Columbia, South Carolina

Our Journey to Opening Day

From a community vision to the first day of school — every milestone on the road to opening C.R. Neal Academy.

Voorhees-Authorized · Opening Fall 2027
1 / 17
Applications Approved
1st
HBCU-Authorized Charter
200+
Founding Students
Fall '27
Day One
Applications open October 2026 · Get notified when enrollment opens
Mark Your Interest →
Phase 1 · The Vision Complete
2024–2025
Community
A Community Listens — and Builds a Case
The vision for C.R. Neal Academy begins in Columbia's neighborhoods, churches, and living rooms. Families, educators, and community leaders name what is missing: a high school that prepares young people for real careers, rooted in the HBCU legacy that defines this city and this state.
Community Listening Columbia, SC HBCU Legacy
2025
Application
The Charter Application Is Submitted
A full charter school application — academic model, community need, governance plan, and financial blueprint — is submitted to Voorhees Charter Institute of Learning, South Carolina's HBCU-led charter authorizer. An independent review by NACSA follows.
Voorhees Charter Institute Independent NACSA Review
Phase 2 · Authorization · A Historic Moment Complete
April 16, 2026
Authorization Hearing
The Hearing — C.R. Neal Makes Its Case
Executive Director Lalah Radney and the founding team present before Voorhees Charter Institute of Learning. The argument: a high school built for economic mobility, grounded in HBCU values, and designed to launch Columbia's next generation into careers with real futures.
17
Schools Applied
1
School Approved
1st
HBCU-Authorized in the U.S.
April 2026
Historic
Approved — The First HBCU-Authorized Charter School in the United States
Voorhees Charter Institute of Learning grants authorization. C.R. Neal Academy is the only school approved from a pool of 17 applicants — earning a distinction without precedent in American charter school history. Coverage follows in the Post and Courier. Executive Director Lalah Radney writes an op-ed for the Columbia community.
Post & Courier Coverage Lalah Radney · Executive Director Columbia, SC
We Are Here · Spring 2026
Phase 3 · Pre-Opening & Groundbreaking · Summer 2026 In Progress
Summer 2026
Groundbreaking
Breaking Ground — A Brand New Campus Near Atlas Road
Construction begins on a purpose-built campus near Atlas Road in Columbia, designed from the ground up for the way students learn at C.R. Neal Academy: project-based, industry-connected, and built for the futures of the young people who will walk through its doors. This is not a converted office building or a shared space. This is a school built for this community.
Near Atlas Road · Columbia, SC Brand New Campus Purpose-Built
Community Invited
The groundbreaking ceremony will be a community event. Families, neighbors, and partners are all welcome to celebrate this milestone alongside the C.R. Neal Academy founding team. Details will be shared at crnealacademy.org as the date approaches.
Phase 4 · Enrollment Opens · Fall 2026 Ahead
October 2026
Applications Open
Applications Open — Families Can Apply Starting October 2026
Enrollment opens for the Fall 2027 inaugural class. Families in the Columbia area can apply online or in person — for free. The application requires no test scores, no grades, and no essays. C.R. Neal Academy is a public school. No tuition. No barriers. Every family deserves to know about this opportunity.
Free to Apply Public School · No Tuition Grades 6 & 9 to Start · Building to 6–12
Fall–Winter 2026
Coming
Community Information Sessions — Meet Executive Director Radney
Executive Director Lalah Radney and the founding team will be out in the community — at churches, community centers, and neighborhood events — answering questions, sharing the vision, and inviting families to apply. These sessions are informal, welcoming, and open to everyone.
All Families Welcome Lalah Radney See Events on the Homepage
How to Apply
Beginning October 2026, applications are accepted online at crnealacademy.org or in person at a community event. The application is free, takes about 10 minutes, and requires no test scores or essays. Want to be notified the moment enrollment opens? Mark your interest here.
Phase 5 · Lottery & Enrollment Decisions · Spring 2027 Ahead
Spring 2027
Coming
Public Lottery — Every Applicant Gets a Fair Shot
If more families apply than there are seats available, C.R. Neal Academy will hold a public, random lottery — as required of all public charter schools in South Carolina. The process is transparent, witnessed, and fair. Every applicant who meets the enrollment deadline is included. No preferences, no advantages — just an equal chance.
Public and Transparent South Carolina State Law Equal Access
Spring 2027
Coming
Families Notified — Your Seat Is Confirmed
Families receive written notification of their enrollment status after the lottery. Enrolled students receive a welcome packet with next steps. Families on the waitlist are kept informed as seats become available. No family is left without a clear answer.
Written Notification Welcome Packet Waitlist Maintained
Phase 6 · Building the School · Spring–Summer 2027 Ahead
Summer 2027
Ahead
Campus Construction Complete — Building Ready for Students
The brand new C.R. Neal Academy campus near Atlas Road reaches completion. Classrooms, career labs, collaboration spaces, and community areas are all move-in ready. The building is designed for the school's model — not just a place to sit in rows, but a space to work, build, practice, and grow.
Near Atlas Road Community Tours Planned Purpose-Built
Spring–Summer 2027
Ahead
Founding Faculty Hired and Announced
C.R. Neal Academy is recruiting educators who believe students are already capable — who bring rigor, care, and real-world expertise into every classroom. The founding team is selected and announced ahead of the summer.
Founding Faculty Career-Connected Educators
Spring 2027
Ahead
Industry Partners Announced — Real Careers Start Here
C.R. Neal Academy's employer and institutional partners are confirmed and announced publicly. These partnerships aren't decorative — they are the backbone of the school's career pathways. Students will earn industry credentials, complete work-based learning experiences, and build real relationships with Columbia's workforce before graduation.
Healthcare Advanced Manufacturing Information Technology Columbia Employers
Summer 2027
Ahead
Family Orientation and Open House
Enrolled families are invited to campus before the first day. Meet Executive Director Radney and the faculty. Walk every room of the new building. Learn the daily schedule. Connect with the families who will form your child's school community. This is when the school comes alive.
All Enrolled Families Meet the Faculty Tour the Campus
Phase 7 · Day One Fall 2027
Fall 2027

C.R. Neal Academy Opens Its Doors

Students walk into a brand new school built for them — grounded in HBCU legacy, connected to real careers, and ready to prove that Columbia can change the trajectory of a young person's life.

200+
Founding Students
6 & 9
Opening Grades
Free
Public School
Get Notified When Applications Open →