Philips Academy

Philips Academy Philips Academy is all about "Real Learning For Real Life". The curriculum is focused on academics, job training, and social/ life skills.

Our program is designed for middle and high school students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This purposeful education prepares our students for all of the benefits and responsibilities of adulthood. Bridges, our post-secondary program, supports young adults to achieve independence, like finding a job, riding the bus, and cooking a meal. Students explore volunteering, paid employment, independent living and more to find their path to success. Philips Academy is a nonprofit independent school.

This year, Ms. Foster’s crew is spending their workdays volunteering at Diaper Bank of NC - Greater Charlotte.  Off-camp...
10/16/2025

This year, Ms. Foster’s crew is spending their workdays volunteering at Diaper Bank of NC - Greater Charlotte. Off-campus learning opportunities like these are a key component of our curriculum. Not only are students giving back, but they are also applying job training skills in real-world scenarios. With each visit, students gain confidence, build teamwork, and develop valuable skills while recognizing the importance of serving their community.

Recently, our students visited the offices of Silver Wolf Circle Partner Harker to provide coffee service for the team a...
10/09/2025

Recently, our students visited the offices of Silver Wolf Circle Partner Harker to provide coffee service for the team and take a tour. The tour featured informative demonstrations on blueprints and how technology is utilized in the construction process. The students and alumni who are interested in the field connected with team members to discuss potential vocational opportunities.

The students had a great time exploring the office space and particularly loved receiving some company swag! Harker was also a sponsor of our 2025 Paving The Way fundraiser. We have exciting plans for future opportunities to partner with the Harker team.

This semester, Ms. Poludniak’s and Ms. Mason's VoTech classes have partnered with Trinity Presbyterian Weekday School to...
10/03/2025

This semester, Ms. Poludniak’s and Ms. Mason's VoTech classes have partnered with Trinity Presbyterian Weekday School to explore jobs in childcare and the associated responsibilities. Recently, the students toured PA parent Ms. Delgado’s pre-K classroom to learn about safety features and educational goals for young children.

For their first project, the students used the information they gathered during the tour to create a sensory bin activity for the preschool class. They applied a variety of skills to complete the project, including taking inventory of the items, composing an email to request additional materials, using a die-cut machine to create paper apple cutouts, and assembling the box of materials using checklists.

There are many more exciting projects planned for the semester, and we look forward to continuing our collaboration with Trinity Weekday School.

It’s October, and that means that it's Homecoming month at Philips Academy! Homecoming is our annual student fundraiser ...
10/01/2025

It’s October, and that means that it's Homecoming month at Philips Academy! Homecoming is our annual student fundraiser and a celebration of school spirit and community.

We invite you to celebrate with us by supporting our student fundraising efforts. Throughout the month, we aim to raise $35,000 for our school’s technology needs, which include smartboards, learning software, Chromebooks, and more.

And there’s a fun twist: if we reach our goal, Program Director Mr. Steven will dye his hair BLUE during Spirit Week later this month! We’re so excited to see that!

Thank you to our sponsors and to everyone who has already contributed, especially presenting sponsors Action Plus Ideas, Bragg Financial, and Forvis Mazars US. Your support and commitment make a Real Learning For Real Life difference for our students every day!

Help us make this the best Homecoming yet! Give today at bit.ly/PAHomecoming.

Calling all PA Alums!Join fellow alumni and former students for a Throwback Thursday Reunion on October 9, from 5:30-7:3...
09/29/2025

Calling all PA Alums!
Join fellow alumni and former students for a Throwback Thursday Reunion on October 9, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Belisle House. Bring your old yearbooks and pictures from your time at PA and prepare to reminisce and reconnect. Food, drink, and games will be available. We can't wait to see you there!

RSVP at bit.ly/paalumreunion.

This month, we held the first Parent Teacher Committee events of the year! We kicked things off with “But First, Coffee…...
09/23/2025

This month, we held the first Parent Teacher Committee events of the year! We kicked things off with “But First, Coffee…," a bimonthly gathering for parents to come together and share experiences, resources, and opportunities. We hope you will join us again for coffee and conversation on Nov. 7.

We also celebrated the return to school with the “Ultimate Hangout: The Pack is Back!” and it was a blast. Bowlers, get ready for next month's family social at Bowlero! Check your email for more details on how to RSVP.

The Philips Academy PTC is all about strengthening the bonds between our school and our families. Whether you're interested in planning, volunteering, or connecting with other families, there's something for you. Stay tuned for more updates and incoming events!

