Charlotte getting British School
The Charlotte Observer/ Charlotte December 16, 2003
By Doug Smith
British Schools of America plans to open a campus in south Charlotte next fall. The Houston based private school group has leased the former All Saints Elementary School at 7000 Endhaven Lane - off Elm Lane near Interstate 485 - from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte.
The school which has campuses in Houston, Boston and Washington, was impressed with Charlotte's healthy economic development and income demographics, said Grainne O'Reilly Askew, director of development.
A recent census report showed that Charlotte's median household income averaged $48,975 in 2002, eighth-highest among the nation's municipalities. The south Charlotte site, convenient to some of the city's highest income neighborhoods, fulfilled British Schools geographic and demographic requirements said John Batanides of GVA Latpurser and Associates. He worked with Chris Jacobs of Avalon Development of Buffalo, N.Y., to research and pinpoint an appropriate site.
The British School adheres to the curriculum of the United Kingdom, which has standard lesson plans in core subjects but focuses on skill level rather than grade level. "You could have a 6 year old gifted at math working at a 10 year old level but staying with their peer group so social skills develop appropriately" Askew said.
Children start school at age 3 with learning activities focusing on the arts, world studies and reading. They typically learn to read and write before they enter the equivalent of kindergarten.
Officials say the schools appeal to transplanted British families seeking a stricter sense of discipline, but American parents are also attracted. "Our schools in Chicago and Boston are 75 percent American students" Askew said. "American families love our approach - nurturing, very calm, a very disciplined sense of order and structure".
Teachers are recruited form the United Kingdom. The maximum ratio is one teacher to 20 children, but "generally it's much smaller" Askew said. The Charlotte school, which will open in September, will go from nursery to the equivalent of grade eight.
Annual tuition will be about $14,000 which covers books and fees. "We set the level and ask for no more money during the year," Askew said. The Charlotte campus will be the first of British School's five nationwide not to offer high school classes.
"Our research showed Charlotte didn't need another high school," Askew said. "And we always try to respond to what the need is". The Charlotte school expects to enroll about 40 children the first year and grow over time to about 360 students.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte closed All Saints Elementary, a 59,841 square foot complex on 12 acres, after it opened a new school about a mile away this year.
Bob Taylor of GVA Latpurser and Associates, represented the diocese in lease negotiations for the building. British Schools opened its first campus in 1998 in Washington. Its goal is to grow to at least 20 schools in major US cities over the next few years.