High Point school closes after state revokes its charter

HIGH POINT, N.C. — What once was a place to learn is now quiet. The Triad International Studies Academy in High Point closed this week after losing its charter. 

“I wish we were given the opportunity to save the school before it was too late,” said Breanne Kraft, whose daughter attended TISA.

The North Carolina Charter School Review Board during its meeting Oct. 6 revoked the school’s charter after it failed to meet enrollment standards. State law requires charter schools to have at least 80 students. TISA had only 45. 

Kraft’s daughter, who is autistic, was a kindergarten student at TISA. Kraft says her daughter enjoyed the immersive language program offered at the school.

“My daughter speaks a little bit of Spanish at home, but being here in this environment helped her Spanish improve and get better,” Kraft said. “Her favorite subject was Chinese.”

Kraft was surprised when she received the message about the school’s closure. 

“They just suddenly said, hey, the charter review board voted to close our school,” Kraft said. “They said they’re going to give us until maybe Dec. 30, but it could be sooner than that. We may have to help you transfer your kids out of the school. It was very like, where did this come from?”

The TISA board has since released a statement thanking students, families and the TISA team for their support. “Our team remains committed to serving and supporting our community in other capacities,” it says. 

“I haven’t been given time to really do as much research as I did before school started,” Kraft said. “For me, I don’t know what I’m going to do. I don’t know. I’ve had other parents and people saying, ‘Oh, we’ll help you find another school,’ but for me, it’s like, I feel like I’m throwing my kid who developed bonds with their teachers and their fellow students into a school that I don’t know if it’s right for her.”

In response to a question about whether TISA could reopen in the future, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction said: “The board for TISA could decide to reapply in future application cycles. There is no prohibition against that.” 

“I wish that they would actually come by the school and see how great my kid and other kids are doing in the school, rather than most kids do in other schools,” Kraft said. “I wanted them to see for themselves that they’re making a mistake.”

TISA is still planning on holding a free medical clinic Nov. 8.

Data from the Department of Public Instruction shows there are 220 active charter schools in North Carolina, which supported almost 150,000 students during the 2024-25 school year. Fourteen charter applications were submitted this year for schools that would open in 2026 or 2027.