Original Research by School Decision on Faith Academy
Faith Academy is a charter school district in Rowan County, North Carolina, serving kindergarten through ninth grade as of now, with plans to add grades through twelfth by the 2026-27 school year. The school opened in August 2021 after the local Rowan-Salisbury Schools district closed Faith Elementary, leaving families in that area without a neighborhood public school option. Faith Academy emerged as a tuition-free charter alternative, drawing students through a weighted lottery from seven surrounding counties including Cabarrus, Davie, Davidson, Kannapolis, Lexington, and Thomasville.
The enrollment is modest, distributed across the grade bands the school serves. Kindergarten through eighth grade make up the majority, with ninth grade substantially smaller, reflecting the phased buildout. The student body is predominantly white, with smaller representation from Hispanic, multiracial, two or more races, Asian, and Black students. Specific enrollment data by race and free-or-reduced-price lunch status is available in the school's data, though the latter was not reported to the state in the available records.
A significant development occurred in October 2023 when Faith Academy completed and occupied a new school building for grades K-8, marking a major infrastructure investment in the community. The former Faith Elementary building was renovated to house high school grades. This construction project represents a permanent commitment to the area and a tangible sign of the school's long-term stability for families enrolling young children now.
The school is building out a full high school program deliberately. Ninth grade is now operating; twelfth grade is scheduled to arrive in 2026-27, with grades ten and eleven coming in the intervening years. The high school curriculum includes Honors and Advanced Placement courses, College and Career Promise dual-credit classes through community college partnerships, and access to NC Virtual Public School options. This range gives students pathways toward both traditional four-year college and career-focused credentials without leaving the Faith area.
State assessment data was not available for this analysis, so the school's academic proficiency across tested grades and subjects cannot be characterized here. A parent may want to ask the school directly for its performance data on state tests and any internal assessments, and to speak with current families about their experience with instruction and academic rigor. The school is young, having just moved into permanent facilities, so the picture of academic outcomes is still developing.
The school operates under the charter model, meaning it has more autonomy over curriculum and staffing than traditional public schools but remains accountable to the state and its authorizer. As a new charter serving a previously underserved area, it may attract families seeking an alternative to the larger Rowan-Salisbury district or families within its seven-county lottery zone. The weighted lottery means admission is not guaranteed by geography; a parent interested in enrolling should understand the application process and timeline.
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