Just months after celebrating its first graduating class, Union Day School has broken ground on a $12.7 million academic and athletic expansion that marks the next step in the Weddington public charter school’s growth.
Union Day School opened in 2016 as a K-3 elementary school and added one grade level each year as enrollment grew. Today, the school serves approximately 725 students in grades K-12. Its first senior class graduated in June 2026, with members earning substantial merit scholarships.
Space to Learn, Compete and Create
Expected to open in fall 2027, the multi-purpose facility will add seven classrooms, including a state-of-the-art science lab and dedicated music and art rooms. It will also feature a regulation basketball court, a fully equipped strength and conditioning room, expanded student parking and additional play areas.
The new facility will bring academics, arts, athletics and school-wide events together in one central gathering place. It will also support Gryphon Athletics, which fields boys’ and girls’ teams at the middle and high school levels and reinforces the school’s emphasis on teamwork, discipline and leadership.
Supporting Continued Growth
The expansion builds on Union Day School’s distinctive academic foundation. The school is an authorized IB World School and the only charter school in North Carolina offering both the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme for grades 6-10 and the IB Diploma Programme for grades 11-12. The full Diploma Programme launched during the 2025-26 school year.
“The graduation of our first senior class and this expansion are significant milestones for Union Day School,” said Jim Lovell, Board Chair. “What began as a small K-3 school has grown into a thriving K-12 community, and this project ensures our facilities keep pace with that growth while creating new opportunities for students in academics, athletics and the arts.”
Myers & Chapman is serving as general contractor alongside construction management partner Berkeley Consulting Group and architect WGM Design. The team has worked closely with Union Day School throughout design and planning, with construction now underway toward the anticipated fall 2027 opening.
“When our families talk about what they want for their kids, they talk about science labs, art and music spaces, and a real place to compete in sports. This groundbreaking means we’re finally building exactly what our students and families have been asking for,” said Joely Lord, Executive Director.
For Union Day School, the project creates more than additional space. It provides new places for students to learn, compete, create and gather as the school moves into its next chapter.
