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Tag: tuition-free

  • Ascent Classical Academy of Columbia Secures Permanent School Location

    First tuition-free classical school in the Midlands set to open at 1001 Pinnacle Point Drive


    COLUMBIA, S.C., September 5, 2025 (Newswire.com)
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    Ascent Classical Academy of Columbia announced today that it has secured a permanent location at 1001 Pinnacle Point Drive in Columbia, South Carolina, in partnership with Building Hope, a national nonprofit supporting public charter schools. The site will undergo remodeling to transform the three-story, 55,000+ square foot into a vibrant campus for students and families.

    The school will open for the 2026-2027 school year with grades K-8, adding one grade level each year until it serves grades K-12.

    As the first tuition-free classical charter school in the Columbia area, Ascent Classical Academy (ACA) offers families a rigorous liberal arts education distinct from broader “traditional” or “classical-inspired” models. With high academic standards, an orderly learning environment, and freedom from classroom technology and modern political trends, ACA provides families across the Midlands with a genuine American classical education that is both challenging and timeless.

    “Ascent Classical Academy of Columbia will be a place where all Columbia families, including those military families stationed at Fort Jackson, can find stability and a high-quality education for their children,” said Major General Mark Dillon, USAF (Retired), board member of Ascent Classical Academies South Carolina.

    Derec Shuler, executive director and founder of Ascent Classical Academies added, “We sought out this opportunity to directly support those families by offering a school that cultivates character, citizenship, and a love of learning.”

    For the past year, Ascent Classical leaders have been working toward this opportunity to secure a safe, long-term campus capable of supporting the school’s vision and providing a high-quality educational experience for students and staff.

    Located at the Farrow Road and I-77 interchange, the new site offers excellent accessibility and high visibility in the Pinnacle Point Business Park. Nearby institutions include Providence Hospital Northeast, Midlands Technical College, and the Carolina Research Park.

    Interested parents are encouraged to visit https://columbia.ascentclassicalsc.org to learn more and join the school’s interest list. Applications for the 2026-2027 school year will open in October.

    Contact Information
    Derec Shuler
    Executive Director
    derec.shuler@ascentclassical.org
    720-728-6300

    Amy Willis
    Chief Marketing and Communications Officer
    awillis@ascentclassical.org
    720-728-6304

    Source: Ascent Classical Academies

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  • Ascent Classical™ Academies Announces Temporary Location for Irmo Campus Opening Fall 2024

    Ascent Classical™ Academies Announces Temporary Location for Irmo Campus Opening Fall 2024

    Press Release
    •

    May 21, 2024 17:00 EDT


    COLUMBIA, S.C., May 21, 2024 (Newswire.com)
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    Ascent Classical™ Academies is pleased to announce its Irmo school has secured a temporary location for the 2024-2025 school year at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, located at 6952 St Andrews Rd, Columbia, South Carolina.   

    The church’s education wing will house grades K-8 including two additional sections, one for sixth and a second to be determined for either fourth or fifth grade, to meet the high demand the school has received. Ascent Classical™ is working closely with church leadership and the City of Irmo to ensure all classrooms are updated ahead of the school’s first day of class on Aug. 8, 2024.  

    This announcement is the latest milestone for Ascent Classical™ Academy’s opening year. The tuition-free school offers an American Classical Education and will open with grades K-8, adding one grade each year until reaching K-12 matriculation.  

    The classical education model centers on a well-rounded education in the liberal arts and sciences, including daily fine arts and physical education classes. Students wear uniforms and do not use technology in the classroom, instead relying on teacher-led instruction and a content-rich, time-tested curriculum delivered in an orderly and disciplined environment.   

    As a public charter school, Ascent Classical™ Academy is open to all students and is enrolling now. Families interested in learning more about the school can visit irmo.ascentclassical.org to find an upcoming parent information meeting, review sample curriculum maps, and submit an online application.  

