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  • Advanced Learners | Telra Institute

    Does your child like moving fast? Have you ever had the experience of asking your child what they learned at school today, only to hear, "Nothing," in response? Have they ever complained about being bored in school or acted out because of it? We Does your child like moving fast? Finish school work quickly? Often bored? Restless and active ? YES Moving Fast > > > > > > > Advanced Learners Word Cloud Maybe you recognize your child here... Advanced or gifted learners often show some of these traits, but no individual has them all. You can read more here: NAGC Davidson Institute MCGT Parents frequently tell us that when they ask what their child learned at school, it's disheartening to hear, "Nothing," as the response. Boredom in school can lead to behavior problems and lower achievement. Many children will learn better , if we let them move faster . At Telra, we nurture challenge and encourage tailored acceleration . Most of our students will finish 5th grade one to three years ahead of the standard course of study. This isn't (usually) because they skip grades. Rather, we compact the curriculum. Think about it this way: A student who starts with Telra in Kindergarten and moves through the curriculum 17% faster than "standard" will be one full grade level ahead by they time finish 5th grade. (Since Telra students work beyond grade level, they are not assessed at "grade level standards." We use our own Telra Institute Standards, which go somewhat beyond grade level.) Our middle school students earn high school credits, and our high school students take college courses (and most will earn an Associate Degree) by the time they graduate. Only a small fraction of kids are ready to skip an entire grade, but many children will learn content at least 20% faster if given a chance. If Telra sounds like a good fit for your child, read about our admissions process here. Admissions Overview

  • QUICK LINKS | Telra Institute

    Quick links for enrolled families Quick Links for Enrolled Families Telra Portal Update regular dismissal plans Request early dismissal Report an absence Alma - school bulletins, classes, schedules, and contact information In-person Remote Academy School lunches - ordering and free-reduced cost applications Before and After Care

  • Performance metrics | Telra Institute

    School Report Card Year Letter grade Performance score 2024-2025 A 89 2023-2024 A 86 2022-2023 B 81 2021-2022 B 79 Read to Achieve

  • Choosing A School | Telra Institute

    Every child is unique. Every child is deserving. Every school is different. Every family should be able to select a school that best fits their child's needs. See if Telra is right for you. Choosing A School Every child is unique with their own interests, strengths, and motivations Every school is different with its own character, curriculum, philosophy, and approach to education Every child is deserving of an education that helps inspire and prepare them to realize their full potential + + = One size does not fit all Every family should be able to select a school for their child that fits them best—where they believe their child can thrive Is Telra right for my child? Does our philosophy align with yours? Learn More > Yes Does our educational approach fit your child's needs? Learn More > Would your child be excited by our curriculum? Learn More > Yes Yes Would your child appreciate our instructional influences? Learn More > YES

