Our Top Questions
How can my child apply?
Check out our middle school program page to see how students apply to our program.Â
Does it cost to be in the program?
It is totally FREE to our students and their families!
What if our student plays a school sport?
We encourage our students to pursue what they are passionate about, and as long as the student and family maintain partial attendance, there is not an issue.
Is the Academy open everyday?
Do you offer transportation?
We offer full transportation in the summertime. During the school year we transport most students from their schools to the Academy, but we don’t have transportation after programming during the school year. Always working to connect families to carpool when we can help.Â
Is the program offered year-round?
Yes! We have programming during the school year and in the summertime. We have breaks throughout the year but we are a year round program.
Do you offer tutoring?
We have certified teachers on staff who help all our students year-round reach their full potential no matter if it on daily homework or studying for a test.
Our Executive Director
“I believe in the vision of DCA – to build generations of students who become college/career-ready graduates and productive citizens of our community. I am privileged to work with an outstanding staff who believe in our vision and who believe in our students. It is our joy to invest in the lives of our students and watch them grow into the individuals they have the potential to become.”
Calendar
May 19, 2022
Last day for 2020-21 After-school Program
June
Rising 10th and 11th Grade Summer Academy
July 5 - August 4
Rising 6th-9th Grade Summer Academy
September 6, 2022
First Day of 2022-23 After-school Program
About Us
Dream Center Academy is a community organization that dreams of a better future for our world, our country, our community, and our students. Located in the western part of the Gaston community, Dream Center Academy serves brilliant students who know they are capable of incredible things. They are students who dream of a better self and a better world.
Our students are individuals created with gifts and talents to share. We support our students along their journey from the beginning of middle school through high-school graduation, helping them to pursue their dreams and grow as individuals who use their gifts and talents to make a difference in the lives around them. We are a part of the community in which we live and therefore have a responsibility to give back to that community- to make a difference.
The Dream Center Academy middle-school program is intentionally designed to keep our students on target in middle school and prepared for a successful transition to 9th grade. We provide our students with a five-week summer and a daily after-school program throughout their middle-school years.Â
The Dream Center Academy high-school program is intentionally designed to keep our students on target for graduating college-or career-ready. We provide our students with summer and after-school programming throughout their high-school years.Â
Who We Are
Our Mission & Vision
Our mission is to empower students to own their education by developing the academic and social skills to succeed in school and beyond. We accomplish this mission by providing high-quality summer and after-school programming. Our vision is to build generations of students who become college-and career-ready graduates and productive citizens of our community.
Get In Touch
Location
635 S Myrtle School Rd,
Gastonia, NC 28052
Academy Hours
M-F 10:00am – 6:00pm
Weekends: Closed
Phone & Email
(704) 671-2254
 rjimison@dreamcenteracademy.com
Volunteer HighlightÂ
Dream Center Academy is thankful for all of our volunteers and would like to recognize our new volunteer, Darren Sanders. Darren is a Charlotte native and a recent ECU graduate where he studied cell and molecular biology. Darren Sanders aspires to become a family medical doctor and help underserved populations. Darren is currently a MedServe fellow at Piedmont Adult & Pediatric Medicine Associates in Gastonia and will be attending medical school in 2023.Â
As a new volunteer with the Academy, Darren is making a huge impact mentoring individual students and leading our high school Cooking Club. Why did Darren choose DCA? “I wanted to volunteer with DCA because I believe that if students have a positive outlet and a community of people who are working in their interest they are more likely to achieve success, and this was something I wanted to be a part of.” Â
The Academy wants to say how grateful we are for Darren and acknowledge what an asset he is to our community. Thank you for wanting to be a part of our program, Darren! We couldn’t do it without volunteers like you!
Testimonials
Hear What Students Are Saying
Students In Our Program
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dEMONSTRATING POSITIVE SCHOOL Behavior
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Received passing grades
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ONTRACK WITH SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
Get In Touch
Location: 635 S Myrtle School Rd, Gastonia, NC 28052
Telephone: (704) 671-2254
Email: rjimison@dreamcenteracademy.com
Academy Hours: M-F 10:00am – 6:00pm