    Source: Ascent Classical Academies

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  • Ascent Classical Receives Unanimous Approval for Three Additional Campuses in South Carolina

    Ascent Classical Receives Unanimous Approval for Three Additional Campuses in South Carolina


    COLUMBIA, S.C., May 3, 2024 (Newswire.com)
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    Ascent Classical Academies (ACA) received unanimous approval to open three new schools in South Carolina on April 17 during The Charter Institute at Erskine’s regular board meeting. This approval expands ACA’s presence in South Carolina with two campuses opening in Fall 2024, ACA Fort Mill and ACA Irmo, and two additional campuses slated to open in Charleston and Upstate in 2025. The most recent approvals will tentatively serve the Upstate, Midlands, and Lowcountry communities. 

    When asked about receiving three additional approvals for schools, Ascent Classical Academies Founder and CEO, Derec Shuler, said, “We are honored and thankful to continue our partnership with the Charter Institute at Erskine as we all work to improve education options and bring an American classical education to children and their families across the state. Ascent Classical charter schools work with parents to offer a time-tested, traditional approach to the formation of young people, to prepare them to flourish in life.” 

    Ascent Classical Academies, an established organization in the educational sphere, successfully opened four campuses in Colorado. The organization’s proven successful academic model, which joins instruction in the principles of moral character and civic virtue to develop the minds, heart, and body, will be implemented in its South Carolina schools. For students and their families located in Fort Mill, Irmo, Charleston, and Upstate, ACA will be the first K-12 tuition-free classical school option to open and serve their communities, helping bring to fruition Ascent Classical’s mission to guide students to become virtuous citizens who are prepared to flourish in life.

    To express interest in bringing an Ascent Classical Academy to your community or join the interest list for the upcoming campuses in Irmo, Rock Hill, Upstate, and Charleston, visit ascentclassical.org/find-a-school.

    Source: Ascent Classical Academies

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  • Ascent Classical Academy Hires Inaugural Headmaster for Rock Hill Campus Opening Fall 2024

    Ascent Classical Academy Hires Inaugural Headmaster for Rock Hill Campus Opening Fall 2024

    Press Release
    •

    Apr 19, 2024

    Ascent Classical™️ Academies (ACA) announces Dr. Clinton Condra as the inaugural Headmaster for its Rock Hill, South Carolina, campus.


    ROCK HILL, S.C., April 19, 2024 (Newswire.com)
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    Ascent Classical Academy of Fort Mill is one of two schools opening in Fall 2024 and the first two South Carolina campuses for ACA, founded in Golden, Colorado, where it successfully opened an additional five campuses.

    Dr. Condra joins the Ascent Classical™️ network from Treasure Valley Classical Academy where he served as headmaster for two years in addition to having worked as Assistant Principal and Dean of Academics for three years. His experience in education spans more than a decade, and, when asked about his philosophy on student learning in a classical environment, he stated, “I regard virtue and wisdom as the highest human capacities and work to cultivate these in the young for the sake of their flourishing and our civilization’s renewal.”

    Originally from Virginia, Dr. Condra holds his master’s and doctoral degrees in political science from Baylor University, a master’s degree in liberal arts from St. John’s College, and his bachelor’s degree in music with a minor in history from the College of William & Mary. On the hiring of Dr. Condra, Mr. Matthew Vlahovich, ACA Chief of Schools, said, “We are thrilled to add Dr. Condra’s experience, understanding, and heart for education to create an excellent community at Ascent Fort Mill.”

    Ascent Classical™️ Academy of Fort Mill will serve grades K-8 in its opening year and will operate out of its temporary location at Hope Fellowship Church, located at 505 University Drive in Rock Hill, South Carolina. The school’s mission is to train the minds and improve the hearts of young people through a classical, content-rich education in the liberal arts and sciences, with instruction in the principles of moral character and civic virtue in an orderly and disciplined environment.

