New Raleigh charter school hosts fundraiser before August opening

Before Focus Academy Charter School opens its doors in Southeast Raleigh this August, the school is already trying to prove it can win more than approval on paper. Its inaugural spring fundraiser is set for next week, with a silent auction, live music and light hors d’oeuvres, a public push to draw in families and neighborhood supporters before the first students arrive.

The event also puts a face on the school’s pitch. Dr. Sherria Grubbs, the founder and principal, has said Focus Academy is meant to be an arts-integrated option that helps children grow academically and socially through the arts. The school’s event listing says District Court Judge Ashleigh S. Parker will be a special guest, a sign that the school is trying to build visibility and credibility in a part of Raleigh where families have many choices but not always a lot of confidence in new institutions.

Focus Academy says it still has openings in kindergarten through fourth grade. The school plans to open with grades K-4 and then expand gradually through eighth grade, with a proposed Raleigh location in ZIP code 27610. That matters in southeast Raleigh, where rapid growth has intensified pressure on schools and made enrollment planning a constant concern for Wake County families.

State charter-school records show the school is aiming for 200 students in its first year and 390 by year five. Its application calls for a five-year temporary facility lease, with a permanent facility expected by July 2031. The school also plans to contract transportation for about 60 to 80 students and pursue the Community Eligibility Provision for meals, a federal option that can help lower the burden of breakfast and lunch costs for families.

Focus Academy’s path to opening has not been smooth. The N.C. Charter Schools Review Board denied the application in October 2024, citing concerns about budget gaps, staffing, transportation, student services and leadership structure. The board later approved the school in October 2025 after a second interview, after members said the school had addressed questions about its relationship with American Traditional Academies.

Focus Academy says American Traditional Academies helped with application and planning, but will not manage operations. The school says it will be independent and locally run, a claim that will likely be tested not by paperwork but by whether Southeast Raleigh families decide the school fills a real gap when classes begin in August.