School news- 5/27/2026

School news- 5/27/2026

Dear Classical Charter Schools of America Parents, Families, and Friends,

As the 2025-2026 school year comes to a close, I find myself once again reflecting with pride on the accomplishments of our students, staff, and families. This year has been filled with growth, joy, achievement, and continued evidence of the excellence that defines our CCS-America community.

One of the most exciting highlights was the outstanding performance of all four CCS-America schools on the NC 2024-2025 End of Grade (EOG) assessments.

CCS-Southport earned the highest combined scores of all public elementary and middle schools in Brunswick County while exceeding growth expectations. CCS-Leland also exceeded growth expectations and achieved the second-highest Reading scores in Brunswick County, second only to CCS-Southport. CCS-Whiteville exceeded growth expectations and was one of only five schools in its area to exceed growth in overall academic performance. CCS-Wilmington met growth expectations and achieved an impressive six-point increase in overall school performance.

These accomplishments are a testament to the strength of our classical curriculum and unique instructional system, the dedication of our teachers and staff, the support of our families, and the perseverance of our students. We are incredibly proud of what all our schools have achieved together and of the joyful culture that motivates students to achieve these successes.

Beyond academics, our students continued to thrive in athletics, fine arts, and extracurricular activities. Our middle school sports programs continued to grow, while our drama students, show choirs, Beta Club members, Science Olympiad teams, archers, and many other student groups proudly represented CCS-America throughout the year. Our RBA Cheerleading team reclaimed their title of National Champions! And a CCS-Leland student won first place in a national poster contest sponsored by the Sons of the American Revolution, while several other CCS-A students placed in the top five at the state level. We also enjoyed another successful year of community events, performances, and celebrations that brought our charter family together.

At CCS-America, joy has proven to be one of the most powerful motivators for both students and teachers. Perhaps most rewarding this year was seeing our students continue to grow in their love for learning and watching them come alive in their classrooms. Witnessing how this culture can transform students into strong, virtuous learners reminds me why our mission matters so deeply.

As we look ahead to the 2026–2027 school year, I am excited for all that is to come. Thank you to our incredible teachers and staff, our supportive parents, and our dedicated students for making this year such a success. You are what makes CCS-America so special.

We wish you a restful summer break and look forward to welcoming you back in July.

Warm regards,

Baker A. Mitchell,

Founder

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Celebrating Over 26 Years of Excellence and Joy

Last month, staff and teachers from CCS-America’s four campuses gathered to celebrate the schools’ outstanding accomplishments and academic excellence.

The gala was held in appreciation of the amazing work done by CCS-America staff that made these accomplishments possible. This tradition has taken place every other year since the opening of CCS-Leland in 1999.

During the event, employees were recognized for reaching milestone years of dedicated service. The evening was full of dancing, a delicious dinner, and opportunities for staff members from different campuses to connect and build friendships.

The gala, held at the Wilmington Convention Center, was sponsored by the Roger Bacon Academy, the charter management organization that developed the CCS-America curriculum and oversees the four schools.

Founder and CEO Baker Mitchell attributes CCS-America’s many successes and accomplishments to a positive school culture emphasizing joy.

Click on the link below to read his recent Washington Times Opinion Editorial about how learning is enhanced by this unique culture of joy:

Baker Mitchell Washington Times OpEd

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A Full-Circle Poetry Journey

This week, some of our CCS-Leland eighth graders were paid a very special visit from Roger Bacon Academy founder Baker Mitchell.

Back when these students were in fourth grade, Mr. Mitchell visited their classroom twice a week to teach poetry writing. That class eventually grew into the CCS-America poetry writing curriculum that is now an essential part of our ELA program.

Now, these original student poets are preparing to graduate and move on from CCS-America. Before they do, Mr. Mitchell returned to their classroom one last time to hear them recite their poems for him. Afterward, he signed each of their yearbooks.

This special full-circle moment was the perfect way to celebrate and complete their poetry writing journeys at CCS-America! They will carry these skills with them to high school and beyond, and we are excited to see what they write next!

Visit the link below to read poems written by CCS-Leland’s original poetry writing students:

CCS-Leland 8th Grade Poems

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CCS-Wilmington Presents: The Little Mermaid

On May 6, CCS-Wilmington third, fourth, and fifth grade students lit up their auditorium with an engaging and dynamic performance of their spring musical, The Little Mermaid.

The students gave two performances. First, they put on a show for the K-2 students, bringing lots of laughs, smiling faces, and singing along. Later that night, they performed for their parents, families, and the Wilmington community. Both audiences eagerly watched Ariel’s journey to the world beyond the sea, filled with curiosity, love, and the important message of finding your voice.

