Summerfield, Greensboro Communities Welcome New NHA High School
NHA Communications TeamNHA Communications Team
Articles by NHA Communications Team
Two excited school communities gathered recently to celebrate the groundbreaking of Summerfield Preparatory Academy, a new high school that is scheduled to open in time for the 2027-28 academic year.
The school will become the destination for students at nearby National Heritage Academies® (NHA®) schools Summerfield Charter Academy and Greensboro Academy. Students in grades 7–9 will open the school, and one grade will be added each year until it serves students through grade 12.
Summerfield Charter Academy Principal Rudy Swofford said the new high school will provide an opportunity for students to continue the academic excellence they currently experience at their own schools.
“It’s a coming together of two schools, Greensboro Academy and Summerfield Charter Academy, and those two communities,” he said. “It reaches so many people that want to be part of it. The groundbreaking was so important because it was a celebration of all the work that a lot of people have put in and of bringing these two communities together and celebrating.”
Greensboro Academy Principal Tracey Duhaime said she is excited to offer her school families a high-quality K-12 experience and the sense of relief that will bring to them.
“The NHA schools in this area have provided our families with school choice so they can make informed decisions regarding what is best for their children,” she said. “We are proud to know that the hard work and dedication our staff puts in each and every day will continue as our students enter high school.
“We believe in educating the whole child, so when students leave after high school, they will be respectful, demonstrate compassion, and have the integrity to do what is right and lead by example.”
Swofford agreed, saying the opportunity to offer families this full educational journey is a great honor and challenge. Families have asked about the addition of a high school because they want to keep their children in the same school system.
“It’s on us to make sure that path is there and it’s on the scholar to make sure they stay on the path,” he said. “With the success of our schools, I believe we’ve built up enough trust in our families and community. We are not taking this step lightly and we are going to do it well.”
Duhaime said it also offers a sense of relief for families who have expressed a desire for a high school option that continues the Moral Focus™ program, clear expectations, and consistent routines.
“By offering grades K-12, we can ensure there is academic rigor at every grade level and that students who graduate with us are not only academically prepared but morally prepared as well,” Duhaime said. “It gives families peace of mind knowing when they choose one of our schools, they are making a wise decision and one they won't have to worry about making again.”
There is plenty of work to be done before the school opens in the fall of 2027, but Swofford is already thinking about the school’s first graduates.
“Five years from now we’ll have sent out our first graduating class and that to me will be the moment that we’re all building toward.”
Greensboro Academy just completed its 27th school year and was named as a National Blue Ribbon School in 2023 by the U.S. Department of Education. In the 2026 U.S. News & World Report rankings, Greensboro earned a fifth-place ranking on the Best Public Middle Schools in North Carolina list, and a Top Ten Public K-8 School in North Carolina by Niche, an organization that specializes in data and rankings. The school has consistently earned an A ranking on the state report card.
Summerfield Charter Academy just completed year 13 and ranked seventh on the Best Charter Middle Schools in North Carolina list in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report rankings. They also have consistently earned an A ranking on the state report card and were named a Top Six Public K-8 School in North Carolina by Niche.
The school will become the destination for students at nearby National Heritage Academies® (NHA®) schools Summerfield Charter Academy and Greensboro Academy. Students in grades 7–9 will open the school, and one grade will be added each year until it serves students through grade 12.
Summerfield Charter Academy Principal Rudy Swofford said the new high school will provide an opportunity for students to continue the academic excellence they currently experience at their own schools.
“It’s a coming together of two schools, Greensboro Academy and Summerfield Charter Academy, and those two communities,” he said. “It reaches so many people that want to be part of it. The groundbreaking was so important because it was a celebration of all the work that a lot of people have put in and of bringing these two communities together and celebrating.”
Greensboro Academy Principal Tracey Duhaime said she is excited to offer her school families a high-quality K-12 experience and the sense of relief that will bring to them.
“The NHA schools in this area have provided our families with school choice so they can make informed decisions regarding what is best for their children,” she said. “We are proud to know that the hard work and dedication our staff puts in each and every day will continue as our students enter high school.
“We believe in educating the whole child, so when students leave after high school, they will be respectful, demonstrate compassion, and have the integrity to do what is right and lead by example.”
Swofford agreed, saying the opportunity to offer families this full educational journey is a great honor and challenge. Families have asked about the addition of a high school because they want to keep their children in the same school system.
“It’s on us to make sure that path is there and it’s on the scholar to make sure they stay on the path,” he said. “With the success of our schools, I believe we’ve built up enough trust in our families and community. We are not taking this step lightly and we are going to do it well.”
Duhaime said it also offers a sense of relief for families who have expressed a desire for a high school option that continues the Moral Focus™ program, clear expectations, and consistent routines.
“By offering grades K-12, we can ensure there is academic rigor at every grade level and that students who graduate with us are not only academically prepared but morally prepared as well,” Duhaime said. “It gives families peace of mind knowing when they choose one of our schools, they are making a wise decision and one they won't have to worry about making again.”
There is plenty of work to be done before the school opens in the fall of 2027, but Swofford is already thinking about the school’s first graduates.
“Five years from now we’ll have sent out our first graduating class and that to me will be the moment that we’re all building toward.”
Greensboro Academy just completed its 27th school year and was named as a National Blue Ribbon School in 2023 by the U.S. Department of Education. In the 2026 U.S. News & World Report rankings, Greensboro earned a fifth-place ranking on the Best Public Middle Schools in North Carolina list, and a Top Ten Public K-8 School in North Carolina by Niche, an organization that specializes in data and rankings. The school has consistently earned an A ranking on the state report card.
Summerfield Charter Academy just completed year 13 and ranked seventh on the Best Charter Middle Schools in North Carolina list in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report rankings. They also have consistently earned an A ranking on the state report card and were named a Top Six Public K-8 School in North Carolina by Niche.
About National Heritage Academies
National Heritage Academies (NHA) is a network of 103 tuition-free, public charter schools across nine states, serving more than 67,000 students in kindergarten through high school. For more information, visit nhaschools.com. To find the nearest charter school near you, use the NHA school finder.
National Heritage Academies (NHA) is a network of 103 tuition-free, public charter schools across nine states, serving more than 67,000 students in kindergarten through high school. For more information, visit nhaschools.com. To find the nearest charter school near you, use the NHA school finder.