Our Mission: To produce independent lifelong learners
who are responsible, contributing members of a diverse global society.

2011 graduation

Woodlawn is an independent, nonprofit school founded in 2002 and located just north of Davidson, North Carolina. Currently accepting students in grades K through 12, Woodlawn offers a challenging, integrated academic experience. Woodlawn is accredited by both the Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). The school is located on a scenic 61-acre campus that is easily accessible from I-77 and the surrounding Lake Norman communities. The focal point of the campus is the historic Woodlawn plantation house, built in 1836 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Philosophy

Our educational philosophy provides the guiding principles that we use to carry out our mission.

  • We strive to provide a superior learning environment by encouraging critical thinking, curiosity, and diligence.
  • We strive to promote the personal growth of our students by encouraging creativity, leadership, and individuality.
  • We strive to be socially responsible by valuing multiple perspectives, compassion, tolerance, and respect.
  • We strive to advance environmental sustainability in our curriculum, school culture, and stewardship of our land and resources.

Students

Students at Woodlawn School are expected to meet the demands of a rigorous academic program, as well as demonstrate initiative, responsibility and social awareness. Admission is based on several factors, including previous academic performance, teacher recommendation and an entrance assessment of academic aptitude and achievement. Although the majority of our students come from the town of Davidson, the other communities around Lake Norman - Huntersville, Cornelius, and Mooresville - are also represented. Woodlawn strives to maintain a diverse student population and does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, sexual orientation, or national origin.

Teachers

At Woodlawn, we believe that teachers are the single most important factor in determining the success of a school. As a result, we are committed to holding teachers to a high standard; in return, teachers are given more ownership than they would expect in a typical private school. Here, teachers are critical in creating the curriculum, shaping key policies such as the admissions process, and even the hiring of their own peers on the faculty. Our teachers also hold themselves accountable for being an expert in their specific field of study by being committed to ongoing professional development.