  • Admissions Overview | Telra Institute

    Telra Institute is now accepting applicants for grades K-3 in the 2021-2022 academic year. Telra is a nonprofit tuition-free public charter school authorized by the State of North Carolina. We adhere to an open admissions and enrollment policy. Admissions Overview 26-27 Lottery is complete Join the waitlist! Welcome and thank you for your interest in becoming a part of the Telra Institute family. Telra is a nonprofit tuition-free public charter school authorized by the State of North Carolina. We adhere to an open admissions and enrollment policy. Here's how the process works: 1. Submit an online application (it takes just 5 minutes on your smartphone or computer) 2. Receive acceptance/ waitlist notification Wait for the lottery results and offers. Applications received after the lottery are added to the wait list in the order they are received after applying any applicable admission preferences. Learn More or Apply Now 3. Complete enrollment by submitting documents FAQ's Who can apply? Should I apply? When do I apply? How are students selected? How does the lottery work? How do I apply? What's next if my child is admitted? What about future years? What are the documentation requirements? Does Telra use admissions screening? Where is the school? Why did my child move backward on the waitlist What about transportation, meals, uniforms, etc? FAQs Who can apply Who can apply? We invite applications from all children who meet AGE and RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS : AGE - A child who reaches the age of five years on or before August 31 qualifies to enter Kindergarten. Limited exceptions apply. NORTH CAROLINA RESIDENCY - Attendance is open to applicants from any county or school district area as long as the child's primary residence is in the state of North Carolina. DOCUMENTATION - Documentation is not required at the time of application, but if your child is admitted, proof of eligibility must be provided to complete enrollment. Should I apply Should I apply? We want every child to find the best school environment that helps them realize their potential. We invite you to review Choosing A School to learn what makes Telra special. When do I apply When do I apply? We want every child to have an equal opportunity to attend our school. All applications received during Open Enrollment will be given equal consideration. The order in which Open Enrollment applications are submitted has no bearing on chances for selection. You can also apply after the Open Enrollment period. However, late applications will be only be considered after the Open Enrollment applications are processed (see below). How are stuents selected How are students selected? When the Open Enrollment period ends, we compare the number of applications we received to the number of available seats in each grade and section. If more seats are available than applicants, we accept all eligible children who applied during Open Enrollment. If we have fewer seats available than applicants, a computerized lottery will take place to determine which students get a seat and which students are placed on the waiting list. Admissions preferences can provide an advantage in the lottery. We urge parents to review them and learn if any apply to your child. The application form will give you the opportunity to claim any relevant admission preferences. Children who apply after Open Enrollment closes are processed in the order their applications are received and placed on the appropriate list - admitted or waitlist. If your child is on the waitlist, don’t be discouraged! Seats will open up throughout the spring and summer. We will send you updates as the waitlist moves and continue to send you school information. Note that admissions preferences also apply to applicants on the waitlist. If you discover, after you have been waitlisted, that one of the admissions preferences apply to your child, you can update your application and improve your chances of selection. Who runs the lottery How does the lottery work? At the end of Open Enrollment, we determine - for each grade and section - whether a lottery is needed. Applicants are then assigned a random number and their applications are then sequenced from lowest (at the top of the list) to highest number (at the bottom of the list). Offers are extended in this sequence until capacity is reached. We do not know ahead of time what the capacity will be in each grade, nor can we predict likelihood of admission. That is a somewhat dynamic question as space and staff are allocated depending on multiple factors, including overall demand, relative demand at each grade, and turnover. Admissions preferences are an exception to the random lot assignment. Many families may qualify for one or more admission preferences, so it is important to review them closely and see if any may apply to your child in order to maximize your chances of admission. How do I apply How do I apply? Choose your format Families can apply for the Telra's in-person program, the Remote Academy (virtual) program, or both. Go to the correct application link: In-person program : https://telra.almastart.com Remote Academy: https://telraremote.almastart.com Log in or create an Alma Start Account A responsible parent or guardian must log into or create an Alma Start account. If you have applied to Telra in previous years, you can use the same Alma Start login credentials. If you choose to apply to both programs, you can use the same login credentials for each. Need help on navigating Alma Start? Access the walkthrough videos with the password: Sparkpotential Select or Add the Student If you have children already on your profile, click on their name to select them. If the prospective student is not listed, click "Add Student" to provide their name and then select them. Begin Process Once a child is selected, you can click on the "Begin New Process" Select the school year for the new application (2026-27), and the child's current Grade Level (in 25-26). Click on the Admission 2026-27 process box that appears below. Then click "begin" to launch the process. Complete Forms New applicants will start in the Admissions intake stage . Click there to complete the required forms. Submit Application Once you have completed all the forms, click the green submit button to move your application to the Wait List stage. Make sure to complete this step by the end of open enrollment (January 22) if you want to participate in the Lottery. Wait You will know that your application is complete because it will show as being in the Wait List stage . You will not receive an immediate email confirmation. However, prior to the lottery you will receive an email that assigns your application a unique code that you can use to identify your child in the lottery and waitlist. Lottery The lottery was held on January 23, 2026. We shared a virtual meeting link on our home page for those who are interested in joining live to watch us use the RAND() function in Microsoft Excel to assign a random number to each applicant. The lower the number, the earlier an applicant will be in the assignment sequence (adjusted for any other lottery priorities ). Sequencing Within one week of the lottery (i.e., by January 30), Telra will publish assignment sequences. You'll know your random number on the lottery date, but you won't know where you are on the list until the Sequence date . Offers After the sequencing is complete, the school begins offering seats , beginning with applicants at the top of the sequence and proceeding down. Some seats will be available and offers will be extended right away. Other seats may not become available until later in the spring, so assignments for those will be deferred. The assignment process takes several months throughout the spring, and some assignments even stretch into the summer. Our advice: if you are determined to be a Telra family, be patient and remain on the list. Every year, some families who had almost given up hope receive the happy news of an offer. Reaffirmation Because the assignment process can take time, we understand that some families on the wait list make other educational plans. If you do, please let us know so that we can remove your applicant