    Visit fortmill.ascentclassicalsc.org for more information about enrollment and career opportunities for the 2024-2025 school year. 

    Source: Ascent Classical Academies

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  • Ascent Classical Academy Announces Temporary Location for Fort Mill Campus Opening Fall 2024

    Ascent Classical Academy Announces Temporary Location for Fort Mill Campus Opening Fall 2024

    Press Release
    •

    Feb 21, 2024 06:03 MST

    The classical charter school will open in Rock Hill, partnering with Hope Fellowship Church, located at 505 University Drive.


    ROCK HILL, S.C., February 21, 2024 (Newswire.com)
    –
    Ascent Classical™ Academies is pleased to announce its Fort Mill school has secured a temporary location for the 2024-2025 school year at Hope Fellowship Church in Rock Hill, South Carolina.

    The church’s recently updated facility includes office space, classrooms, and storage space in a standalone building, as well as several modular units. Ascent Classical™ is working closely with church leadership and the South Carolina Department of Education’s Office of School Facilities to ensure all classrooms are updated ahead of the school’s first day of class on Aug. 8, 2024.

    This announcement is the latest milestone for Ascent Classical™ Academy’s opening year. The tuition-free school offers an American Classical Education and will open with grades K-8, adding one grade each year until reaching K-12 matriculation.

    The classical education model centers on a well-rounded education in the liberal arts and sciences, including daily fine arts and physical education classes. Students wear uniforms and do not use technology in the classroom, instead relying on teacher-led instruction and a content-rich, time-tested curriculum delivered in an orderly and disciplined environment.

    As a public charter school, Ascent Classical™ Academy is open to all students and is enrolling now. Families interested in learning more about the school can visit fortmill.ascentclassicalsc.org to find an upcoming parent information meeting, review sample curriculum maps, and submit an online application.

    Source: Ascent Classical Academies

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  • Ascent Classical Academy of Irmo Hires Inaugural Headmaster

    Ascent Classical Academy of Irmo Hires Inaugural Headmaster

    Press Release
    •

    Feb 15, 2024

    Local education leader Anna Unversaw joins the Ascent Classical team as the first headmaster for its campus opening Fall 2024 to serve the Irmo/Chapin communities.


    IRMO, S.C., February 15, 2024 (Newswire.com)
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    Ascent Classical™ Academies (ACA) announces Anna Unversaw as the inaugural Headmaster for its Irmo, South Carolina, campus. The campus is one of two schools opening in Fall 2024 and the first two South Carolina campuses for ACA, founded in Golden, Colorado, where it successfully opened an additional five campuses.

    Anna Unversaw joins the Ascent Classical™ network with over six years of experience as a head of school and another seven years in education. Unversaw brings additional experience in leadership and management roles, including grant coordination for East Tennessee State University. Most recently, Unversaw worked as program lead with Lexington-Richland School District 5 in Irmo, South Carolina.

    “We are excited for someone with local experience and knowledge to lead our Irmo campus,” stated Matthew Vlahovich, Ascent Classical™ Academies Chief of Schools. “Mrs. Unversaw’s commitment to her community aligns with our mission to provide an educational transformation for all children.”

    Originally from Columbia, South Carolina, Unversaw has earned three degrees from the University of South Carolina, including her bachelor’s degree in government and international relations, master’s degree in mass communications, and master’s degree in educational leadership.

    Ascent Classical™ Academy of Irmo will serve grades K-8 in its opening year and is located on Koon Road between I-26 and US-176. The school’s mission is to train the minds and improve the hearts of young people through a classical, content-rich education in the liberal arts and sciences, with instruction in the principles of moral character and civic virtue in an orderly and disciplined environment.

    Visit irmo.ascentclassicalsc.org to learn more and enroll today.

    Source: Ascent Classical Academies

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  • Ascent Classical Academies Receives Unanimous Approval for Four New Schools in South Carolina

    Ascent Classical Academies Receives Unanimous Approval for Four New Schools in South Carolina

    The first two Ascent Classical campuses will open in Fall 2024 serving the Fort Mill and the Chapin/Irmo communities.


