TMSA Public Charter Schools Secures Charter School Growth Fund Investment

TMSA Public Charter Schools (TMSA), one of North Carolina’s leading STEAM-focused public charter school networks, officially announced that it has received formal approval for a $5.0 million multi-year investment from the Charter School Growth Fund (CSGF). The investment marks a significant milestone in TMSA’s long-term growth strategy and reflects national confidence in the organization’s academic outcomes, financial strength, and leadership capacity.

This partnership will enable TMSA to strengthen its central office infrastructure and establish regional support offices to ensure disciplined, sustainable, and high-quality growth across North Carolina’s Triad, Triangle, and Charlotte regions.

“CSGF’s investment is a powerful validation of TMSA’s mission, results, and readiness to scale responsibly,” said Ben Karaduman, Superintendent of TMSA Public Charter Schools. “This partnership allows us to invest not just in new schools, but in the systems, people, and regional structures that ensure long-term excellence for students, families, and communities.”

A Proven Model, Positioned for Responsible Growth

Founded in 2008, TMSA currently serves nearly 5,800 students across multiple campuses and consistently outperforms state averages in math, science, and English language arts. The network operates with a $75 million annual operating budget, strong reserves, clean audits, and an S&P BBB- bond rating, positioning it among the most financially stable charter organizations in the region.

TMSA’s growth strategy is anchored in a regional feeder model, consisting of:

• Three K–8 schools (approximately 2,700 students total), and
• One comprehensive high school (approximately 1,200 students),

creating a coherent K–12 pathway that supports academic continuity, enrollment stability, and college- and career-ready outcomes.

By 2030, TMSA plans to operate 13 schools across three regions, serving over 10,000 students statewide, while maintaining mission alignment and operational discipline.

Strategic Alignment with Federal Expansion Efforts

The CSGF investment builds on momentum from TMSA’s $8.3 million federal Charter Schools Program (CSP) grant, awarded by the U.S. Department of Education in 2025 to support the replication and expansion of five additional schools across Wake, Guilford, Mecklenburg, and Cabarrus Counties.

While CSP funding focuses on facilities, technology, academic programming, and school-level expansion, CSGF’s investment is intentionally targeted toward:

• Strengthening central office capacity
• Launching regional offices to support principals and school leadership
• Enhancing systems for finance, HR, academics, compliance, and operations
• Ensuring consistent quality and accountability as the network scales

Together, these complementary investments position TMSA to grow both wide and deep, expanding access while preserving excellence.

Why Charter School Growth Fund

Charter School Growth Fund is one of the nation’s most respected philanthropic investors in public charter education, known for its rigorous, multi-year diligence process that evaluates academic performance, organizational health, leadership, governance, and financial sustainability.

CSGF’s approval reflects strong confidence in TMSA’s:

• Academic results and growth performance
• Transparent financial practices
• Disciplined expansion strategy
• Experienced executive and board leadership

Looking Ahead

The CSGF partnership will unfold over multiple years, with clear milestones tied to organizational capacity-building and regional growth outcomes. As TMSA expands its footprint, the organization remains committed to its core values of Science, Wisdom, and Peace, ensuring that every new campus reflects the same standards of excellence, inclusion, and community engagement.

“This investment is about building the right foundation for the future,” Karaduman added. “With strong partners like CSGF and the U.S. Department of Education, TMSA is positioned to serve more students—without compromising who we are.”

About TMSA Public Charter Schools

TMSA Public Charter Schools is a nonprofit charter network providing tuition-free, STEAM-focused K–12 education across North Carolina. With a mission centered on academic excellence, character development, and whole-child education, TMSA prepares students to succeed in college, career, and life.

Website: www.tmsaschools.org

About Charter School Growth Fund

Charter School Growth Fund is a national nonprofit that makes multi-year philanthropic investments in high-performing public charter school networks. Since its founding, CSGF has supported more than 1,600 schools serving over 725,000 students across 32 states, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico.