Ignite Achievement Academy offers a specialized educational environment designed specifically for students with learning barriers in the Tryon Hills area of Charlotte, NC. Our accredited private school serves students in grades K-12 who experience challenges with learning disabilities, language disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, anxiety, and depression.

Located at our North Charlotte campus at 3835 W. WT Harris Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28269 (in the southeasternmost building on the campus, accessed via Brookstone Drive), we provide specialized education programs within reach of families in Tryon Hills and surrounding neighborhoods.

Individualized Learning for Every Student

At Ignite Achievement Academy, we believe that all students can improve their ability to learn given the right instructional program, delivered in the right environment, and at the right intensity. Our mission is to help students with learning barriers achieve academic and social success through compassionate, structured teaching practices and support for the whole child.

Why Choose Ignite Achievement Academy for Your Tryon Hills Student?

Customized Instruction + Safe Environment = Success

Students in the Tryon Hills area deserve an education that meets their unique needs. Our approach combines:

• Small class sizes (maximum of 7 students per class)
• Low student-teacher ratio with teacher assistant support
• Individualized Academic Plans tailored to each student
• Research-based teaching methods
• Structured, predictable routines
• Supportive, nurturing environment

Serving the Diverse Needs of North Charlotte

Our North Charlotte campus is larger than our South campus and is equipped to serve a wider range of disabilities and student needs, including:

• Learning disabilities
• Language disorders
• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Autism spectrum disorder
• Anxiety and depression
• Cognitive delays
• Behavior needs
• Non-speaking/limited-speaking students

Academic Programs for Tryon Hills Students

Comprehensive K-12 Curriculum

Our curriculum is designed to build essential academic skills while addressing specific learning barriers. Students receive:

1. Core Academic Instruction in English, math, science, and social studies
2. Skill-Building Support tailored to specific learning needs
3. Organizational and Executive Functioning Training
4. Social Skills Development
5. Enrichment Activities including physical education, art, and applied learning

The IAA Academic Process

Our proven four-step process guarantees improvement in each student's ability to learn:

1. Determine the student's current achievement abilities in various areas through comprehensive assessment
2. Identify the core reasons for the student's skill delays
3. Develop and deliver a customized instructional plan
4. Measure and report progress, adjusting the plan as needed

This systematic approach ensures that even students from Tryon Hills who have struggled in traditional educational settings can experience success.

Specialized Programs at Our North Charlotte Campus

BEACON Program

Our BEACON program serves students with speech and/or behavioral disabilities through an approach that emphasizes personalized attention and comprehensive support. With class sizes averaging just four students per teacher, plus the support of a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) in our speech classrooms, we ensure each child receives the individualized care they need to thrive.

Benefits include:

• Extremely small class sizes
• Enhanced communication skills support with SLP co-teaching
• Behavioral support with close monitoring
• Hands-on curriculum and sensory experiences
• Support for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices
• Full participation in all school activities including cooking, woodshop, PE, music, and art

FLAME Program (Functional Learning to Acquire Meaningful Experience)

The FLAME program supports high school students who desire a life-skills focused education and are not traditionally college-bound. This program focuses on:

• Job readiness training
• Resume building
• Personal development
• Financial literacy
• Independent living skills
• Social and emotional learning
• Technology and life management skills
• Community integration through field trips

Students participate in off-campus job experiences within the local community, with transportation provided by the school.

Campus Features for Tryon Hills Area Students

Supportive Learning Environment

Our North Charlotte campus provides:

• Sensory room designed to provide a calming therapeutic environment
• 1:1 technology (laptops or iPads) for all students
• Specialized curriculum materials
• Small classroom settings
• Structured learning spaces

On-Site Therapy Services

For families in the Tryon Hills area seeking convenient support services:

• Licensed Speech-Language Pathologists who integrate into classrooms
• Speech services throughout the day for students who need them
• Additional after-school therapy options available
• Potential for PT and OT services during or after school (contact us to discuss needs)

Daily Schedule and School Life

Structured School Day

Our school day begins promptly at 9:00 AM and ends at 3:00 PM, Monday through Friday. The day includes:

• Classroom instruction with primary teachers
• Pull-out instruction with teacher assistants in 1:1 or small groups
• Lunch break
• Structured recess
• Special Friday activities including physical education, art, music, applied science, social studies, crafts, character education, and Fun Friday

Applied Learning Opportunities

Students from the Tryon Hills area benefit from our applied learning programs that help them use academic skills in everyday life:

• Cooking and Nutrition Classes: Learning about nutrients, food preparation, following recipes, and kitchen safety
• Garden Science: Planting and maintaining fall and spring vegetable gardens
• Shop Class: Building projects like bird houses, stepping stones, and benches
• Crafts: Developing listening and performance skills through structured craft activities
• Physical Education: Building cardiovascular fitness, flexibility, strength, and teamwork
• Music and Art: helping children both flex their creative muscles and relax through artwork and music

School Community Events

We build a strong school community through events such as:

• Open House before the school year begins
• School dances
• Community service projects
• Spirit Week
• Field trips
• Fun Friday activities
• Graduation ceremonies

Our Approach to Student Success

Research-Based Teaching Methods

At Ignite Achievement Academy, we use teaching strategies based on decades of educational research, which we have adapted and refined to suit our students and setting.