Every morning, each homeroom starts the day with a Morning Meeting. During these meetings, students practice vocabulary ...
09/19/2025

Every morning, each homeroom starts the day with a Morning Meeting. During these meetings, students practice vocabulary and various social, job, and life skills. Through a series of interactive activities on the classroom smartboard, students learn to navigate everyday situations, such as greeting one another and discussing the weather.

This week, Morning Meetings focused on vocabulary words that contain the letter "u" and the essential skill of asking for help when you need it! These daily meetings help set a positive tone for the day as students continue to build their skills and confidence!

Wondering What's Next?... Join us for the 2025 Transition Fair on Sunday, Sept. 28, from 2-4 pm in Fellowship Hall.This ...
09/17/2025

Wondering What's Next?... Join us for the 2025 Transition Fair on Sunday, Sept. 28, from 2-4 pm in Fellowship Hall.

This free event will bring together organizations that offer opportunities for young adults with intellctual and developmental differences, including options for employment, housing, and social activities. It aims to help families find organizations and resources that can assist with next steps.

This free event will bring together organizations that offer opportunities for young adults with intellectual and developmental differences, including options for employment, housing, and social activities. It aims to help families find organizations and resources that can assist with next steps.

This week, Ms. Holbrook’s and Ms. Wendelberger’s homerooms teamed for their first off-campus workday of the year at Habi...
09/12/2025

This week, Ms. Holbrook’s and Ms. Wendelberger’s homerooms teamed for their first off-campus workday of the year at Habitat for Humanity of the Charlotte Region ReStore. Together, the students rolled up their sleeves and got to work, sweeping, dusting, clearing walkways, organizing pillows, and sorting tiles. They had a great morning and look forward to their next visit!

Off-campus workdays like these are a key component of our job training program. By volunteering at local organizations, students gain real-world experience and build essential employability skills, while also giving back to the community. On average, our students contribute more than 2,000 volunteer hours each year!

Over the weekend, PA students and alumni teamed up with The Ability Experience (AbEx) for the Around The Crown 10k. As p...
09/02/2025

Over the weekend, PA students and alumni teamed up with The Ability Experience (AbEx) for the Around The Crown 10k. As part of the AbEx Run for Inclusion, the student-athletes rode the course in an adaptive chair, accompanied by a team of volunteers. Some students also chose to run or walk the final mile. This was our second year partnering with AbEx for this event, and our students really love participating and being part of race day! The day before the race, students and volunteers had an opportunity to meet up for a pizza and sign-making party. The entire weekend was a fantastic experience!

Thank you to the AbEx team, the volunteers, the sidewalk cheerleaders, and everyone who helped make the weekend so great! We appreciate AbEx for their commitment to providing inclusive experiences and continued support of our school as a Homecoming sponsor and community partner.

It’s great to be back! Our halls were filled with joy and excitement as we embarked on a new school year. PA and Bridges...
08/29/2025

It’s great to be back! Our halls were filled with joy and excitement as we embarked on a new school year. PA and Bridges students spent the week navigating new classes, learning new things, and making new friends. We’re so proud of them and know this year is going to be a great one!

It was great to see everyone at our Back-to-School Open House! We’re so excited to kick off a new year of learning, grow...
08/25/2025

It was great to see everyone at our Back-to-School Open House! We’re so excited to kick off a new year of learning, growth, and fun. We can’t wait to see what adventures await and celebrate the amazing things our students will accomplish!

See you tomorrow for the first day of school!

Address

3115 Providence Road
Charlotte, NC
28211

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4pm
Tuesday 8am - 4pm
Wednesday 8am - 4pm
Thursday 8am - 4pm
Friday 8am - 4pm

Telephone

+17043654533

Website

http://philipsacademync.org/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Philips Academy posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to Philips Academy:

Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn
Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share via Email
Share on WhatsApp Share on Instagram Share on Telegram

Our Story

Philips Academy is a community of learning unlike any other in Charlotte! Designed specifically for students requiring a life-centered approach to education, our program offers a unique combination of remediation, practical instruction and community-based application. Following North Carolina Course of Study guidelines, Philips Academy has crafted a distinctive curriculum matching the individual needs of our students. Serving Middle, High School grades and into adulthood, we offer a long-term educational solution for students—not just a temporary accommodation.

Philips Academy is a private non-profit school for students in middle and high school with complex language, learning and/or cognitive disabilities. Philips Academy believes that these students thrive when given a purposeful education that prepares them for all of the benefits and responsibilities of adulthood. Our mission is to provide our students with the academic, occupational and social skills needed to be self-reliant, confident and contributing members of their communities. To fulfill our mission, Philips Academy is dedicated to hiring experienced and qualified teachers, developing strong community networks, and instilling confidence and competence through daily experiences.