New North Carolina Lightbridge Academy® Franchises Already Receiving an A+ for Debut Enrollment Numbers

When Lightbridge Academy® debuted in Holly Springs, North Carolina last September, it was in the middle of the worst pandemic the world had seen in a century.

Franchisees Brian and Rebecca Grovenstein, who had been planning to open this location near Raleigh for more than a year, were fully prepared to deal with the new challenges. But were parents still going to be willing to send children to Lightbridge Academy programs amid the international health crisis?

The answer: A resounding yes.

North Carolina growth areas

The Lightbridge Academy Holly Springs location opened last fall at near peak capacity, posting the highest enrollment numbers in the history of Lightbridge Academy. Six months later, the Grovensteins opened their second location nine miles away in Apex. Again, the center opened its doors at near capacity.

“We knew Lightbridge Academy had an amazing reputation, which is part of what attracted us to this brand. But the openings of both locations have been better than we even hoped,” said Rebecca Grovenstein. “The support and guidance we’ve received from the corporate team have also made both of our openings a wonderful experience.”

But the Grovensteins are not alone. New Charlotte-area franchise partners Joe and Alison Friedman have already broken ground for two new Lightbridge Academy centers in the Charlotte area, expected to open within the next year. They have already begun early enrollment due to the strong demand in the area.

That’s good news for the brand, whose leaders believe North Carolina will continue to be a growth area for its franchise partners.

“The success of Lightbridge Academy of Apex and Holly Springs has been very encouraging to us, particularly as we plan for growth down the road,” said Joe Friedman. “But mostly, we are just excited to introduce this wonderful brand to our community.”

For Lightbridge Academy, North Carolina represents a major growth opportunity. “We knew from the start that would make a big difference for parents in North Carolina,” said CEO Gigi Schweikert. “So the outstanding initial and continuing enrollment numbers are very gratifying. The strong brand awareness in the area is creating even more momentum and allowing us to welcome more amazing Lightbridge Academy franchise partners like the Grovensteins and the Friedmans.”

Population and job growth

The focus on the Charlotte and Raleigh metro areas is logical for the brand. According to the 2020 U.S. Census, Charlotte ranks as the fastest-growing population in the nation, and more than 6% of its entire population is under the age of five.

Lightbridge Academy is currently seeking franchise partners in the Charlotte area suburbs including Ballantyne, Wesley Chapel, Matthews, Pineville, Harrisburg, Cornelius, Mooresville and Concord.

Raleigh’s metro area, the state’s second-fastest-growing market, has been named the top job growth market for the country, ranking higher than red-hot cities like Austin, Atlanta and Seattle. It has also been ranked the number one city in the country to relocate to, with 5,000 new residents per month taking advantage of its “Zoom Town” reputation.

The brand said it is looking for franchise partners in the following Raleigh metro areas: Cary, Morrisville, Durham/Chapel Hill, Northwest Raleigh and Wake Forest.

Overall, the rate of growth for young families in North Carolina means that parents will need additional support for years to come. “North Carolina continues to be growing quickly, and Lightbridge Academy intends to be there for children and families as it does,” said Schweikert.