. Over the summer, the school went through a massive renovation to its circa-1955 building that included everything from new paint and cabinets to a new HVAC system as well as exit and fire safety enhancements. The $5.1 million renovation was just one of the summer construction projects that will make classrooms better, brighter and more appealing for returning students and staff.
Mary Catherine Surface, mother of four, has a son entering his junior year at Charlotte Catholic.
“My husband and I were recently reflecting on my son’s academic, spiritual and personal growth over the past two years there, which has really been quite remarkable,” Surface said. “We’re convinced that the caring teachers and staff greatly contributed to his progress. They have really taken the best interest of their students to heart.”
Christ the King Catholic High School in Huntersville offers academic pathways that provide a deep dive into biomedical and engineering fields, readying students for possible future careers. The pathways follow a curriculum known as “Project Lead the Way,” and plans are to add an additional pathway focused on business and entrepreneurship.
“It’s almost like having a specific major within your high school,” said Dr. Carl Semmler, the school’s president. “It’s a way for students to prepare for their future.”
Diocesan schools also offer a wide range of programs for students with special learning needs.
New this fall at Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School in Kernersville is the “St. Gabriel Program.”
It offers students with intellectual disabilities structured, individualized instruction in social/life skills development, academic course work, and math and language acquisition. St. Gabriel is a solution for students who need smaller classrooms, specialized instructional, and sometimes, a separate curriculum.
“We’re so excited to launch this program this year,” said Bishop McGuinness principal Claire Willis. “This has been in the making for a long time, as we have recognized the need from families who wanted to have this available for their children.”
— Christina Lee Knauss