Who we are

Organization: Foothills Educational Group

Status: 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization (Established Late 2025 - application pending)

Location: Stokes County, North Carolina

Mission: To establish a trades-based charter high school that equips students with the practical knowledge, hands-on skills, and real-world experience necessary to secure living-wage employment immediately upon graduation.

Overview

Founded in late 2025, Foothills Educational Group is a passionate, volunteer-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming the educational landscape of Stokes County, North Carolina. Recognizing a critical gap between traditional high school curricula and the growing demand for skilled labor, our organization was formed to champion a new pathway for student success: a dedicated, trades-based charter high school.

The Vision

We believe that every student deserves the opportunity to graduate not just with a diploma, but with a highly marketable skill set. Our proposed charter high school will offer a specialized curriculum focused on the vocational trades, blending rigorous academic standards with intensive, hands-on technical training. By focusing on high-demand industries, we aim to provide students with a direct route to employment that offers a sustainable, living wage right out of high school.

Strategic Partnerships and Apprenticeships

A cornerstone of the Foothills Educational Group model is community integration. We are actively forging strategic partnerships with area businesses to bridge the gap between the classroom and the workforce.

Through these alliances, our high school will feature a robust apprenticeship and internship program. This model ensures that:

  • Students Graduate with Experience: Students will apply classroom theory in real-world settings, graduating with a resume built on practical experience rather than just academic credits.

  • Direct Employment Pipelines: Students will have the unique opportunity to transition seamlessly into full-time roles with the specific companies where they interned, eliminating the traditional friction of post-graduation job hunting.

  • Business Growth: Local businesses gain direct access to a pipeline of highly trained, motivated, and local talent tailored to their specific industry needs.

Community Impact

The establishment of this trades-based charter high school is more than an educational initiative; it is an economic development strategy for Stokes County. By empowering our youth with valuable trades and keeping that talent local, Foothills Educational Group will help stimulate the local economy, support area businesses, and provide a secure, prosperous future for the next generation of workers.

Conclusion

Foothills Educational Group is moving rapidly from vision to reality. Driven by a dedicated coalition of community volunteers, educators, and industry leaders, we are currently laying the groundwork for charter approval, curriculum development, and facility planning. We are actively seeking the support of community stakeholders, philanthropic partners, and local businesses to help us build a school where Stokes County students can build their futures.

Empty classroom with desks and chairs arranged in rows, a blackboard at the front, a framed picture above the blackboard, and a map on the right wall.