Council advances annexation for proposed K–8 charter school; developers outline enrollment and curriculum

Easly City Council advanced Ordinance 20-26-20 to annex approximately 13.16 acres owned by Latham Road LLC and to designate the property for office/institutional zoning to accommodate a proposed K–8 charter school.

Tony Shelton, identified as the school manager, told council the model would start with 4K through sixth grade and add grades annually until reaching eighth grade. The school’s plan calls for roughly 100 seats per grade, with a lottery if applications exceed capacity. "Any student in the great state of South Carolina is eligible to attend our school," Shelton said, adding that most students historically come from the local county.

Shelton described the curriculum as "core knowledge and core knowledge language arts," stressed character education and said the school emphasizes arts and daily PE. He said funding would come directly from the state and that the school would not receive local funds.

Council members asked whether the school’s enrollment could draw students from adjacent counties and whether that would reduce enrollment and funding for existing local schools. Shelton said while students from other counties sometimes enroll, the majority tend to come from the county where the school is located, and the school follows state-mandated application and lottery procedures.

Staff and members discussed timing and next steps: council would advance the annexation, allow a month for public input and request additional documentation about the educational plan and operational details before final approval.

The ordinance was advanced to permit further review and public comment prior to a subsequent reading.