    COLUMBIA, S.C., April 26, 2023 (Newswire.com)
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    The Charter Institute at Erskine Governing Board voted unanimously to approve Ascent Classical Academies’ applications for four new charter schools in Fort Mill, Irmo/Chapin, the Charleston metro area, and the Upstate South Carolina area during its regular board meeting on Wednesday, April 19.  

    This approval marks the start of a new relationship for the experienced charter management organization who currently operates schools in Colorado. Ascent Classical Academies, led by Executive Director and South Carolina native Derec Shuler, has been working alongside parents in South Carolina since early 2022 to identify communities with a strong desire for a high-quality classical education option for their children. 

    “Our children attended Ascent Classical for two years before we moved from Colorado and we experienced firsthand the positive impact of a classical education,” said Steve Trubiano, a resident of Fort Mill. “We are thrilled to work with Ascent to help bring this top-notch education to our new community.” 

    The Fort Mill and Irmo/Chapin schools are planned to open in Fall 2024. As tuition-free, public charter schools, Ascent Classical Academies welcome all students and will begin enrolling in early 2024. The school offers an American classical education, utilizing a content-rich curriculum in the liberal arts and sciences with instruction in the principles of moral character and civic virtue. 

    “As a mom with three young children, I have been so encouraged to learn about Ascent Classical and their curriculum and teaching methods,” said Sarah King, a resident of Irmo. “I want to have options available for my children and their education, and I think a lot of families will benefit from having this school in our community.” 

    To learn more about Ascent Classical Academies of South Carolina, visit southcarolina.ascentclassical.org. Families interested in bringing an Ascent Classical Academy to their community are encouraged to submit an expression of interest online. These confidential submissions will be included in the upcoming enrollment lotteries and ensure families receive the latest updates. 

    Source: Ascent Classical Academies

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  • Ascent Classical Academies Submits New Charter School Applications

    Ascent Classical Academies Submits New Charter School Applications

    Press Release
    –

    Feb 22, 2023 07:00 MST


    COLUMBIA, S.C., February 22, 2023 (Newswire.com)
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    Ascent Classical Academies, a network of tuition-free, K-12 classical charter schools, recently submitted four applications for new campuses across South Carolina, with the first several planning to open in the fall of 2024.  

    Ascent Classical has been working with local parents and community members in Chapin, Fort Mill, Charleston, and Greenville to determine interest in bringing new school options to families in those areas. These four charter applications were submitted to the South Carolina Department of Education, naming the Charter Institute at Erskine as the sponsor. 

    “As a native of South Carolina, it’s exciting to work with local members of the community to establish high-quality school options for parents and children who want a greater end in education beyond mere college and career readiness, to prepare our children to be happy and flourish in life,” said Derec Shuler, executive director of Ascent Classical Academies. 

    “We started our first school in Colorado simply as parents desiring a traditional, richer academic experience committed to developing reason and virtue in our own children,” said Shuler. “Seeing our own children thrive in classical schools has led us to continue working to provide these opportunities to more families. Ascent’s approach emphasizes a strong partnership with parents, focusing on a well-rounded education in the liberal arts and science to train our students how to think and communicate well, giving them the background and experience to continue learning throughout their lives.”  

    Ascent Classical provides an American Classical Education honoring the intellectual and moral inheritance of the Western and American traditions. Students participate in a robust study of the founding documents, history, and the ideas and principles behind the establishment of the American republic. Our curriculum is designed to lead students toward wisdom and an appreciation of beauty, preparing them for the full responsibilities of citizenship. 

    To learn more about and support an Ascent Classical Academy coming to your community, visit southcarolina.ascentclassical.org. Follow the organization’s South Carolina page on Facebook for updates. 

    Source: Ascent Classical Academies

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