Encompass Montessori NC gets state approval to start Wake County launch process

Encompass Montessori North Carolina has won approval from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction to begin the Ready To Open process in Wake County. The public K-8 charter school is targeting a fall 2028 opening and is now seeking an executive director as it prepares for school year 2028-29.

Why it matters: - Encompass Montessori NC is moving closer to opening a free, public Montessori option for families in Wake County and nearby counties. - The school adds another choice in a county where demand for public school options remains high. - Montessori supporters say the model can strengthen both academic and social-emotional outcomes.

What happened: - Encompass Montessori North Carolina received approval from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026, to begin its Ready To Open process in Wake County. - The school is planned as a K-8 public charter school. - Encompass Montessori NC says the school will be open to all students and free to attend.

The details: - The school will serve students in Wake County and surrounding counties. - The Montessori model uses multi-age classrooms and hands-on, developmentally appropriate learning. - Students are taught self-direction and self-regulation from the earliest ages. - A recent meta-analysis in Campbell Systematic Reviews found that Montessori education had a significant positive impact on academic and non-academic outcomes. - Encompass Montessori NC says Montessori students routinely outperform their counterparts. - The school emphasizes cooperation, teamwork, collaboration, and social-emotional learning. - Dr. Katie Brown, Encompass Montessori NC Board President, said she respects the academics in Montessori classrooms and values the whole-child approach. - Brown said every child is valued for their unique gifts. - Encompass Montessori NC used the National Center for Montessori in the Public Sector’s whole school model and resources to design the school. - Encompass Montessori NC also worked with Epic Change Education on facilities and operations planning.

Between the lines: - The approval signals that Encompass Montessori NC is past the initial concept stage and into the state-required buildout phase. - The school is positioning Montessori not just as an academic model, but as a broader approach to child development and school readiness. - The reliance on external Montessori planning resources suggests the school is trying to reduce execution risk before opening.

What's next: - The school is slated to open in fall 2028. - The Board of Directors is seeking an executive director. - Encompass Montessori NC will take part in a year-long NC DPI training process to prepare for school year 2028-29. - Families can find the intent to enroll form and more information on EncompassMontessoriNC.org or by emailing info@encompassmontessoriNC.org.