The Exploris School

www.exploris.org/

Charter School 447 Students

Elementary School K - 8th

School Overview

The Exploris School, located in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina, is a tuition-free public charter school that serves students in grades K-8. The school is widely recognized for its commitment to the EL Education (formerly Expeditionary Learning) model, which prioritizes hands-on, project-based learning. Rather than relying solely on traditional textbooks, students engage in deep-dive "expeditions" that connect classroom curriculum to real-world issues, often involving field work, community partnerships, and public presentations of their work.

Central to the school's philosophy is the integration of academic rigor with character development and social-emotional growth. By situating itself in the heart of the city, Exploris utilizes Raleigh’s museums, government buildings, and urban spaces as an extension of the classroom. This experiential approach aims to foster a sense of curiosity, civic responsibility, and collaboration, preparing students to be active problem-solvers who are deeply engaged with both their local community and the wider world.

447

Total Students

36.3

Full-Time Teachers

12.3

Student/Teacher Ratio

N/A

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for The Exploris School
Demographic	Student Count
White	306
Hispanic	30
Black	61
Asian	12
Two or More	36
Pacific Islander	2

White
306 (68.5 %)
Black
61 (13.6 %)
Two or More
36 (8.1 %)
Hispanic
30 (6.7 %)
Asian
12 (2.7 %)
Pacific Islander
2 (0.4 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Charter School
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	The Exploris School
Phone:	(919)715-3690
Website:	http://www.exploris.org/
Grade Range:	K - 8th
Total Students:	447
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	36.3
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	12.3
NSLP Participation:¹	No
Qualified Free Lunch:	N/A
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	N/A

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Kindergarten 30

Grade 1 36

Grade 2 38

Grade 3 38

Grade 4 38

Grade 5 39

Grade 6 76

Grade 7 76

Grade 8 76

Grades Taught Data Table

Grades Taught and Student Counts for The Exploris School
Grade	Student Count
Kindergarten	30
Grade 1	36
Grade 2	38
Grade 3	38
Grade 4	38
Grade 5	39
Grade 6	76
Grade 7	76
Grade 8	76

Gender Ratio

Student Gender Ratio Data Table

Student Gender Ratio for The Exploris School
Gender	Student Count	Percentage
Female	215	48.1%
Male	232	51.9%

Nearby Elementary Schools (Within 10 Miles)