from the waitlist, which expedites the processing of offers. From time-to-time, we will send out an email to all families on the waitlist to ask whether they wish to "reaffirm" their interest in Telra to remain on the list. Families who do not respond to a reaffirmation email will be removed from the wait list. Late applicants Applications received after the end of Open Enrollment will be added to a wait list in the order they are received, and behind all of the applications that were received during Open Enrollment. Later wait list additions will receive an email at the end of the month they register with the unique ID they can use to look up their waitlist position. While you are waiting, keep an eye on opportunities to learn more about the school, take a tour, and participate in placement testing. If you don't have access to internet, need translation support, or would like to apply another way, please reach out to applications [at] telra.org or call the school at 704-727-2530. Apply for in-person Apply for remote Whats Next What's next if my child is admitted? You will receive an email notifying you that your child has been admitted and how you can respond to accept or decline the offer. You will have up to 7 days to respond , but we request that you be prompt, as your decision impacts other families. (See below for exceptions from this timeline.) If you accept, you will receive an email explaining how to proceed to enroll your child and explaining the documentation requirements. You will have up to 7 days to provide the requested documents and complete the registration forms (also on Alma Start). (See below for exceptions from this timeline.) After you submit your registration forms, they will undergo a validation process that can take up to a week. You may be contacted if a form was incorrectly completed or an uploaded document is not valid or legible. When validation is complete, you will receive an email welcoming you to Telra. If you haven't received this email after a week, be sure to check your spam folder before reaching out to inquire. Any admissions from the waitlist more than 30 days after the date of the lottery may have shortened timelines (2 days) for response. What about future years What about future years? If you are planning to continue attending Telra, once enrolled, a student does not need to submit another application nor enter a lottery to remain a Telra Institute in subsequent years. (Once you're in, you're in!) If you decide to move to another school (mid-year or at the end of an academic year), you will need to re-apply if you change your mind and decide you want to come back to Telra. Also note that, because Telra's curriculum and grade level system are different from that of other schools, if you do leave Telra, we cannot predict how another school will map your Telra courses and grade level to theirs. They may go simply by your nominal Telra grade level or they may take into account the specific coursework you have completed at Telra and give you an accelerated placement. Ultimately, these decisions are made by the school leadership at your destination school. Doc Reqs What are the documentation requirements? Parents or guardians will be required to submit certain documentation to complete enrollment. This will include: Identification Copy of child's birth certificate or other proof of age and legal name North Carolina residency - Acceptable proof of residency documents must include the parent or guardian's name. Any of the following documents may be used: A utility bill dated within the past 60 days, such as gas, water, electric, telephone, or cable A financial statement dated within the past 60 days such as payroll stub, bank statement, or credit card statement Current vehicle registration Dated within the past year: Vehicle Tax Bill, Property Tax Bill, W-2, or Medicaid Card Copy of residential deed or record of most recent residential mortgage statement Notarized Residency Affidavit ( form ) Residential lease HUD closing statement Letter from approved agency or group home Refugee resettlement letter Exceptions to the proof of residency requirement apply for a child whose parent or legal guardian is on active military duty and is transferred or pending transfer pursuant to an official military order. Please review the requirements here and contact Telra if you think this may apply to you. Immunization North Carolina law requires all children in the state to receive certain immunizations as listed here . McKinney-Vento Telra Institute complies with the McKinney-Vento Education of Homeless Children and Youth Assistance Act. Children experiencing homelessness may enroll, even if lacking normally required documents. Please contact Telra if you think this may apply to you or reach out to Lisa Notini at Lisa.Notini@polarisims.com 828.287.7897. Additional resources are available here: https://hepnc.uncg.edu/ no admissions screening Does Telra have admissions screening? We know many other schools (charters, privates, and district magnets) screen applicants based on standardized tests, portfolio reviews, auditions, etc. These processes often include cognitive aptitude tests to identify "giftedness", but those can be unreliable for preschool-aged children. Since many of our applicants are only 4 years old, such an exam would be of limited use for us. Moreover, the advanced learning curriculum we offer works fabulously well for many gifted students, but not all of them. At the same time there are other students who have the passion and drive to thrive at Telra (and in life!), but may not carry the "gifted" label. Instead of focusing on admissions screening and binary labels, we offer placement assessments that students can take if they are requesting a non-default placement in reading or math. These assessments are similar to those our enrolled students take regularly - they correlate directly with our grouping model and they inform which grade or math/reading instructional group a student is eligible for. Every Telra student will take a placement assessment when they join us; we also offer applicants the option of taking them prior to joining. We recommend participating in the early placement assessments if you believe your child needs to be placed at a math or reading level different from their default grade level (noting that their default grade level at Telra may not be the same as their grade level placement elsewhere). Placement results do not affect an applicant's lottery or waitlist position. However, they can affect a student's instructional grouping and/or grade level placement. As a result, they can indirectly impact assignment because we (sequentially, in lottery order) consider each applicant against available space in each of the classes / grade levels into which that applicant is recommended for placement. Please note: Placement results can be a rude awakening for many families, especially in North Carolina, where schools often report inflated grades , misleading families about students' true proficiency level. At Telra, grade advancement is earned through demonstrated knowledge, not conferred due to age. This may require a grade level adjustment upon joining our school, but we find this positions students for maximum academic growth in their time at Telra. Choosing A School Backward Waitlist Why did my child move backward on the waitlist? We know no one wants to see their child move to a higher number on the waitlist, but this can happen when another applicant has an admission preference applied. As much as possible, we try to identify admission preferences prior to the lottery, but sometimes these are not recognized until after the lottery is run, and sometimes families that apply after the lottery may qualify for an admission preference which can advance them on the waitlist. Where is school Where is the school? Telra Institute K-8 is located at 4150 McKee Rd, Charlotte, NC 28270 Telra Institute High School is located at 3130 Campus Ridge Rd, Matthews NC 28105 See more on our Location page Transportation Meals Uni What about transportation, meals, uniforms, etc? If you are interested in our in-person program, please read more about Attending Telra . Our school uniform and dress code principles can be found here .

