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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 Applications for K-11 in Fall 2026 now open Telra will expand through K-12 in Fall 2027 How to enroll Register for placement testing or tours 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 What program do we offer? Our Curriculum Our grouping model optimizes instructional time 15-35% More learning The Telra experience looks different for every student Each child follows their own trajectory through Telra Learn More

Quick links for enrolled families Quick Links for Enrolled Families Dismissals View and change your child's dismissal plans Student info School bulletins, classes, schedules, and contact info Absent Report a planned absence. Provide a doctor's note

We're excited to open our doors in Fall 2021. Here's more info on our location and future growth, as well as transportation, meals, uniforms, and cleaning protocols. Attending Telra Location Transportation Hours & Calendar Meals Uniforms Wrap Around Care Our Location Telra Institute was excited to open its doors in Fall 2021 on the campus of Matthews United Methodist Church. Our school building, formerly the church preschool, was already configured for young children, and we upgraded and outfitted the classrooms in preparation for our opening. In addition to classrooms, we were gratef to have access to outside space, playgrounds, a gym, and plentiful parking. In Fall 2022, we opened our K-8 in a custom-designed building on a separate site in South Charlotte in the Providence / 485 area at 4150 McKee Rd. In January 2026, we will open our high school in Matthews at 3130 Campus Ridge Rd. Our Location > Location Transportation Telra wants to ensure transportation is not a barrier to attendance. Parents have multiple transportation options: Individual parent drop-off and pick-up Carpool with other families – Telra will help coordinate carpool groupings and assist families in locating an active carpool School bus – Telra draws students from a wide area and offers families access to a free shuttle stop school bus system. Sign up details are provided to enrolled families. Arrival & Departure Meals Telra offers a daily nutritious hot lunch service as part of the National School Lunch Program. Families can qualify for free or subsidized meals. Children are of course welcome to bring lunch from home. Please contact us if you have any questions. Purchase Lunch > Uniforms Telra Institute recognizes the benefit that dress code and uniform standards have in creating a distraction-free environment for learning and in contributing to school identity and spirit. Click here to learn more. Uniforms Meals Transportation Hours Calendar Hours & Calendar Telra's school day starts at 8:15 a.m. and ends at 3:30 p.m . Telra’s school calendar is designed on a trimesters (10-13 weeks long) and semesters (~16 weeks long). Click to enlarge Before & After School Care Wrap Around Care We are pleased to offer before and afterschool care to help our families. Learn more about our program and sign up here .

Telra Institute's K-5 curriculum offers a rigorous and comprehensive foundation with tailored acceleration and enrichment opportunities for every student every day.  Curriculum Telra Institute's curriculum offers a rigorous and comprehensive foundation with tailored acceleration and enrichment opportunities for every student every day. Mathematics Sciences and Humanities Gym Specials and Explore Mathematics In mathematics, Telra employs the Singapore Math curriculum for younger students (Telra Math 0), Beast Academy math for upper elementary and early middle school (Telra Math 1-5), and Art of Problem Solving for middle and high school (Telra Math 6 and above). Mathematics Course of Study Math Singapore Math The nation of Singapore has consistently ranked at the top on international mathematics exams . Singapore's curriculum was adapted and introduced to the U.S in 1998 and is now in widespread use in both public and private schools. The Singapore method is known for its rigor and its focus on learning fewer concepts at a greater depth than traditional U.S. math curricula. Art of Problem Solving Beast Academy is a problem-solving oriented math curriculum designed with advanced elementary math learners in mind. The program was developed by the mathematics enthusiasts at the Art of Problem Solving to be the curriculum they wish they had as young students, and it progresses into the Art of Problem Solving middle/high school curriculum. The program focuses on building a foundation for more advanced math and science classes, instilling a joy of problem-solving, developing flexibility and perseverance, and teaching students to develop new insights on their own. Sciences and Humanities In the Sciences and Humanities, Telra uses a version of the Core Knowledge sequence heavily supplemented with skill and knowledge-building curricula in the elementary grades. At middle school, students begin transitioning to high-school content in English, History, and Science, and then in high school they begin using college materials. This approach provides the students the benefits of a comprehensive common foundation of content knowledge while creating ample time for enrichment, exploration, inquiry, and the development of advanced skills. Language Science Social Language Arts Course of Study Our youngest learners start with the phonological awareness and phonics curricula to build a solid reading foundation. We use a variety of literacy and language strands to form this foundation and extend their growth as readers and writers: Core Knowledge Language Arts Printing and cursive skills with Zaner-Blosser Shurley Grammar Vocabulary using Caesar's English and the Word within the Word As students transition to middle school, they being working with the rich OAT English curriculum and the Logic & Rhetoric sequence from Classical Academies Press At the high school level, students primarily study content through Central Piedmont Community College. In addition to the CPCC program, Telra also offers courses in Logic & Rhetoric. Science Course of Study The Core Knowledge Science sequence provides students with a firm, cumulative knowledge base in science and engineering design. Beginning in middle school, students study high school science content through the systematic Integrated Science curriculum, beginning with a year long study of Earth and Environmental Science, followed by Biology, and ending with Chemistry/Physics. Each of these courses is linked to a high school credit that students earn toward their graduation requirements. At the high school level, students take science courses through Central Piedmont Community College. For some of these courses, students also participate in recitation sessions with Telra faculty for an even deeper dive into the content. Social Studies Course of Study The Core Knowledge History and Geography sequence helps students build knowledge of diverse civilizations, cultures, and concepts, while incorporating topics from civics & arts and integrating tightly with the Language Arts program. Our 7th & 8th graders explore a grand sweep of history using a combination of Core Knowledge, the World History Project , and OpenStax to earn high school credits in American History and World History At the high school level, students take a variety of courses in social studies, both from Central Piedmont Community College and Telra courses. Students study Personal Finance and American Government ( OpenStax ) from through Telra Institute. As with other subject areas, once students reach high school, their pathways become more individualized and based in CPCCs pathways. Gym We believe physical activity is important. Everything from the traditions of ancient Greece to modern research findings support the idea that honing the body (aside from its intrinsic health benefits) also facilitates learning. That's why our students enjoy PE or an extended recess 2 or more days per week Research shows that physical activity improves speed and accuracy of cognitive tasks, the ability to focus attention, and of course long-term positive health outcomes. Gym Specials and Explore K-3 students rotate through Visual Arts, Writing Workshop, Theater, and PE. Our grade 4+ students also have specials that each take place two days per week. 4th and 5th grade students participate in computer science, P.E. and Writing Workshop. 6th graders have P.E. and art. 7th and 8th graders take P.E. and either French or art. Students in grades 4+ will participate in a weekly workshop called “Explore." Explore is organized into 6-12 week sessions in which students can select a passion project from a set of rotating offerings developed by their teachers. These are determined term-to-term based on interest and staffing. Examples include art, debate, chess, basketball, track, leadership, keyboarding, math club, and poetry. Specials