We are grateful to Aaron Wyatt, Kimberly Rexroad, and Jeane Lafave for their time, hard work, and dedication in helping put on this performance. A special shout-out to Ms. Kathy Thompson for being a spectacular Ursula!

Students, take a bow!

CCS-Wilmington The Little Mermaid Performance

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CCS-Leland Presents: Wonderland

Last Friday, May 22, CCS-Leland kicked off the long weekend with a show-stopping performance of their spring musical, Wonderland!

The cast was made up of middle school Drama and Show Choir students. They worked hard and practiced for months to prepare for their big performance.

They took the audience along with Alice on her eventful journey through Wonderland, meeting many friends and learning important lessons along the way. Parents, students, staff, and community members were captivated by the story that unfolded on stage.

Congratulations to CCS-Leland on this fantastic performance! Thank you to Val Steffel, Donna Hahn, and Kimberly Boyd for all their hard work in bringing this show to life.

This performance marks the end of CCS-America school plays for the 2025-2026 school year. We are excited to see what amazing shows will be put on next year!

CCS-Leland Wonderland Performance

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We Still Have Spots Open!

The 2026-2027 school year is almost here, and there is still time to enroll! We have seats open across all grade levels and all campuses.

All prospective students (including siblings of current students) can enroll online for the upcoming school year at www.EnrollRBA.com for any of our four top-ranking locations. To access the application, click the “Visit and Enroll HERE” text next to the campus logo that you wish to enroll.

LEARN MORE AND ENROLL NOW!

REMINDER: A Chrome or desktop browser are the best options for accessing the application.

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School News- 5/6/2026

School News- 5/6/2026

The 10th Annual History Bowl

On Friday, April 24, the annual Classical Charter Schools of America History Bowl was held in the CCS-Leland auditorium. This year’s event was extra special, as it marked one decade of History Bowls!

To prepare for the competition, students participated in two mock contests and spent hours studying the up to 400 questions that could be asked. These questions correspond with CCS-America’s classical history curriculum. Each CCS-America campus sent a team in each of four grade levels (5-8) to compete in the History Bowl final.

Congratulations to CCS-Southport for bringing home the 5th grade trophy and to CCS-Leland for winning the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade trophies. Great job, teams!

All students on every team worked hard and demonstrated incredible history knowledge. They should be proud of their performances and the great job they did representing their campuses.

Check out photos from the impressive competition here:

10th Annual History Bowl Pictures

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It’s Teacher Appreciation Week!

This week, May 4–8, is Teacher Appreciation Week. Across every CCS-America campus, we are fortunate to have truly exceptional educators who inspire, support, and guide our students each day. We are excited to dedicate this week to recognizing and celebrating all that they do.

Students and parents, take a moment this week to express your gratitude towards your teachers. A simple thank-you note, a kind word, or a thoughtful gesture can go a long way in showing teachers just how much they are valued.

“It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.”

-Albert Einstein

To all our teachers, thank you for your dedication, hard work, and passion. Our school community is stronger because of you. We appreciate everything you do today and every day!

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CCS-Southport Presents Wonderland

Last Friday, May 1, CCS-Southport’s middle school Drama and Show Choir students put on their production of Wonderland, the spring musical!

They first did an afternoon performance for all K-5 students, captivating them with wonderful songs, fun costumes, and wacky jokes. They also gave a nighttime performance for parents and members of the community. Both audiences loved the show and could see all the hard work put into it.

Congratulations, CCS-Southport, on these fantastic performances! Thank you to Jamison Adams and Kimberly Boumpani for their hard work in putting this production on.

Don’t forget, two more CCS-America campuses will be performing their spring musicals this month:

CCS-Wilmington’s The Little Mermaid– May 6 at 5pm

CCS-Leland’s Wonderland– May 22 at 5pm

CCS-Southport Wonderland Performance

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And the 2026 FASTAR® Champion is…

CCS-Southport hosted the 12th Annual FASTAR® Race of Champions on Wednesday, April 29th. All first through fifth place winners in each race from each CCS-America campus came to this final competition to race as a team.

Students sped through their reading section and math facts, showing incredible skill and accuracy. In the end, CCS-Leland emerged victorious!

Congratulations to CCS-Leland, their competitors, and all the students invited to participate in the Race of Champions!

FASTAR Race of Champions Pictures

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Students of the Month: Respect

CCS-America students are recognized monthly for displaying a specific character trait from our School Pledge that they not only recite daily, but also practice in their lives.

The character trait for April was Respect. Students who show respect treat others and themselves with honor and dignity. Respect is shown in the School Pledge as “I pledge to be obedient and loyal to those in authority.” CCS-America students apply these words to their everyday lives by treating adults with courtesy, using good manners, and treating their peers the way they want to be treated.

