OUR STORY
Frankie Lemmon School
Frankie Lemmon School is a NAEYC accredited, 5-star child development center that welcomes children ages 2-6 with and without disabilities. Our school provides some inclusive classrooms and experiences offering all children a sense of belonging, friendships, and an opportunity to reach their full potential.
OUR HISTORY
The school’s namesake, Frankie Lemmon, youngest son of Frank and Georgia Lemmon, was born with Down syndrome in the 1960’s. When Frankie became of age to begin kindergarten, there was no school in the area that would accept children with special education needs. To fill this void, Frankie’s father, minister of the Hudson Memorial Presbyterian Church, and the congregation united with the community to create Hudson Memorial Kindergarten. The school, which began with three children in 1965, was re-named the Frankie Lemmon Memorial Preschool a few years later.
Having outgrown the space at the Hudson Memorial Church, the Hayes Barton Baptist Church congregation offered to house the school free of charge within its facility. The Frankie Lemmon School has benefited from the generosity of both congregations but continues to operate independently of any church or religious affiliations. In the 1980’s the North Carolina Department of Education began contracting with schools such as Frankie Lemmon to provide education to both preschool and kindergarten aged children with special needs. Subsequently the school’s name was amended to Frankie Lemmon School and Developmental Center.
In 2016, Frankie Lemmon School opened its doors to new facility own facility where students are able to benefit from Frankie Lemmon’s life-changing education and services. The classroom ratios are smaller than in traditional preschool programs, allowing for every student to receive an education specific to their needs.
Additionally in 2016, Frankie Lemmon School expanded its services to offer inclusive classrooms educating children with and without disabilities. In our inclusive classrooms, children with and without disabilities participate together in a setting that provides rich language models and opportunities for developing social skills within a diverse community.
INTEREST FORM
To get started, please complete the Interest Form linked here:
This information allows our Admissions Team to gather important information and ensure we reach out with personalized next steps. When filling out the form, we encourage you to provide as much detail as possible about your child's interests, needs, and any specific questions you may have.
The more we know, the better we are able to respond to each family's unique needs.
SCHOOL TOUR WITH CHILD
Once we have received your Interest Form, our Admissions Coordinator will reach out by email to set up a time to talk by phone.
During this call, our Admissions Coordinator will share information, answer questions you may have, and if appropriate, schedule a time to tour the school with your child.
A visit to our campus, with your child present, is an essential part of the admissions process. It allows you to experience our learning environment, and for us to get to know your child.
NEXT STEPS
After the tour, the next steps in the process will be individualized based on several factors, including the time of year, current availability in the program, and our ability to meet the needs of your child and family.
Please be advised that you may be asked to visit the school more than once to complete the process.
Our admissions process includes multiple steps, as our goal is to ensure that we are the right fit for your family and can provide the support your child needs to thrive.