Families and students in Cleveland County, NC could see their first public charter school open in 2013 if things keep moving forward as planned.

State charter officials approved Pinnacle Classical Academy’s plan last week to open a public charter school. The plan now goes to the State Board of Education who will meet in August. The school hopes to enroll students in kindergarten through sixth grade and will add one grade level each year after it opens. The first graduating class is planned for 2020.

“Not a day goes by that I don’t get an email from somebody interested in volunteering, teaching, getting their child enrolled,” said Debbie Clary, chairwoman of the school’s Board of Directors.

Demand for access to public charter schools continues to grow in the area, as 426 county students attended charter schools outside Cleveland County during the start of the 2011-12 school year. Per-pupil funding follows those students to their respective schools.

The school’s board of directors is currently scouting locations to build the potential school.

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