On Wednesday, April 15, the Charter Institute at Erskine’s Board of Directors voted to defer the revocation of Ascent Classical Academy of Fort Mill (d/b/a Carolina Classical Academy) after the school community demonstrated outstanding support and resilience in response to the recent loss of their management company. This provides the Board with an opportunity to address concerns raised by the Charter Institute at Erskine over the past six months.
Following the receipt of the termination letter from their management company, the school’s administration, teachers, and families quickly rallied over their spring break to ensure their students did not experience any disruption. Due to their unwavering commitment and intensive support from the school’s authorizer, the Charter Institute at Erskine, a school that was once facing closure, has demonstrated the potential to continue its mission to provide a high-quality classical education to students in Fort Mill and the surrounding areas.
Despite months of confusion at the leadership level, the school’s administration and teachers remained dedicated to their goal, resulting in strong academic results in their first year. In the 2024-2025 school year, Ascent Classical Academy of Fort Mill’s Elementary School achieved a Good rating on its academic report card and an Excellent rating on its Middle School report card. Many Ascent parents credited the school’s classical model and family-oriented culture as the driver behind their child’s academic and social transformations in Town Hall meetings hosted on Monday, April 13.
“The school community demonstrated overwhelming support for the school to continue as an independent, autonomous school,” said Mike Sinclair, Superintendent of Schools at the Charter Institute at Erskine. “With a renewed commitment to collaboration with the Charter Institute at Erskine, this school is well-positioned to continue its track record of academic achievement with clear metrics for success moving forward.”
The Charter Institute at Erskine’s Board also approved the appointment of three new high-capacity Board members to the school’s Board, ensuring that the Board can operate with fidelity in compliance with South Carolina law.
“As a parent, I am immensely grateful for the Charter Institute at Erskine’s support and for this second chance for our precious school,” said Maria Kunisch, who was appointed to the Board on Wednesday. “As a new Board member, I can say we are unequivocally focused on the future – all our efforts are now dedicated to creating a stable culture of excellence for our families, teachers, and children.”
The school’s Board must establish a clear process for Board elections and develop a budget that will effectively sustain the school to avoid closure at the end of the year. During their first official meeting today, the Board demonstrated their eagerness to address these concerns and bring the school into compliance with the Charter Institute at Erskine. The Charter Institute at Erskine is committed to continuing to support the school leadership and the community in the months ahead.
