C.R. Neal Academy Receives Zoning Approval for Nation's First HBCU-Authorized Charter School in Columbia, SC
C.R. Neal Academy in Columbia, South Carolina, has secured a significant regulatory approval from the city's Board of Zoning Appeals. This approval grants a special exception for the establishment of the charter school across two zoning districts, RM-1 and RSF-3. The project involves combining 26 separate parcels into a single 7.83-acre site on Atlas Road. Developers plan to demolish an existing 3,240-square-foot community center to construct a new 41,000-square-foot facility. The school is set to open in phases, beginning in fall 2027 with an initial enrollment of 260 students across sixth to ninth grades. Within four years, the academy aims to reach its full capacity of approximately 910 students, covering all middle and high school grade levels. C.R. Neal Academy is notable as the first public charter school in the United States authorized by a Historically Black College or University (HBCU), with Voorhees University serving as its authorizer. Student enrollment applications are scheduled to open on Wed...
