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.

Ms. Poludniak’s class is excited to present the Dude Crew Morning Brew Newscast! Last month, they recorded their very fi...
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!

Recently, Ms. Wendelberger’s and Ms. Holbrook’s classes took a trip to Wing Haven, a local garden and bird sanctuary. Th...
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.

Earlier this month, Bridges hosted Fall Fest, where some PA homerooms dropped by to play games, mix and mingle, and grab...
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!

This year’s Spirit Week was a blast! The whole school showed off their Silver Wolf Spirit! 🐺 During the week, we wore ou...
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!💙

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.

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/

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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.