Disclaimer – Important Scholarship Information
This page is provided for general informational purposes only and is intended to help families understand how NCSEAA K–12 scholarship programs may relate to Focus Plus Academy. Focus Plus Academy does not administer NCSEAA scholarship programs, determine scholarship eligibility, approve or deny scholarship applications, set award amounts, control application deadlines, or guarantee scholarship funding. Scholarship program rules, deadlines, and award amounts may change. Families should always rely on NCSEAA for the most current information.
All scholarship eligibility decisions, award amounts, payment rules, deadlines, documentation requirements, and program requirements are determined by NCSEAA and may change. Families are responsible for reviewing the most current information directly through NCSEAA and completing all required NCSEAA application steps, documentation, deadlines, and parent tasks.
Any scholarship amounts or examples listed on this page are for illustration only and are based on information published by NCSEAA for the 2026–2027 school year. Actual awards may vary by student, family eligibility, program rules, funding availability, and NCSEAA determination. Scholarship funding is not guaranteed.
Receiving or accepting an NCSEAA scholarship does not guarantee admission to Focus Plus Academy. Families must complete the Focus Plus Academy admissions process and be accepted for enrollment. Families are responsible for any tuition, fees, or other costs not covered by scholarship funding or financial aid.
Focus Plus Academy may help families understand how awarded scholarship funds may apply to tuition, but families should rely on NCSEAA for official scholarship guidance.
NCSEAA Scholarships
Focus Plus Academy is an approved Direct Payment School for NCSEAA K–12 scholarship programs.
These state scholarship programs may help eligible North Carolina families pay for private school tuition and required fees. Depending on a family’s eligibility, award amount, and applicable program rules, NCSEAA scholarship funding may cover all or part of tuition or significantly reduce the amount a family pays out of pocket.
Scholarship eligibility, award amounts, deadlines, and program rules are determined by NCSEAA, not Focus Plus Academy. Families are responsible for applying directly through NCSEAA.
What is NCSEAA?
NCSEAA stands for the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority. NCSEAA administers K–12 scholarship programs that help eligible North Carolina families pay for nonpublic education.
The two main programs families may ask about are the Opportunity Scholarship and the Education Student Accounts (ESA+) Scholarship.
Opportunity Scholarship
The Opportunity Scholarship helps eligible North Carolina families pay for tuition and required fees at registered private schools.
For the 2026–2027 school year, NCSEAA states that the priority application period has closed, but the Opportunity Scholarship application remains open for new students. Applications submitted after the priority period are considered monthly, in the order received, as funds are available.
Families relocating to North Carolina may also apply for the Opportunity Scholarship. NCSEAA states that relocating families must be physically residing in North Carolina at the time of enrollment in the nonpublic school and must meet residency documentation requirements by the applicable deadline.
This means that a family moving to North Carolina may still have the opportunity to apply for Opportunity Scholarship funding for the 2026–2027 school year, if they meet NCSEAA’s eligibility and residency requirements.
Education Student Accounts (ESA+) Scholarship
The Education Student Accounts (ESA+) Scholarship is designed for eligible North Carolina students with disabilities who require special education services.
For the 2026–2027 school year, NCSEAA states that the priority application period for new ESA+ applicants has closed and the program is no longer accepting new student applications. Families should review current ESA+ application availability, eligibility requirements, documentation requirements, and program rules directly through NCSEAA.
Can families use both scholarships?
In some cases, students may be eligible to receive both the Opportunity Scholarship and the ESA+ Scholarship. Families should review current application availability, eligibility requirements, award amounts, deadlines, and program rules directly through NCSEAA.
Students who receive both scholarships are often called dual award recipients. NCSEAA states that students receiving both the Opportunity Scholarship and ESA+ Scholarship must be enrolled in a Direct Payment School in order to use both awards. Focus Plus Academy is an approved Direct Payment School.
For the 2026–2027 school year, NCSEAA states that ESA+ is no longer accepting new student applications. Families should confirm current ESA+ application availability directly through NCSEAA.
What does it mean that Focus Plus Academy is a Direct Payment School?
A Direct Payment School is a school that can receive scholarship payments directly from NCSEAA on behalf of an eligible student.
This means that if a student is awarded the Opportunity Scholarship, the ESA+ Scholarship, or both, the family may select Focus Plus Academy as the student’s school choice. Once the student is enrolled and all required NCSEAA steps are completed, eligible scholarship funds may be paid directly to Focus Plus Academy and applied toward tuition and required fees.
Receiving a scholarship does not automatically enroll a student at Focus Plus Academy. Families must still complete the Focus Plus Academy admissions process and be accepted for enrollment.
Direct payment status does not guarantee that a student will receive scholarship funding, that funds will cover the full cost of tuition, or that a student will be admitted to Focus Plus Academy.
How scholarships may help reduce tuition
NCSEAA scholarship funding can make Focus Plus Academy financially accessible for many families.
Depending on the scholarship program, award amount, and family eligibility, funding may:
- Cover a portion of tuition
- Significantly reduce the amount a family pays out of pocket
- In some cases, cover the full cost of tuition
- Help families combine state scholarship funds with available financial aid options
Because each family’s situation is different, the best way to understand your potential cost is to review your scholarship eligibility through NCSEAA and then speak with Focus Plus Academy during the admissions process.
Example 2026–2027 Award Amounts
NCSEAA publishes annual scholarship award amounts, and these amounts may change from year to year. The examples below are based on award amounts listed by NCSEAA for the 2026–2027 school year.
NCSEAA states that Opportunity Scholarship awards for the 2026–2027 school year range up to $7,942 per year, depending on a family’s household income, household size, and assigned award tier.
NCSEAA states that ESA+ awards for the 2026–2027 school year include a base annual award of $9,000. Students with certain designated disabilities, as defined by NCSEAA, may be eligible for a higher annual award of $17,000.
In some cases, students may be eligible for both the Opportunity Scholarship and the ESA+ Scholarship. When combined, scholarship funding may significantly reduce the amount a family pays out of pocket. In some cases, depending on the student’s award amounts and eligibility, scholarship funding may cover the cost of tuition.
These examples are provided to help families understand the potential impact of NCSEAA scholarship funding. Actual eligibility, award amounts, payment rules, and allowable uses are determined by NCSEAA, not Focus Plus Academy.
How to apply for NCSEAA scholarships
Families apply directly through NCSEAA using MyPortal.
In general, families should:
- Visit NCSEAA’s K–12 scholarship website.
- Review eligibility requirements for the Opportunity Scholarship and ESA+ Scholarship.
- Create or log in to a MyPortal account.
- Submit the appropriate scholarship application.
- Upload any required documentation, if requested by NCSEAA.
- Watch MyPortal for award notices, deadlines, and required tasks.
- If awarded, select Focus Plus Academy as the student’s school choice.
- Complete the Focus Plus Academy admissions process.
NCSEAA application windows, deadlines, funding availability, and program rules can change. Families should always review the most current information directly through NCSEAA.
Need help understanding how this may apply to your family?
Focus Plus Academy cannot determine scholarship eligibility or guarantee an award. However, we can help families understand how awarded scholarship funds may apply to Focus Plus Academy tuition once a student is moving through the admissions process.
This page does not replace official NCSEAA guidance.