School overview
Water's Edge Village School
Funding structure, how it compares to peers, and where major projects stand.
How Water's Edge Village School is paid for and who decides
Water's Edge Village School is a free public charter school in Corolla, on the northern Outer Banks, serving about 41 students in kindergarten through 8th grade. It is run by a nonprofit, the Corolla Education Foundation, whose seven-member Board of Directors meets monthly. School Director Sylvia Wolff runs the school day to day. The state and the home counties (Currituck and Dare) pay a set amount for each enrolled student. Because the school is so small, losing even a few students changes the budget a lot. Donations made up about a fifth of revenue in 2025-26. In 2025 the school moved into a new building, the Evans Building, paid for by a capital campaign.
Paid per student
In 2025-26 the school took in about $385,000 from the state and $177,000 from counties, out of about $806,000 total.
Donations fill the gap
Donations, interest and other gifts brought in about $180,000 in 2025-26, plus a $50,000 Currituck County capital grant.
Enrollment is falling
Enrollment went from 49 in fall 2025 to 41 in fall 2026, below the 46 the budget assumed.
Volunteer nonprofit board
Seven directors serve three-year terms; Meghan Agresto is president. Members are not elected by voters.
The school ended 2025-26 slightly ahead, used all its state and federal money, and finished its new building without a loan.
Where the district stands
Calculation: about $685,000 / 41 students. Context only.
Major projects
Enrollment and fundraising drive
under wayWith enrollment below budget, the school is advertising, holding open houses and planning a fall fundraising campaign to raise about $70,000. It is also studying a van to bring Dare County students.
- Budget adopted for 46 students
- $55,000 gap reported
- Enrollment 41; $70,000 still to raise
Funding
Donations and community/corporate partnerships
New Evans school building
completeThe school's new building opened in 2025. The final builder payment was made in January 2026 without a loan, and the warranty period ended July 30, 2026.
- Punch list complete; no loan needed
- Final payment cleared
- Warranty window closed
Funding
Capital campaign (about $2.4M raised), donations and a $50,000 Currituck County grant
Whale skeleton learning project
planning; fundraisingStudents and volunteers plan to dig up and rebuild a buried whale skeleton as a science project.
- Project and $50,000 estimate discussed
- Volunteers begin twice-monthly sessions with students
Funding
Separate fundraising, about $50,000 estimated
Recent news
Approved board minutes (November 2025 through September 2026, plus the January 2026 agenda), the 2025 audit and the 2025-26 Read to Achieve report, all posted on the school's website.
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