117+ Students Enrolled· 81 Hickory-Area Families· Grades 7 – 12· Christian Hybrid Model· Nonprofit Since 2024· Now Enrolling — Fall 2026· Serving Catawba County & Beyond·
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Who We Are

About Highland Academy
in Hickory, NC

A Christian nonprofit hybrid homeschool unifying middle and high school homeschoolers across the Hickory region — built by homeschool parents, for homeschool families.

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Highland Academy students studying outdoors at the Hickory NC hybrid homeschool
Our Story

Founded in 2024 to unify Hickory's homeschoolers.

Highland Academy was founded as a nonprofit in 2024 to unify middle school and high school age homeschoolers in the Hickory region. Our mission is to support homeschooling families and empower them to homeschool successfully through graduation.

Our ever-evolving course offerings reflect the needs of the community and the families we serve. We hand-select highly qualified individuals to not only teach — but to inspire our students to become all God created them to be.

We opened our doors in Fall 2024 with approximately 60 students. Today, we have over 117 students from 81 different families enrolled in our Spring semester. That growth isn't marketing — it's families telling other families.

2024
Year Founded
117+
Students Today
81
Active Families
Our Mission

The atmosphere of a winning team.

The collaborative learning environment we are committed to providing is competitive yet supportive — enabling kids to thrive academically. Our culture is shaped by an ambitious student body that wants to succeed in all areas of life. Peers who uplift and encourage one another in everything they do.

Academic Excellence

We are determined to help all students reach their academic goals — without compromising the qualities that make homeschooling work for your family.

Community & Character

Extra-curricular activities and age-appropriate gatherings expand students' interests and shape friendships that last well into adulthood.

A Christ-Centered Mission

Our community of parents, students, and educators come together to form a unique partnership — positively impacting our community and bringing glory to God in all we do.

Leadership

Led by a homeschool family.

Highland Academy was founded and is led by Sarah Weidman, a longtime homeschool parent in Hickory, NC. Sarah opened the academy in Fall 2024 with about 60 students after recognizing how many local homeschool families needed structured support in the middle and high school years.

Sarah and her husband Ed have raised their family in Hickory, where Highland Academy now serves over 117 students from 81 families across Catawba County and beyond. Every teacher, gathering, and academic decision flows through Sarah's commitment to academic excellence anchored in Christian values.

If you'd like to meet Sarah and learn whether Highland is the right fit for your family, the first step is to submit an application — then you'll be invited to schedule a relaxed family interview with academy leadership.

The Weidman family — founders of Highland Academy hybrid homeschool in Hickory NC
Request Information

Want to learn more before you apply?

Send us a note and we'll be in touch within one school day. We can answer questions about the program, talk through your student's needs, or walk you through what the family interview looks like.

  • Direct response from Highland Academy leadership
  • No mailing list, no follow-up unless you ask for it
  • Honest answers about whether Highland is the right fit
Prefer email? highlandacademyhickory@gmail.com
Send Us a Note
Same-day response during school hours.
What Families Are Saying

Why Hickory homeschool families choose Highland.

A second-year academy that's tripled in size from word-of-mouth alone. Here's what families tell us most often about the Highland experience.

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Academic Rigor With Heart

Our students are pushed to grow — but in a way that protects what's special about homeschooling. Excellence and family connection don't have to be at odds.

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Real Peer Community

Christian homeschool teens find their tribe at Highland — peers their age, in their region, who share their values and want to work hard together.

✝️

Faith In Every Subject

Christ-centered isn't a label here. It's how every teacher, every gathering, and every academic decision is grounded.

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The Hard Subjects, Handled

Advanced math, lab science, foreign language, drama — the subjects most homeschool parents would rather hand off to a mastered instructor.

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Schedule That Fits Your Family

Part-time and per course. You only enroll in what you want — and the rest of your homeschool week is yours.

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A Community That's Growing Together

60 students in 2024. 117+ students from 81 families today. The growth is families telling families — and we'd love to introduce you to ours.

Ready to learn more about Highland?

Submit an application for your student, browse this semester's course catalog, or reach out with any question — we'd love to talk with your family.

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