Congratulations to all these students who demonstrated exemplary respect!

CCS-Leland

CCS-Southport

CCS-Whiteville

CCS-Wilmington

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We Still Have Spots Open!

The 2026-2027 school year is almost here, and there is still time to enroll! We have seats open across all grade levels and all campuses.

All prospective students (including siblings of current students) can enroll online for the upcoming school year at www.EnrollRBA.com for any of our four top-ranking locations. To access the application, click the “Visit and Enroll HERE” text next to the campus logo that you wish to enroll.

LEARN MORE AND ENROLL NOW!

REMINDER: A Chrome or desktop browser are the best options for accessing the application.

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School News- 4/22/2026

School News- 4/22/2026

Students, Start Your Pencils!

Last week, all campuses held their annual FASTAR® (Fluent Academic Skills Tournament in Arithmetic and Reading) races. 

Family members and classmates cheered our elementary racers on as they lined up in their racing lanes. As soon as the race started, students sped to the finish line, first reading a passage aloud and finishing with sheets of math facts. The middle school ‘pit crew’ members helped time the racers, pump up the crowd, and ensured the event went as planned. 

Trophies were given out to the top five finishers in each race, as well as to the pole position winner (the racer with the fastest qualifying time). The campus winners will face off at the FASTAR Race of Champions on April 29 at the CCS-Southport campus. The school team with the fastest overall average time will take home the 2026 FASTAR® Champion Trophy!

Congratulations to all our racers, and thank you to the pit crew, family members, and classmates for cheering them on!

Check out FASTAR® pictures from each campus below:

CCS-Leland

CCS-Southport

CCS-Whiteville

CCS-Wilmington

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Celebrating Our Office Managers

Today, April 22, is Administrative Professionals Day, and we are proud to highlight the individuals who keep our campuses running smoothly. Every day, our office managers work to support students, parents, and staff. They are an essential part of creating and maintaining a strong and supportive learning environment at each campus. 

Sheri Bordeaux, CCS-Leland

Breann Byrum, CCS-Southport

Crystal Morgan, CCS-Whiteville

Laura Messer, CCS-Wilmington

Cristy Connolly, RBA Corporate Office

We also want to give a big thank you to all of our amazing office assistants. We couldn’t do this without you!

The next time you see one of our office managers or assistants, be sure to thank them and let them know how much they are appreciated.

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CCS-Whiteville Presents Wonderland

On April 10, middle school students from CCS-Whiteville’s Drama and Show Choir electives put on their spring musical, Wonderland! Parents and community members gathered to see the results of these talented students’ hard work.

The performance took the audience down the rabbit hole as they followed Alice’s adventure through Wonderland, complete with the Queen of Hearts, the Cheshire Cat, the White Rabbit, the Mad Hatter, and other classic characters. The musical emphasized the importance of embracing one’s true self while also highlighting key CCS-America character traits, including determination, self-control, and courage.

CCS-Southport and CCS-Leland will perform their productions of Wonderland later this semester (May 1 and May 22, respectively), while CCS-Wilmington will present The Little Mermaid on May 6. Don’t miss out on these exciting upcoming performances!

Great job, CCS-Whiteville, and a special thanks to April Coleman and Magnolia Hunt for their hard work as well in bringing this production to life!

Wonderland Performance Pictures

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We Still Have Spots Open!

The 2026-2027 school year is almost here, and there is still time to enroll! We have seats open across all grade levels and all campuses.

All prospective students (including siblings of current students) can enroll online for the upcoming school year at www.EnrollRBA.com for any of our four top-ranking locations. To access the application, click the “Visit and Enroll HERE” text next to the campus logo that you wish to enroll.

LEARN MORE AND ENROLL NOW!

REMINDER: A Chrome or desktop browser are the best options for accessing the application.

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School News- 4/8/2026

School News- 4/8/2026

Quarter 4 is Here!

Welcome back for the final quarter of the 2025-2026 school year! Be sure to look out for these upcoming events:

For a look at the full 2025-2026 calendar, click on the link below:

School Calendar

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Softball and Baseball are Back at CCS-America!

Softball and baseball are back for another exciting season at CCS-America! Our second season is underway, with our middle school teams from CCS-Leland, CCS-Southport, and CCS-Whiteville building from last year and continuing to showcase their skills, hard work, and teamwork.

In the first three games, played before the break, our student athletes exhibited energy, passion, skill, and school spirit. Congratulations to all three campuses for getting wins in these early games. We are looking forward to more excitement and competition in the contests that lie ahead. 

There are six more games left in the CCS-America season, so don’t miss out on this chance to cheer for your team! Our softball games are played first, beginning at 4:00. They are immediately followed by the baseball game.