Our key elements for success include:

1. A School Environment That Fosters Resilience: Creating a supportive atmosphere where students develop "islands of competence" and learn to manage their challenges
2. The IAA Academic Process: Following a systematic approach to ensure each student receives the right instruction in the right environment
3. Specialized Curricula: Using research-based, structured curricula that facilitate learning and minimize barriers
4. Personalized Instruction: Providing individualized attention that allows for immediate adjustments and builds strong teacher-student relationships

Building Resilience in Students

Resilient students have certain perceptions that help them persevere despite challenges:

• Their problems do not pervade their whole lives
• They have areas of competence and strength
• Their difficulties will not last forever
• Not every problem is their fault
• How they respond to problems is more important than the problems themselves
• They have at least one person who believes in them

At Ignite Achievement Academy, we intentionally foster these perceptions through our educational approach, helping Tryon Hills area students develop the resilience they need to succeed.

Admissions Process for Tryon Hills Families

Is Ignite Achievement Academy Right for Your Child?

Our school serves students whose academic barriers prevent them from succeeding in a regular education program. Our goals are to:

• Improve students' ability to learn academic skills and subjects
• Help them solve problems
• Help them make friends and function well in a school environment
• Help them feel productive, competent, and happy

Admissions Steps

1. Parent meeting with the school
2. Submit admissions application
3. IAA will request records from your child's previous school(s)
4. Arrange a possible 'shadow day' for your child
5. Administer placement assessment and determine the instructional plan

Note: We are unable to accept students with violent behavior.

Financial Aid for Tryon Hills Families

North Carolina Scholarship Programs

In North Carolina, parents of students with disabilities may be eligible for financial aid through:

ESA+ (Education Student Accounts)

• Awards scholarships of $9,000 or $17,000 depending on the child's disability
• Can be used for tuition costs at private schools
• Applications available online February 1st

Opportunity Scholarship Program

• Provides annual scholarships for tuition and fees
• Scholarship amount based on household income (ranges from approximately $3,000-$7,000)
• Applications available online February 1st

These scholarship programs can be combined and can greatly offset the cost of tuition at IAA.

Tuition and Fees

Payment Plans

IAA offers flexible payment plans:

• Single payment option
• Monthly payments spread over the school year
• Semesterly payment options for students receiving NC scholarships

All payments are made electronically from a checking or savings account on the first day of each month, with credit card payment options available for an additional fee. See our tuition and fees schedule here. 

After-School Tutoring for Tryon Hills Students

For students attending other schools in the Tryon Hills area, we offer after-school tutoring services:

• One-to-one instruction
• Remedial skill-building
• Subject-specific tutoring
• Homework and study skills coaching
• Flexible scheduling (typically 3:30-6:30 PM)

Our tutoring approach helps students master skills more efficiently than with other methods, using our systematic, results-oriented approach.

Student Success Stories from Our Programs

Our academic approach has helped students with various learning barriers achieve success. Here are some examples of the types of challenges we've addressed:

• Elementary students with autism spectrum disorder and language delays
• Middle school students with learning and attentional difficulties
• High school students with delays in academic and organizational skills
• Students with anxiety and executive functioning challenges

In each case, our individualized approach has led to significant improvements in academic skills, social functioning, and overall well-being.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What age groups does Ignite Achievement Academy serve?

We serve students in kindergarten through 12th grade (K-12) who have learning barriers, including learning disabilities, ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, anxiety, and depression.

2. Where is your North Charlotte campus located?

Our campus is at 3835 W. WT Harris Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28269 (southeasternmost building, accessed via Brookstone Drive), convenient for Tryon Hills families.

3. What is the student-to-teacher ratio?

We maintain small class sizes with a maximum of seven students per class in our standard program and no more than five students per teacher, plus the support of a full-time teacher assistant, in our BEACON program.

4. What specialized programs do you offer?

Our North Charlotte campus offers the BEACON program for students with speech/behavioral disabilities and the FLAME program for high school students focusing on life skills and job readiness.

5. What is the tuition?

You can find our full schedule of tuition and fees here. 

6. Are financial aid options available?

Yes, North Carolina offers the ESA+ program ($9,000-$17,000 depending on disability) and the Opportunity Scholarship Program ($3,000-$7,000 based on income). These can be combined to reduce out-of-pocket expenses.

Contact Us to Learn More

If you're a Tryon Hills family looking for a specialized educational environment for your child with learning barriers, we invite you to learn more about Ignite Achievement Academy.

Contact us today to schedule a tour, discuss your child's specific needs, and learn how our programs might benefit your student.