  • TULIP | Telra Institute

    Telra UNC Charlotte Learner Investigation Program - TULIP is a collaboration between Telra Institute and the Cato College of Education at UNC Charlotte to identify and cultivate academic talent in children. Our long-term goal is to broaden and strengthen the pipeline of future scholars by supporting young learners and their families with educational resources, guidance, and programming to fully develop their potential. T elra U NC Charlotte L earner I nvestigation P rogram TULIP is a collaboration between Telra Institute and the Cato College of Education at UNC Charlotte to identify and cultivate academic talent in children. Our long-term goal is to broaden and strengthen the pipeline of future scholars by supporting young learners and their families with educational resources, guidance, and programming to fully develop their potential. 2022-23 Program Offerings Math Enrichment with the Charlotte/Mecklenburg Math Club The Math Club began in 1987 to provide enrichment and challenges for students who have interest and ability and mathematics. In monthly meetings, students work individually and in small groups, supported by mentors, to solve problems from various areas of mathematics and hear occasional presentations. Various divisions available for grades 4-12, and no registration is required. In-person meetings at Telra Institute , 4150 McKee Rd, Charlotte, NC 28270 October 8, 9:30am November 12, 9:30am (Special presentation from Angelina Quan, NCs top scorer in the AMC 10, at 11:30) Ja nuary 14, 9:30am-12:30pm February 18, 9:30am-12:30pm March 18, 9:30am-12:30pm April 22, 9:30am-12:30pm Po-S hen Loh 2023 Math Tour How to S urvive the ChatGPT invasion Prof. Po-Shen Loh is a social entrepreneur and inventor working across mathematics, education, and healthcare. He is a math professor at Carnegie Mellon University and the national coach of the USA International Mathematical Olympiad team. He has pi oneered innovations ranging from a scalable way for people to learn challenging math live online from brilliant people to a new way to control pandemics by leveraging self-interest Telra Institute , 4150 McKee Rd, Charlotte, NC 28270 Wednesday May 23, 7:00pm Tickets are free, but seats are limited Pre-registration required Prior Offerings Virtual Seminar - Challenges of Parenting a Gifted or 2E Kid Presenter: Alyse Bone , MS, CRC, LCMHC, RYT-200 Watch recording below. February-April 2022: Asynchronous Development in Elementary-aged students (rising K to rising grade 5) We know that talented young learners often develop in asynchronous ways, with some sets of capabilities maturing faster than others. Research staff from UNC Charlotte are offering a free multi-dimensional set of assessments that measure overall development, with a particular focus on language, reading, mathematical, and social-emotional development. Parents are also asked to complete a set of rating scales to help gain a full picture of your child’s social-emotional development. Why participate? Gain a better understanding your child – All the assessment results will be provided to you. Receive tailored guidance Educational resources or next steps for your child recommended by UNC Charlotte education experts Social-emotional advice and support resources provided by a psychologist who specializes in working with gifted and 2E children (student identities are not disclosed to the psychologist) Receive more personalized education For Telra students, the results can help staff to better understand and accommodate your child’s learning needs For non-Telra students, you can choose whether or not to share the results with your child’s school Certify your child for school gifted and talented programs Most schools do not provide free testing for gifted qualification until late 2nd or 3rd grade Securing this suite of assessments on your own could cost hundreds of dollars Note: TULIP offers a very common set of assessments, but we make no guarantee that these are accepted your school. Please check your own school/district policies regarding gifted/AIG/TD identification. Surface indications of any learning differences, such as ADHD or ASD, that could benefit from early identification and management. Help advance UNC Charlotte’s research on asynchronous development in children, with a particular focus on gifted and 2E learners. Assessments details Depending on your child’s age, they would participate in most or all of the following assessments: Screening Assessment for Gifted Elementary and Middle School Students (SAGES-3 ) Test of Phonological Awareness (TOPA-2+) Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT-5) Expressive Vocabulary Test (EVT-3) Raven’s Progressive Matrices (RPM/RCPM) The overall assessment time is 2-2.5 hours, plus 30-60 mins across multiple play breaks. Parents of participating children will be asked to complete a set of surveys related to your child’s academic, development, and social-emotional development. Completion of these forms should take 55-75 mins. Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) Behavior Assessment System for Children (BASC-3) Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales (Vineland-3) Parenting Stress Index (PSI-4) Questions? TULIP@telra.org