Join us tomorrow, April 9, for the next game. CCS-Whiteville will take on CCS-Leland at Navassa Township Park. Come show your support for our student-athletes as they represent their campus with pride!

Be sure to check out the updated CCS-A Middle School Sports Calendar for the full schedule of games this season:

2025-26 Sports Calendar

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Students of the Month: Gratefulness

CCS-America students are recognized monthly for displaying a specific character trait from our School Pledge that they not only say but also practice in their daily lives.

The character trait for March was Gratefulness. Students who demonstrate gratefulness recognize and appreciate the people, opportunities, and things in their lives. This trait is reflected in our School Pledge as “I pledge to be virtuous in all my deeds.” Students bring these words to life by valuing the people around them, using polite expressions like “please” and “thank you,” and taking time to show appreciation for what they have.

Congratulations to all these students who showed exemplary gratefulness. Check them out on the links below!

CCS-Leland

CCS-Southport

CCS-Whiteville

CCS-Wilmington

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We Still Have Spots Open!

The 2026-2027 school year is almost here, and there is still time to enroll! We have seats open across all grade levels and all campuses.

All prospective students (including siblings of current students) can enroll online for the upcoming school year at www.EnrollRBA.com for any of our four top-ranking locations. To access the application, click the “Visit and Enroll HERE” text next to the campus logo that you wish to enroll.

LEARN MORE AND ENROLL NOW!

REMINDER: A Chrome or desktop browser are the best options for accessing the application.

 

School News- 3/25/2026

School News- 3/25/2026

RBA Cheerleading Teams Capture Three National Championships

We are proud to celebrate an outstanding achievement by our RBA Reign Athletics Cheerleading program! Earlier this month, our RBA cheerleading teams traveled to Disney World to compete at the Quest National Championship in hopes of reclaiming the title of national champions. After multiple days of competition and lots of hard work, RBA brought home national titles in three divisions!

This year’s national champion teams are:

Silver Flame – 10U Level 1

Black Ice – 12U Level 2

Royalty – 14U Level 1

All of these athletes have demonstrated exceptional commitment and hard work throughout the year. Their success on the national stage reflects their dedication and passion for the sport, as well as their values of perseverance and teamwork.

We would also like to extend a big thank you to the RBA coaches and staff! These victories would not have been possible without their guidance and support.

Congratulations once again to all our athletes and coaches on this remarkable accomplishment. We are incredibly proud of you!

For those interested in joining this award-winning program, please contact Coach Lafave at rbaathletics@gmail.com for more information.Go RBA Cheerleading!

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Mastering the Alphabet: Kindergarten Letterland Parade

The mastery of the alphabet is essential for every young learner. Knowing the shape and sound of each letter (both uppercase and lowercase) ensures our kindergarteners have a good foundation to build on as they continue their education.

To help students learn the alphabet, they are taught the ‘Letterland Song,’ which assigns a character to each letter. Through the Letterland song and characters, CCS-A kindergarteners master all 44 sounds in the English language and their major recurring spelling patterns.

To celebrate this mastery, each CCS-A campus recently had its annual Letterland Parade. Students and teachers dressed up as their favorite Letterland characters and proudly marched around their campus. Parents, staff, and older students cheered them on and helped them celebrate this accomplishment.

Congratulations, kindergarteners!

Check out pictures from each campus’s Letterland Parade below:

Leland

Southport

Whiteville

Wilmington

 

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Exploring Washington, D.C.

On March 12, eighth grade students from CCS-Southport and CCS-Leland traveled to our nation’s capital, Washington D.C., for an educational and unforgettable field trip.

Our eighth graders have spent the past nine years at CCS-A studying our nation’s history and founding. This trip provided them with the opportunity to experience that history firsthand, making connections to what they have learned in the classroom while deepening their understanding of American history and government.

They spent the weekend touring many historic landmarks and monuments, including the U.S. Capitol, Arlington National Cemetery, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Washington Monument, Ford’s Theatre, the Lincoln Memorial, and more.

They also explored several museums within the Smithsonian Institution.

By learning alongside their classmates, our eighth graders created memories that will last a lifetime. They will carry these experiences with them beyond their time at CCS-America and continue to understand the importance of being active, informed citizens of the United States.

Washington, D.C. Trip Photos

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We Still Have Spots Open!

The 2026-2027 school year is quickly approaching. There is still time to enroll! We have seats open across all grade levels and all campuses.

All prospective students (including siblings of current students) can enroll online for the upcoming school year at www.EnrollRBA.com for any of our four top-ranking locations. To access the application, click the “Visit and Enroll HERE” text next to the campus logo that you wish to enroll.

LEARN MORE AND ENROLL NOW!

REMINDER: A Chrome or desktop browser are the best options for accessing the application.

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