April 28, 2025
Southern Pines, NC — Ascent Classical Academies announced today that it has officially submitted a charter application to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction to establish Ascent Classical Academy of Moore County, the first tuition-free classical charter school planned for Moore County. The school is requesting to open in Fall 2026, pending charter approval.
Ascent Classical Academy of Moore County will bring a time-tested, classical liberal arts education to families seeking a vigorous and content-rich academic program. The school will focus on providing a traditional American education rooted in virtue, reason, and civic responsibility – hallmarks of the classical model. The new campus will be the first in North Carolina for Ascent Classical Academies, a growing charter management organization (CMO) known for launching and operating high-performing classical schools across several states.
“We are thrilled to take this important step toward bringing a classical education option to Moore County,” said Derec Shuler, CEO of Ascent Classical Academies and a native of the Carolinas. “Ascent Classical Academies is committed to providing families with an educational choice that is academically rigorous, morally formative, and rooted in the best traditions of Western civilization.”
Ascent Classical Academies currently operates Ascent Classical Academy of Fort Mill and has approval to open an additional six campuses in South Carolina, each grounded in a classical curriculum emphasizing core knowledge, traditional mathematics, grammar and writing instruction, Latin, and a study of the great books of Western civilization.
The Moore County campus will offer a full K-12 program, providing continuity and a strong academic foundation from a child’s early years through high school graduation. The school has received significant community interest and invites interested families to learn more and join the interest list at moorecounty.ascentclassicalnc.org.
To learn more about Ascent Classical Academies and its national network, visit ascentclassical.org.