  • Facility use | Telra Institute

    Facility Rentals Telra Institute offers modern, flexible facilities available for community use outside of school hours and on weekends and school breaks. Whether you're planning a meeting, workshop, sports activity, or special event, our campus provides a safe, well-maintained environment conveniently located in the south Charlotte area. Available spaces Classrooms Ideal for tutoring, workshops, or small meetings Equipped with whiteboards, display screens, and flexible seating Capacity 20-30 Multipurpose Room / Gymnasium Perfect for sports practices or large community gatherings Equipped with moveable basketball goals. Other sports equipment or tables & seating available as add-ons Capacity 150+ Neighborhoods Perfect for large group meetings, talks, & presentations Equipped with display screens. Tables & chairs available upon request as add-ons Capacity ~100 Outdoor Playground, Field, Parking Lot Great for athletic events, fitness groups, recreational programs, festivals Access to restrooms included Capacity varies by space, but 300+ altogether Rental guidelines Typical hours of availability Weekday evenings (6-10pm) Weekends (9am-9pm) Additional flexibility during school breaks Rental rules All rentals require proof of liability insurance No smoking, alcohol, pets, or drugs allowed on premises Events must not interfere with school operations Setup and cleanup time must be included in reservation hours Adult supervision required for all youth events See full set of rental rules How to reserve a space Submit an inquiry Form (standard rental rates are listed in the form, but are subject to change) Telra staff will review availability and respond to you with a quote Sign a Facility Use Agreement Submit payment and insurance documentation Reservations are confirmed only after approval and payment. Questions? Contact rentals@telra.org or call 704-727-2530

  • Special Services | Telra Institute

    Helpful Resources NC DPI Office of Exceptional Children NC DPI Child Find NC DPI Resources for Families and Students

  • Telra Institute | Advanced Learning Charter School | Charlotte, NC

    Telra Institute is a tuition-free public charter school in Charlotte, NC that provides a rigorous and accelerated experience for advanced learners. A challenging and accelerated experience for advanced learners Welcome to Telra Institute Telra Institute is a tuition-free charter school Enrolling grades K-11 in Fall 2026 Telra will expand through K-12 in Fall 2027 How to enroll Register for placement testing or tours Admission lottery: results and video New applications will go on waitlist in order received Watch our information session videos for prospective families 1. Why Telra Play Video Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tumblr Copy Link Link Copied 2. Mission Curriculum Placement Play Video Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tumblr Copy Link Link Copied Telra Institute is a tuition-free public school in the south Charlotte metro. Read about our location, calendar, transportation, meals, uniforms, and more. Let's Go! countdown What makes Telra different? Our Approach Our grouping model optimizes instructional time 15-35% More learning What program do we offer? Our Curriculum The Telra experience looks different for every student Each child follows their own trajectory through Telra Learn More

  • Survey | Telra Institute

    Link to the latest stories as shared on our Instagram page @telrainstitute

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Address:
4150 McKee Rd, Charlotte, NC 28270

501 (c) (3) charitable organization

© 2026 All Rights Reserved· Telra Institute of Charlotte, NC

Contact Us

Student records request? Email registrar [at] telra.org

Telra Institute does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in admissions, employment, programs, or activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. Questions or complaints regarding our grievance or non-discrimination policies can be directed to our Chancellor and Office of Civil Rights Coordinator at rights[at] telra.org

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Questions, reports, or complaints regarding Title IX can be directed to the school Principal and Title IX Coordinator at TitleIX [at] telra.org or by calling 704-727-2530 or visiting 3130 Campus Ridge Rd, Matthews, MC 28105. Title IX procedures and training materials are available here.

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Individuals may also reach out the Federal Office of Civil Rights for questions, or to file a complaint.

To reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, call 988 or text HOME to 741741
To reach the NC Peer Warmline, call 855-733-7762

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