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

Philips Academy

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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.

12/19/2025

In one of our favorite new traditions, Philips Academy presented our very own Thanksgiving parade! This year, students created floats inspired by classic holiday tunes like Frosty the Snowman and Jingle Bell Rock.

Ms. Poludniak’s and Ms. Mason’s VoTech classes managed the activity by assigning themes, purchasing and distributing supplies, planning parade logistics, and putting together a video with commentary. Each homeroom showcased its creativity with its floats and then put on a fantastic parade on the basketball court!

Click here to view the entire parade with student commentary: bit.ly/4qgIJlA.

12/18/2025

Last month, several of our students had the opportunity to tour Leluia Hall. During their behind-the-scenes visit, they met the managers, the executive chef, the head baker, and the owner, learning about the various jobs that make a restaurant run smoothly.

The students explored the coffee bar and kitchen area, asked thoughtful questions, and proudly shared some of our Flavor House coffee with the Leluia Hall team, along with details about our student-based enterprise program. They were also treated to delicious allergy-friendly baked goods from the head baker.

The students had a fantastic time touring this amazing space and learning about the restaurant industry. One student was so inspired by the trip that they even began searching for job opportunities with the restaurant group on the way home!

12/12/2025

Bridges has been preparing for the holiday season through a variety of festive activities that allow them to apply practical skills discussed in class to real-world scenarios.

Ms. Turner’s class began a social skills unit focused on empathy and perspective. To practice these concepts, students participated in an Angel Tree program, giving them the opportunity to give back while thoughtfully considering the needs and wishes of others as they shopped for the perfect gift. Students also took part in a canned food drive and wrote letters to individuals spending the holidays in the hospital.

To reinforce the entrepreneurial concepts discussed in class, Ms. Brooker’s crew visited Trader Joe’s to observe holiday marketing in action. After discussing seasonal marketing strategies, they explored the store to identify examples of displays featuring holiday-centered design and branding.

All the young adults continue to practice budgeting and financial management skills by planning a Secret Santa celebration. They will comparison shop for snacks, drinks, and gifts while staying within their budget.

12/07/2025

Positively PA! Just before Thanksgiving, Senior Ian and Marketing & Communications Director Ainsley Jennings stopped by Positively Charlotte on Queen City News to share what makes Philips Academy such a special place! You can watch the segment here: www.qcnews.com/video/give-back-monday-philips-academy/11292761.

12/05/2025

This semester, students have been studying Australia, exploring its history, culture, and geography. As part of the lesson, Ms. Viola’s class completed two hands-on projects.

After learning about Aboriginal culture and art, students created their own Aboriginal dot paintings, practicing artistic expression and storytelling through art.

In a second project, students selected an Australian landform or landmark they learned about and transformed it into a 3D model. Some notable landmarks included the Great Barrier Reef, the Outback, and the Sydney Opera House. Students molded their structures using salt dough, painted them, and added intricate details to bring their models to life.

These two projects provided a fun and creative way for students to showcase what they have learned about this unique continent.

12/02/2025

This Giving Tuesday, help us celebrate 20 years! This year, we are proudly celebrating 20 years of Real Learning For Real Life. For two decades, we have empowered students with intellectual and developmental disabilities to reach their full potential through a specialized education focused on academics, job training, and independent living skills.

We invite you to invest in the next generation of student success stories by supporting our unique curriculum. With a hands-on approach to learning, we integrate essential life skills into every lesson, preparing our students to become self-reliant, confident adults. Make a Real Learning For Real Life difference today!

Shop our wishlist at amzn.to/4ryUfKu or make a gift at philipsacademync.org/donate/.

11/28/2025

Mark your calendars! We’re excited to welcome you to our annual Holiday Open House on Tuesday, December 16, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. This year, we are commemorating 20 years of Real Learning For Real Life! Drop in for some festive fun and food, see what’s happening on campus, and shop for student-made gifts. You can pre-order your Silver Wolf Shop favorites today at shops.philipsacademync.org. We hope to see you there!

11/21/2025

Philips Academy is thrilled to celebrate milestone anniversaries of several amazing staff members. Each of these individuals has made a significant impact on our school community during their time here. We are so proud to recognize their hard work and commitment to our students. Join us in applauding the following staff members for their years of dedicated service!

Marcelle Kee, Administrative Services Manager- 5 years
Stephanie Poludniak, Teacher- 5 years
Paige Ross, Transition Coordinator- 5 years
Wyndie Stitt, Teacher- 5 years
Leigh Millikin, Teacher- 10 years
Casey Turner, Bridges Coordinator/Instructor- 11 years
Deborah Hofland, Executive Director- 16 years
Amy Firth, Admissions Director- 20 years

11/14/2025

Ms. Poludniak’s class is excited to present the Dude Crew Morning Brew Newscast! Last month, they recorded their very first episode, reporting on Philips Academy happenings, local events, weather, and sports.

During homeroom, the students have been reviewing current topics and learning how to turn them into scripts for the broadcast. This project not only helps them practice public speaking but also builds functional skills that help students better engage with their friends and community.

We’re so proud of our emerging newscasters! Visit bit.ly/3JVnYfK to view Dude Crew Morning Brew!

11/07/2025

Recently, Ms. Wendelberger’s and Ms. Holbrook’s classes took a trip to Wing Haven, a local garden and bird sanctuary. The students have been exploring various career fields, their responsibilities, and the skills required in their Occupational Prep class. When one enthusiastic student expressed interest in visiting the location to learn about what they do there, it sparked a collective curiosity among the group.

During their visit, students received an introductory lesson on birdwatching and local bird species and explored the gardens. They had a chance to learn more about related career fields, including horticulture, landscaping, and environmental conservation. The staff there also demonstrated how teamwork and responsibility—skills emphasized in class—are critical to success in their jobs.

We are so glad to be able to provide opportunities like this that help students explore their interests, learn new things, and connect their classroom learning to real-world experiences.

10/31/2025

Earlier this month, Bridges hosted Fall Fest, where some PA homerooms dropped by to play games, mix and mingle, and grab a fall treat! With help from Ms. Turner and Ms. Brooker, students worked together to plan a fun event for their peers. They took charge of organizing backyard games, preparing food and drinks, creating a perfect fall playlist, and decorating the space. Everyone's contributions made the event a success! Great job, Bridges crew!

10/24/2025

This year’s Spirit Week was a blast! The whole school showed off their Silver Wolf Spirit! 🐺 During the week, we wore our homeroom pack colors, repped our favorite sports teams, wore our wackiest outfits, and even traveled back in time for Decades Day.

We also enjoyed fun activities like our school-wide Wolf Walk, and students and teachers faced off in a snowball fight! We capped it all off with our Tailgate event, full of food, dancing, and fun surprises. A huge thank-you to Ms. Millikin, Ms. Viola, and Ms. Crain for organizing an unforgettable week of school spirit! 🐾

This week, we are also wrapping up Homecoming, our month-long celebration of Philips Academy and annual student fundraiser. Thank you to all the generous donors who helped us surpass our goal! Because of you, we raised over $41,000 (and counting) to support the school’s technology needs. There is still time to contribute! We are so incredibly grateful to our amazing community!💙

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

https://linktr.ee/philipsacademync, http://philipsacademync.org/

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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.