by Sidnee Michelle
September 24, 2026
Nation’s 1st HBCU-Authorized Charter School To Open In South Carolina
Applications for the academy’s inaugural 2027-28 school year are scheduled to open Oct. 28.
C.R. Neal Academy is preparing to make history in South Carolina as the nation’s first public charter school authorized by a historically Black college or university, with a curriculum designed to connect students to STEM education, college, and high-demand careers, Afrotech reports.
The tuition-free charter school is scheduled to open in Columbia in August 2027 after the city’s Board of Zoning Appeals approved a special exception for the project on Sept. 3, allowing the academy to establish its campus on Atlas Road.
Voorhees University, an HBCU in Denmark, South Carolina, authorized C.R. Neal Academy through its Charter Institute of Learning. The university will oversee the school’s academic performance, financial management, and community commitments.
The academy plans to combine college-preparatory academics with career training in health sciences, advanced manufacturing, and information technology. Students will have opportunities to earn industry-recognized credentials and partici...