Our Roots
Pioneer Springs was born in the spring of 2012 as a grass roots initiative by three families to answer an immediate need in our community: more access to the Basic School model. Two area charters adhering to the Basic School philosophy were making headlines for their academic achievements and innovative, holistic school culture. The only problem was waiting lists numbering in the thousands. The founders saw an opportunity to create their own unique take on the Basic School model, infused with nature and the emphasis on getting students outside to learn.
The pieces began to fall into place once the school’s location was established in the Historic Croft District of Charlotte, beginning in the Historic Croft Schoolhouse. Here was the perfect place to stage the founders’ dream of a school promoting connections to nature, history, and community. Pioneer Springs opened in the fall of 2012 as an independent, non-profit elementary school with kindergarten and first grade. Amidst the excitement of their start-up year they began the rigorous process of becoming a public charter school.
The Fall of 2014 marked their first year as a charter school. A school intentionally small by design with only two classrooms per grade level, Pioneer Springs will always be a close-knit school family, characterized by the same cooperative, volunteer spirit which has been here from the start.
The pieces began to fall into place once the school’s location was established in the Historic Croft District of Charlotte, beginning in the Historic Croft Schoolhouse. Here was the perfect place to stage the founders’ dream of a school promoting connections to nature, history, and community. Pioneer Springs opened in the fall of 2012 as an independent, non-profit elementary school with kindergarten and first grade. Amidst the excitement of their start-up year they began the rigorous process of becoming a public charter school.
The Fall of 2014 marked their first year as a charter school. A school intentionally small by design with only two classrooms per grade level, Pioneer Springs will always be a close-knit school family, characterized by the same cooperative, volunteer spirit which has been here from the start.