It’s a regular school day in Cherokee Charter Academy (CCA). Students in uniform are making their way into classrooms, ready to learn with focus. Their day is punctuated with physical activities that keep both body and mind energized. A top-performing public charter school, CCA serves students in grades 4K–10, drawing learners from Gaffney, Blacksburg and nearby areas. Guided by a mission to prepare the next generation of American citizens, it follows a traditional education system, where students hone rigorous reading and writing skills and engage with classical literature, science and mathematics. CCA cultivates character and knowledge, empowering students to grasp the reasoning and principles behind their learning while actively engaging with the community. This philosophy shapes virtuous, thoughtful and compassionate individuals who succeed in classrooms and beyond. “We take a traditional approach to education, grounded in a classical curriculum, and thoughtfully integrate technology to enhance learning experiences,” says Brad Teague, school director. CCA’s educators are central to shaping instruction into meaningful, lasting learning. The faculty comprises veteran teachers, including returning retirees and emerging educators who engage closely with students, offering both experience and fresh perspectives in every classroom. What distinguishes CCA’s staff is the commitment to go beyond job requirements and constantly seek to create the best learning environment. Building character in students involves a daily focus on Core Virtues, an approach that promotes virtue-based education and encourages students to become responsible and productive citizens. Its no homework policy ensures that students arrive each day with fresh minds, determined to learn. Students are encouraged to explore enrichment venues to foster holistic growth. CCA offers a range of extra-curricular activities like volleyball, basketball, soccer and a newly added e-sports club. The school has a vibrant 4-H group, a youth-led initiative that empowers students to nurture life skills and personal growth with applied, innovative learning..

Parents increasingly seek schools centered on meaning, purpose and character—institutions that cultivate not just knowledge but the ethical foundation to apply it thoughtfully. Yet schools that fulfill this vision remain rare. Many prioritize test scores at the expense of character, while others stress values without the intellectual rigor to sustain them. Few manage both, building the depth of understanding and moral purpose that allows young people to contribute with conviction. Loveland Classical Schools, a tuition-free K–12 public charter school in Colorado, has spent more than a decade proving this integration works. Grounded in the Core Knowledge curriculum and classical methodologies, the school delivers a rigorous liberal arts education where history, literature, mathematics and science function as interconnected disciplines that foster critical thinking and virtuous living. Parental partnership and an emphasis on civic responsibility extend this work beyond campus, equipping graduates to contribute thoughtfully to their communities. “Knowledge, thoughtfulness and virtue guide everything we do,” says Ian Stout, executive director. “When students learn to ask better questions, see connections between ideas and responsibilities and ground their choices in character, they become the kind of leaders every community depends on.” The school organizes this vision around three developmental outcomes: knowledgeable, thoughtful, virtuous depth of content, critical thinking, and virtuous character, which build across grade levels and shape both curriculum and culture..