PARRISH — The North River Charter Academy will celebrate the opening of its new state-of-the-art campus with a ribbon cutting celebration on Wednesday, Sept. 16, from 10 a.m. to noon at 13020 Rutland Road (CR 675). The event is free and open to the community.
North River Charter Academy is a STEAM-focused charter school that first opened its doors during the 2025-26 school year on a shared campus with Parrish Charter Academy, serving students in kindergarten through second grade.
Committed to providing students with an engaging educational experience that incorporates science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics, the school established a strong academic foundation in its inaugural year marked by impressive student growth and achievement.
All kindergarten students who took the Star Reading assessment met proficiency standards, while every first-grade student achieved proficiency on the Star Math assessment. Second-grade students recorded an average growth score of 72 points in reading, and individual students across grade levels demonstrated extraordinary gains of up to 368 points on their end-of-year Star Assessments.
“Our first year proved that when students are supported by dedicated educators, high expectations and meaningful learning opportunities, they can accomplish incredible things,” North River Charter Academy Principal Brittany Fangmeier said. “This beautiful new campus represents the next chapter for our Wolf Pack. We are excited to provide our students with an environment where they can explore, collaborate, create and continue building upon the tremendous success of our inaugural year.”
For the 2026-27 school year, North River Charter Academy’s new facility will serve students in kindergarten through sixth grade. The school will expand to include seventh grade in 2027-28 and eighth grade in 2028-29.
Designed to support innovative teaching and learning, the new campus features modern classrooms, collaborative learning spaces, STEAM-focused instructional areas and amenities that will serve students for years to come. An additional building is also anticipated as part of the school’s Phase II expansion, with groundbreaking expected within the next several years as the campus continues to grow.
“This new facility reflects FORZA Education Management’s long-term commitment to the students, families and Parrish community,” FORZA Chief Operating Officer William Staros said. “From North River’s outstanding first-year academic results to the thoughtful design of its new campus, every part of this project has been centered on creating opportunities for students to thrive. We are incredibly proud of the faculty, staff, families and community partners who helped bring this vision to life.”
The ribbon-cutting celebration will bring together students, families, faculty, staff, community partners, local leaders and area residents to commemorate the school’s growth and officially celebrate its new home.
Guests will enjoy vendors, activities, two bounce houses, a Double Inflatable Axe Throwdown, a Hoop Zone Challenge and a Baseball Challenge, courtesy of Patriot Inflatables & Party Rentals LLC. Ryan’s Coffee House, Two Guys To Go, Whipped Strawberry Wonders and Kona Ice will also be on site with food, beverages and treats available for purchase.
North River Charter Academy is currently enrolling students in kindergarten through sixth grade for the 2026-27 school year. Families interested in learning more may visit NRCAedu.org or call the school at 941-263-2048 to schedule a tour of the new building.