Mississippi charter school opens enrollment after strong third-grade reading results

SR1 College Preparatory & STEM Academy is accepting applications for the 2026–2027 school year ahead of a July 30 deadline. The Canton charter school says its third graders beat every Mississippi charter school in reading proficiency this spring, as the school prepares to add fourth grade.

Why it matters: - SR1 College Preparatory & STEM Academy is pitching itself as a high-performing, tuition-free option for Mississippi families looking for a STEM and college-prep public charter school. - The school’s reading results matter because third-grade literacy is a key benchmark for later academic success. - Enrollment is open for the 2026–2027 school year, giving families a short window to apply before July 30.

What happened: - SR1 CPSA opened enrollment for the 2026–2027 school year. - The school is accepting applications before the July 30 deadline. - SR1 CPSA is a tuition-free public charter school in Canton, Mississippi. - The school serves students in kindergarten through third grade and will expand to fourth grade next school year. - Families can apply, schedule a tour or learn more at sr1cpsa.org or by emailing enrollment@sr1cpsa.org.

The details: - SR1 CPSA is Mississippi’s first and only STEM-focused college preparatory public charter school. - The school says 88% of its third-grade scholars met Mississippi English Language Arts reading standards on their first attempt this spring. - That result outperformed every charter school in Mississippi. - The third-grade result also topped the 2025 statewide average by nearly 13 percentage points. - The school says 69% of kindergartners finished the year reading at or above benchmark. - Some kindergartners were performing multiple grade levels ahead. - Tamu Green, founder of SR1 CPSA, said high expectations, strong educators and a college-preparatory STEM environment are driving the results.

Between the lines: - SR1 CPSA is using academic performance, especially early reading gains, to strengthen its case to families before the enrollment deadline. - The school’s expansion to fourth grade suggests growing demand or capacity as it continues to build out its K-4 model. - The emphasis on third-grade reading underscores a broader education focus on literacy milestones and school choice.

What's next: - SR1 CPSA will continue taking applications through July 30. - The school will begin serving fourth grade in the 2026–2027 school year. - Families interested in the school can tour campus or contact the enrollment team for more information.

The bottom line: - SR1 CPSA is entering the new school year with standout reading results and a push to fill seats before the deadline.