COLUMBIA, SC – The Charter Institute at Erskine Board recently voted to approve eight new public charter schools projected to open during the 2027-2028 school year. These schools are American Classical Academy, American Innovation Academy, the English and Corbin Institute, Community Classical Academy, Bridge Point Charter School, Pathfinder Career Academy of South Carolina, Bright Careers Academy, and Jefferson Classical Academy. Combined, these schools will serve nearly 2,000 children in their first year of operation and roughly 4,500 children at full capacity.
“The Institute is excited about this new cohort of incredible schools that will provide South Carolina’s children with even more high-quality, family-centered education options,” said Cameron Runyan, Superintendent and CEO of the Charter Institute at Erskine.
American Classical Academy (ACA) is approved to open schools in Anderson, Beaufort, Columbia, Greenville, Spartanburg, and Columbia. ACA will utilize a classical model of instruction, focusing on developing well-rounded students with a focus on instilling the principles of moral character and civic virtue. The school will open for grades K-5 and over the following years, they will expand grade levels until the school is a full K-12 at full matriculation with 690 students.
American Classical Academy leadership visiting the Charter Institute at Erskine
American Innovation Academy (AIA) is approved to open schools in Beaufort, Lexington, Myrtle Beach, Woodruff, and York, with the first campus planned to open in Woodruff in 2027. AIA will offer a college and career-ready curriculum with hands-on learning opportunities. They plan to partner with local colleges and businesses to provide their students with dual enrollment and real-world workforce opportunities. The school will open for grades 9-12 with a projected enrollment of 600 students at full matriculation in the following years.
American Innovation Academy leadership visiting the Charter Institute at Erskine
The English and Corbin Institute (ECI) is approved to open in Columbia. ECI will focus on character development with hands-on learning opportunities in real-world settings. This will all be done with a sports-centric lens to education, teaching students leadership, collaboration, respect for others, and strength in the face of adversity. The school’s name comes from two former NBA stars, Mr. Alex English and Mr. Tyrone Corbin, who have been ardent supporters of the school since its inception. The school will be located in Columbia with a starting grade span of K-7. In subsequent years, the school will expand to serve grades K-12 with a projected enrollment of 1,250 students at full matriculation.
English and Corbin Institute Staff visiting the Charter Institute at Erskine
Community Classical Academy (CCA) is approved to open a campus in Fort Mill. CCA’s mission is to “cultivate students in the intellectual, moral, and transcendental virtues through the pursuit of Truth, Goodness, and Beauty.” As the name suggests, this mission will be fulfilled through a classical model of education and instruction. The school plans to teach grades K-10 in its first year. Over the next couple of years, the school will expand to serve grades K-12 with an anticipated enrollment of 1,110 students.
Community Classical Academy leadership visiting the Charter Institute at Erskine
Bridge Point Charter School (BPCS) is approved to open in Indian Land. Its focus is to deliver quality instruction with a focus on science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM). The school plans to serve grades K-5 in its first year and will subsequently add grades until it serves grades K-8 and anticipates 850 students at full matriculation.
Bridge Point Charter leadership visiting the Charter Institute at Erskine
Bright Careers Academy (BCA) is approved to open in Fall 2027 in Greenville County. The mission of Bright Careers Academy (BCA) is to empower Greenville’s future workforce by providing a flexible, supportive, and specialized career-training environment. BCA is intentionally designed to re-engage students who have been marginalized by traditional educational systems, ensuring they graduate as empowered, competitive workforce contributors. The school is an alternative education campus, and will open with grades 9-11 in its first year and 9-12 in its second year.
Bright Careers Academy leadership visiting the Charter Institute at Erskine
Pathfinder Career Academy of South Carolina is approved as a statewide virtual public charter school serving grades K-12, with a focus on career and technical education (CTE) pathways. Its mission is to provide individualized pathways for student success through a rigorous, innovative, and interactive learning environment that prepares students for college and careers. The school is planned to open in Fall 2027.
Pathfinder leadership visiting the Charter Institute at Erskine
Jefferson Classical Academy is approved as a statewide virtual public charter school dedicated to cultivating virtuous, articulate scholars through a rigorous classical education. By pairing innovative online technology with timeless pedagogical practices, students in grades K–8 are guided to pursue truth, master reason, and engage deeply with rich texts. The mission of the school is to equip students with both 21st-century skills and the enduring character necessary for a life of wisdom, purpose, and effective communication.
Jefferson Classical Academy leadership visiting the Charter Institute at Erskine
The Charter Institute at Erskine is excited to have these schools join its portfolio, expanding school choice opportunities to thousands more children across the state.
