Inside Carolina Collegiate High School, students are engaged in learning during the school’s inaugural academic year in Durham, North Carolina.
Civic Builders, Great Schools North Carolina, and Carolina Collegiate have teamed up to introduce a new public charter high school in the Triangle that is poised to expand.
Bringing a new school to life takes vision, courage and collaboration. We’re proud that our first project in North Carolina reflects that kind of shared commitment.”— David Umansky, CEO and Co-Founder, Civic Builders
Carolina Collegiate High School welcomed its first class this fall, marking the debut of a STEM-oriented public charter high school in Durham. The launch was made possible through a joint effort involving the school’s founders, Great Schools North Carolina (GSNC), and Civic Builders.
The alliance combined the distinct assets necessary to establish and expand a new educational institution: Carolina Collegiate’s founders brought a bold academic plan, GSNC supplied early-stage funding and leadership guidance, and Civic Builders contributed real estate knowledge and financial resources to develop a facility capable of scaling with the school.
A formal celebration is set for Oct. 6 with a ribbon-cutting at Carolina Collegiate’s Durham campus. This event, honoring the school’s first academic year, will acknowledge the students, families, educators, community members, and partners who turned the concept into reality.
Carolina Collegiate was founded to increase access to globally competitive STEM education for students throughout the region. The school began with a ninth-grade class and intends to add one grade annually, ultimately accommodating roughly 600 students in grades 9 through 12 at full capacity. Its academic approach stresses rigorous coursework, innovative instruction, and a student population that mirrors the diversity of the communities it serves.
Carolina Collegiate’s founders received initial backing through GSNC, an organization that invests in promising education leaders and schools statewide. As a recipient of GSNC’s Startup Grant, the school obtained startup capital and strategic assistance as it progressed from concept to opening.
“Opening a new public school takes more than a great vision,” said Madeline Hannigan, executive director of Great Schools North Carolina. “It takes the resources and persistence to turn that vision into a high-quality, sustainable school that families can trust and students can thrive in. We’re proud to have played a part in helping Carolina Collegiate reach this moment and expand access to another high-quality public school option for families in Durham.”
As Carolina Collegiate prepared to launch, Civic Builders worked with GSNC and the school to tackle one of the biggest obstacles facing new charter schools: obtaining a high-quality, financially sustainable facility that could support long-term growth.
Civic Builders purchased the property at 100 Capitola Drive and is overseeing an approximately $13.8 million, multiphase renovation and adaptive reuse of the three-story, 65,568-square-foot former office building into Carolina Collegiate’s permanent campus. The first phase was finished in time for the 2026-27 school year, with additional renovations planned over the next two years as the school adds grades and enrollment. Civic’s turnkey development framework also gives Carolina Collegiate a route to eventually buy the facility.
This project marks Civic Builders’ first school development in North Carolina, extending the nonprofit’s mission to eliminate real estate obstacles for mission-driven public charter schools.
“Carolina Collegiate’s founders had a compelling idea for students in the Triangle, and Great Schools North Carolina backed it early. Civic was able to bring the real estate and capital expertise needed to help move it across the finish line,” said David Umansky, co-founder and CEO of Civic Builders. “Bringing a new school to life takes vision, courage and collaboration. We’re proud that our first project in North Carolina reflects that kind of shared commitment, and even more proud to see students learning here today.”
For Carolina Collegiate’s founding team, the opening represents the culmination of years spent designing a school around what students will need to thrive in college, careers, and a rapidly evolving world.
“For years, Carolina Collegiate existed as an idea of what high school could be for students in this community,” said Joey Webb, co-founder and executive director of Carolina Collegiate High School. “Now, we get to walk these halls and see our founding students learning, building relationships and beginning to make this school their own. Great Schools North Carolina believed in what we were building early, and Civic Builders helped us create a permanent home where it can grow. Most of all, I’m excited about what this school and this campus will make possible for our students in the years ahead.”
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 established a foundation designed not just for the school’s first year, but for its future growth.
About Civic Builders:
Civic Builders is the nation’s leading nonprofit lender and developer of public charter schools. Since 2002, the organization has invested more than $2.2 billion into over 100 schools, bringing high-quality educational opportunities to more than 55,000 students annually. For more information about Civic Builders, visit civicbuilders.org or follow along on LinkedIn and Instagram.
About GSNC:
Great Schools North Carolina (GSNC) works to ensure that every family in North Carolina has access to high-quality public schools that fit their child’s needs. Families want their children to grow into confident, capable adults with fulfilling lives, but too often, the public school options available to them do not reflect how differently children learn or what families need to thrive. GSNC helps bridge that gap by supporting school leaders and strengthening the conditions that make great public education options possible.
As a grantmaking organization and strategic partner, GSNC invests in school leaders and removes barriers that limit school quality and sustainability, helping bring strong public school options within reach for more families across the state, especially those who have historically had limited access. By supporting leadership, building capacity and aligning partners and policymakers around what works for students, GSNC plays a critical role in strengthening the public school ecosystem so that more excellent options are available, and schools have the resources they need to deliver strong, consistent learning experiences for students. Learn more at greatschoolsnc.org.
Media Contacts:
Civic Builders – Amber Roussel Cavallo, cavallo@civicbuilders.org
Great Schools North Carolina – Phylicia King, phylicia.king@smjcomms.com
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Amber Roussel Cavallo
Civic Builders
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