Telra High School Interest Survey Take Survey > Telra Institute is a tuition-free public K-8 charter school in South Charlotte with an approach that nurtures challenge , encourages tailored acceleration , and crafts a unique learning journey for each child . We enable advanced learners to realize their potential by going beyond the conventional educational model. Many families have asked us about expanding the Telra model to high school, and we'd like to understand how strong the interest would be for a school that extends Telra's advanced learning model to grades 9-12. Please complete the survey to let us know your thoughts. Take Survey >

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

Simply make a purchase of qualifying supplies, provide Telra's school ID at checkout (in store and online), and Telra will receive 5% back in credits for FREE supplies! It's a small act that can make a huge difference. Office Depot Give Back 1. Simply make a purchase of qualifying supplies 2. Provide Telra's school ID 70246829 at checkout (in store and online), and 3. Telra will receive 5% back in credits for FREE supplies! Shop Now Forgot to give our school ID at checkout? Click the button above to enter your purchase and make sure Telra gets credit.

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

An integral part of our Telra founding team, Kate Waters is our Director of Operations. Prior to joining Telra, Kate most recently worked in the Learning and Development industry as a Learning Experience Designer, creating online learning platforms for businesses and schools. Kate brings to her role extensive operations experience from working in the tourism and events industry both domestically in Australia and internationally, in Europe, the UK and Asia. Meet Our Staff Contact us using our standard email address convention Firstname.Lastname@telra.org Kate Waters Director of Operations Prior to joining Telra, Kate most recently worked in the Learning and Development industry as a Learning Experience Designer, creating online learning platforms for businesses and schools. Kate brings to her role extensive operations experience from working in the tourism and events industry both domestically in Australia and internationally, in Europe, the UK and Asia. Kate holds a degree in Business, majoring in Marketing from Swinburne University (Melbourne, Australia), as well as a Graduate Certificate in Business Administration and a Post Graduate Diploma in Event Management and Public Relations. Back to Directory

