Students are attending classes at Carolina Collegiate High School during its first academic year in Durham, North Carolina.
Civic Builders and Great Schools North Carolina join forces with Carolina Collegiate to establish a growing public charter high school in the Triangle
“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 new STEM-focused public charter high school in Durham. This achievement resulted from a collaboration between the school’s founders, Great Schools North Carolina (GSNC) and Civic Builders.
This alliance merged the distinct assets necessary to establish and expand a new school: an ambitious academic blueprint from Carolina Collegiate’s creators, early-stage funding and strategic direction from GSNC, and the property development know-how and financing from Civic Builders to construct a facility capable of expanding alongside the institution.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 6 at Carolina Collegiate’s Durham campus will officially commemorate this achievement. Honoring the school’s inaugural academic year, the event will acknowledge the students, families, educators, community members, and partners who converted the concept into reality.
Carolina Collegiate was established to expand access to globally competitive STEM education for students throughout the region. The school launched with a ninth-grade cohort and intends to introduce an additional grade annually, eventually accommodating roughly 600 students in grades 9-12 at full capacity. Its academic approach highlights rigorous coursework, creative instruction and learning methods, and a student population that mirrors the diversity of the communities it serves.
The founders of Carolina Collegiate obtained initial assistance through GSNC, which backs promising educational leaders and schools statewide. As a recipient of GSNC’s Startup Grant, Carolina Collegiate obtained launch funding and strategic guidance as it progressed from concept toward operation.
“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 got ready to open, Civic Builders teamed up with GSNC and the school to tackle one of the biggest obstacles for new charter schools: obtaining a high-quality, financially sustainable facility that could support long-term expansion.
Civic Builders purchased the property at 100 Capitola Drive and is managing an almost $13.8 million, multi-stage renovation and adaptive reuse of the three-story, 65,568-square-foot former office building into Carolina Collegiate’s permanent campus. The initial phase finished in time for the 2026-27 school year, with further renovations scheduled over the next two years as the school adds grades and students. Civic’s turnkey development model also gives Carolina Collegiate the option to eventually buy the facility.
This project represents 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 signifies the culmination of years spent crafting a school centered on what students will require 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.”
Funding for the project came from Durham-based Self-Help Credit Union, which supported the phased campus renovation. The project team further includes DTW Architects & Planners Ltd.; JD Beam Inc.; Edmundson Engineers; and Morningstar Law Group.
Collectively, Carolina Collegiate, Great Schools North Carolina, Civic Builders, and the project’s financial and development partners have established a base designed not just for the school’s first year, but for its future expansion.
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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