Lake Lure Classical Academy is more than a school building that is nestled in the town of Lake Lure. It is a place where children are known by name, where teachers stay late to help a struggling student finally understand a concept, and where families from across our region come together around a shared belief—that children deserve a strong, meaningful education rooted in both high expectations and strong values.
As the only public charter school located in Lake Lure, Lake Lure Classical Academy (LLCA) serves hundreds of students across Rutherford and surrounding counties. For many families, it is not simply a choice, it is the place where their children are learning to read, to think critically, to serve others, and to see the world beyond their immediate circumstances.
And like many small public charter schools, LLCA is built not only on state funding, but on something far more powerful: community.
Every day, LLCA teachers work to provide a classical, college-preparatory education that challenges students academically while also building character. Students participate in rigorous Core Knowledge coursework, hands-on literacy & science, the arts, athletics, and growing opportunities for college and career readiness through dual enrollment programs and service-learning projects that teaches students to give back to their local community.
However, what truly sets LLCA apart from other schools in the surrounding area is something harder to measure. It is the way this school is supported by the people who live and work in the Hickory Nut Gorge area.
Local businesses and faith-based organizations are always willing to step forward to help. They take time to expand learning opportunities through volunteering at school events such as Earth Day and Open House, and they even sponsor school clubs for our students. Our local community members show up to read to children, tutor students who need extra support, and share their knowledge and life experience in classrooms. Each week local volunteers prepare and serve nutritious meals that help feed our students. All these moments matter more than most people realize—they are often the difference between a student who struggles and a student who succeeds.
Why Community Supports Matters More Now
Like many public charter schools in NorthCarolina, LLCA does not receive funding for many of the critical needs that directly shape a child’s school experience. Buildings age. Programs grow. Needs change. And when they do, the gap between what is funded and what is needed is filled by people who care.
Right now, LLCA has three urgent and meaningful priorities where community support can make a lasting difference.
Feeding Students Every Day
No child can learn well when they are hungry.
LLCA’s “Feed the Children” program provides meals to students through a campus food truck model. This program ensures that children have access to nutritious food during school days. While other schools are federally funded for their school lunch program, LLCA does not receive any state or federal funding to ensure that students are fed each day.
The need is simple but significant: to ensure this program continues, so that more students are served consistently, and no child is left without a meal when they need it most.
Community support—through financial contributions and volunteering—helps provide food, equipment, staffing, and long-term stability for this program.
A Safer, Stronger Place to Play and Grow
For many children, the playground is where they learn just as much about life as they do in the classroom.
LLCA’s playground and outdoor recreation areas need updates and improvements to ensure they are safe, engaging, and accessible for all students. This includes updating equipment, expanding play spaces, and creating shaded and inclusive areas where children of all ages can learn, play, and grow together.
These are not luxuries. They are essential spaces where friendships are formed, confidence is built, and childhood is experienced. “Playgrounds are an extension of the classroom where children develop social skills, resilience, and confidence through everyday interactions and play,” said Dr. Phipps, Elementary Assistant Principal. “When we invest in these spaces, we are investing in the whole child.” To date, LLCA has raised $30,000 toward improving our playground and outdoor learning spaces. Community members who wish to contribute to this important project are encouraged to contact Dr. Phipps at fphipps@llcharter.org to learn how to give to the playground fund or to make a donation.
Expanding Outdoor Learning in the Heart of the Mountains
Few schools in the state have what LLCA has right outside its doors: mountains, forests, rivers, and natural ecosystems that can bring learning to life.
LLCA’s outdoor education program allows students to step outside the classroom and into real-world learning experiences—studying science in nature, learning environmental stewardship, and developing a deeper understanding of the world around them.
With community support, this program can grow. Outdoor classrooms can be expanded. Learning spaces can be improved. Students can experience even more hands-on, place-based education that connects them to the world they live in. “Outdoor learning gives students the opportunity to connect directly with nature, sparking curiosity and deeper understanding that simply cannot be replicated inside four walls,” said Mrs. Warner, Outdoor Education Coordinator. “Our goal is to create meaningful, hands-on experiences that foster both academic growth and a lifelong appreciation for the natural world.”
Community members can support this initiative through financial contributions designated for outdoor learning enhancements, as well as by volunteering time or expertise to help develop and maintain outdoor classroom spaces. Donations of materials, sponsorship of specific outdoor learning features, and partnerships with local organizations are also meaningful ways to help expand these opportunities for students. If you are interested in contributing to this program, please reach out to Mrs. Warner at ewarner@llcharter.org or Dr. Phipps at fphipps@llcharter.org.
The Gift of Time
While financial support is essential and the need is great, one of the gifts to our school is the people who choose to give their time.
The school welcomes volunteers who are willing to:
- Tutor students in reading, math, and writing
- Read to elementary students
- Support classrooms and teachers
- Help with student meal programs
- Share professional skills and life experience as guest speakers
- Support outdoor learning activities
- Assist with school events and enrichment programs
These acts of service do something powerful: they remind children that their community believes in them.
A Shared Responsibility
LLCA is not just a school for its students. It is part of the fabric of Lake Lure itself. It represents the hopes of parents, the dedication of teachers, and the belief of a community that education still matters deeply.
But maintaining and growing that mission requires all of us.
Annual giving, one-time contributions, and volunteer support are not simply donations of money or time—they are investments in children, in families, and in the future of this region.
An Invitation to the Community
If you have ever wondered how to make a difference close to home, this is one place where your impact is immediate and visible. You will see it in a child who learns to read with confidence. You will see it in a student who has enough to eat. You will see it on a playground filled with laughter or on a trail where students are discovering the natural world.
Lake Lure Classical Academy is asking its community to stand with it—not as a matter of obligation, but as a shared commitment to children who are growing up here, right now, in our own mountains.
Because when a community supports its school, it is really supporting itself.
And that is something worth investing in.
For more information on how to become involved, please contact Barbara Cohen, School Director, at (828) 625-9292