Enrollment of Early Entrants to Kindergarten Eligibility criteria A child who has passed the fourth anniversary of the child’s birth on or before April 16 may qualify for early admission to Kindergarten. (A child who reaches the age of five years on or before August 31 qualifies to enter Kindergarten through the regular enrollment process . ) The Principal, along with a committee of professional educators, will consider the following factors in determining the eligibility of a four-year-old child to enter Kindergarten: 1. Aptitude and Achievement tests a. Aptitude: The child should score at the 98th percentile or higher on a standard individual test of intelligence such as the Stanford-Binet, the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence, the Kaufman Anderson, or any other comparable test administered by a licensed psychologist. If using a test other than those named here, a parent or guardian should ask the Principal to ensure that it qualifies. b. Achievement: The child should score at the 98th percentile or higher on either reading or mathematics on a standard test of achievement such as the Metropolitan Readiness Test, the Stanford Early School Achievement Test, the Mini Battery of Achievement, the Woodcock-Johnson, the Test of Early Mathematics Ability, the Test of Early Reading Ability, or any other comparable test administered by a licensed psychologist, a member of the psychologist’s professional staff, or a professional educator who is trained in the use of the instrument and who has no conflict of interest in the outcome of the assessment. 2. Work sample The parent or guardian shall submit a sample of the child’s work that shows outstanding examples of ability (well above age peers) in any area including, but not limited to, art, mathematics, writing, dramatic play, creative productions, science, or social interactions. 3. Recommendation letters The parent or guardian shall provide two recommendation letters with specific documentation of physical and social maturity from preschool teachers, childcare workers, pediatricians, or others who have direct knowledge of the child. Useful documentation checklists include the California Preschool Competency Scale, the Harrison Scale, or any other comparable scale of early social development. The documents should show that the child demonstrates social and developmental maturity sufficient to participate in a structured setting for a full school day. 4. Interviews The Principal shall conduct an informal interview with the child and a more structured interview with the parent or guardian to assess the child’s reading skills and to determine if the child displays a thirst for knowledge and seeks new and challenging learning situations. Enrollment timeline and provisional lottery entry A four-year-old child may participate in Telra admissions lottery and enrollment process on a provisional basis provided the parent or guardian follows the timeline described below: 1. The parent or guardian must contact the school and indicate the intent to apply for early admission to kindergarten before entering an application. 2. The admissions and wait list process will proceed as normal for the child, however if the child is assigned a seat it will be considered provisional . 3. The parent or guardian must submit (a) the Aptitude and Achievement tests, (b) Work sample, and (c) Recommendation letters by April 30. If the required documents are not received by this date, the child may be withdrawn from any provisionally assigned seat. 4. The school will reach out to schedule the interviews no later than three weeks after receiving the required documentation. 5. The school shall decide whether to grant early admission within three weeks of receiving all required documents and completing the interviews. 6. If enrollment is granted, it will be considered conditional for up to 90 days to observe whether the child is able to adjust to the school setting. If, within this period, school staff determine that the child is not appropriately placed, the parent or guardian will be invited to assist in the development of intervention strategies for the child. If these strategies are not successful, the school shall provide the parent at least 10 days notice before exiting the child. Admissions Overview

We enable advanced learners to realize their potential by going beyond the conventional education model. Our approach is to nurture challenge, encourage tailored acceleration, and craft a unique learning journey for each child. Students will finish 5th grade being one to three grade levels ahead Our Approach We enable advanced learners to realize their potential by going beyond the conventional education model. Our approach is to nurture challenge , encourage tailored acceleration , and craft a unique learning journey for each child. Students will finish elementary grades being one to three grade levels ahead of the standard curriculum, move on to learn some high school content in middle school, and aim to finish high school with a college (Associates) degree complete. Our Approach Nurture challenge We nurture challenge. Most schools teach to grade-level standards. At Telra Institute, we know that advanced learners thrive when they are supported in their ZPD - The Zone of Proximal Development. By balancing activities that students know how to do with infusions of more advanced content that they can master with guidance, we nurture challenge and maximize learning, confidence, & growth. The best way to achieve this - to reach students in their individual ZPD - is through tailored acceleration. “Educational acceleration is one of the cornerstones of exemplary gifted education practices, with more research supporting this intervention than any other in the literature on gifted individuals.” — The National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) In a typical American classroom... 14-37% of students test at least one grade level ahead in math . 20-49% of students test at least one grade level ahead in reading . Acceleration helps meet their needs Encourage Acceleration We encourage tailored acceleration. Acceleration, moving through a curriculum at a faster rate or at a younger age, leads to exceptional growth and achievement. While common at the high school level, acceleration can be difficult to implement in the traditional elementary school environment due to schedule constraints, curriculum choices, and policy barriers. The Telra system was designed from the ground up for agility. It enables tailored acceleration and enrichment opportunities for every student, in every grade level, every day. By introducing intermediate levels (e.g., grade 2.33), challenge can be adjusted more precisely to accommodate each student’s skill, motivation, and capability. We build a unique Personalized Learning Plan for each student that targets their ZPD based on their evolving strengths. We craft a unique learning journey for each child. All classes at Telra are rigorous, but we've gone further to design a curriculum, schedule, assessment model, and staffing model to make acceleration simple. A numerically inclined Kindergartener might sit with a 1st grade group for math, and then reconvene with her Kindergarten group for social studies and reading. A highly literate 2nd grader might be with 3rd graders for reading and then rejoin his classmates for PE. These transitions occur smoothly and naturally throughout the school day. Depending on their personal journey at Telra, students will finish elementary grades one to three years "ahead" of the standard curriculum sequence. (And sometimes more. 4th and 5th graders taking high school algebra is not uncommon.) Most will then begin working on high school content in middle school, and then when they enter high school, Telra students begin working on early "college level" content, earning actual college course credits and on their path to a degree. Trajectories and grades Smooth Path

School Calendar 2025-2026 Calendar (Grades K-8) School hours 8:15 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. 2025-2026 Calendar (Grades 9-12) School hours 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. 2025-2026 Calendar (Remote Academy) Looking for staff calendars? K-8 9-12 2026-2027 Calendars