We offer a structured 6-tier curriculum designed to take students from absolute beginner to master level:

• Fundamentals: For complete beginners with no rating or experience.

• Intermediate: For students with some formal instruction (Ratings under 600).

• Advanced: For tournament players with experience (Ratings 600–999).

• Master: Advanced training for serious competitors (Ratings 1000–1500).

• Elite Team: Invitation-only, subsidized program for top talent (Ratings 1500-2000).

• Super Elite Team: Invitation-only, subsidized program for our highest-rated uniors (Ratings 2000+).

While most new students start in Fundamentals or Intermediate, we want to ensure the perfect fit. If you are unsure of your child's rating or experience, we recommend scheduling a Free 15-Minute Online Skill Assessment.

During this virtual session, one of our senior coaches will evaluate your child's chess proficiency and recommend the specific class level where they will thrive.

Not at all! Our "Fundamentals" level is specifically designed for children who have never played before. We only ask that students are age 5+ and able to focus for a 1-hour session.

Our Academy program is designed for students ages 5 through 17. We welcome beginners of all ages within this range. For our youngest students (age 5), we simply ask that they have developed the attention span necessary for a 60-minute group lesson.

Enrollment is simple and can be done entirely online:

1. Know your level? Visit our Class Registration Page and select your desired location and time.

2. Unsure of your level? We recommend scheduling a Free Online Skill Assessment first so we can place your child in the perfect class.

With premier facilities serving both South Charlotte and North Charlotte, we offer a convenient academy class locations for families throughout the entire metropolitan area.

• South Charlotte / Main Center: Located near the Pineville area. This is the primary hub for families in Ballantyne, South Park, Matthews, and Waxhaw.

• North Charlotte Center: Located near Concord. Serves families in Cornelius, Davidson, Denver, Huntersville, and Kannapolis.

• Satellite Locations: In addition, we offer classes in Fort Mill, SC and Wesley Chapel, NC at our satellite partner locations.

Yes! We offer fully interactive, live online classes taught by the same expert coaches who lead our in-person sessions.

This is a perfect option for families with busy schedules or those living outside the immediate Charlotte area. Students receive real-time feedback and instruction just like they would in the classroom.

No. Our Academy memberships are month-to-month. We simply require a 3-day notice prior to the next billing cycle (the 1st of the month) for cancellations. You are never locked into a long-term commitment; we believe students should stay because they love the program and are seeing results.

We understand that life happens! If your child misses a class, they can attend a makeup session at any of our locations during the same week (subject to availability). We strive to be as flexible as possible to ensure your child never falls behind.

Our monthly tuition varies by the level of instruction:

• Standard Tuition: $120/month (Fundamentals, Intermediate, Advanced)

• Master Class Tuition: $140/month

New Student Welcome Package: For a one-time fee of $30, new students receive a complete starter kit including a:

• CCC T-shirt

• Car magnet

• Class Workbook

• Parent Journey Guide

• 6-month CCC Membership

We believe that consistent practice is the key to improvement. To support this, every Academy student receives a complete at-home training toolkit included in their tuition:

1. Proprietary CCC Workbooks: Custom-designed curriculum unique to our Academy, allowing students to reinforce the specific themes taught in class.

2. ChessKid Gold Membership: Premium access to the world's #1 child-friendly chess site. Students get unlimited access to puzzles, video lessons, and safe online play against other kids.

We believe parents should always have a clear view of their child’s growth. We provide multiple ways to track success:

• Monthly Progress Reports: Every month, we send out detailed reports summarizing your child’s activity and milestones.

• Custom Leaderboard: Parents can access our proprietary leaderboard tool for a snapshot of their child’s current standing and data.

• New Student Portal (Coming Soon!): We are currently developing a state-of-the-art parent portal that will provide real-time access to tournament results, workbook completion, and coach feedback—all in one place.

We use a data-driven approach to ensure students are truly mastering the game before moving up. Advancement to the next class level is determined by four objective criteria:

1. US Chess Rating: A student's official rating, earned in our tournaments, acts as the primary objective measure of skill.

2. Curriculum Mastery: Students must complete their assigned Class Level Workbooks to prove they understand the theory.

3. ChessKid Activity: We monitor puzzle solving and lesson stats through the student's included ChessKid account. 

4. Coach Evaluation: Our instructors assess in-class participation and readiness for more complex topics.

Yes! As the most active chess center in the country, we organize over 375 US Chess rated tournaments annually, averaging more than one event per day!

Our tournament ecosystem welcomes players of all ages and skill ranges, from unrated beginners to grandmasters. This gives every student endless opportunities to test their skills, track their progress, and "climb the ladder" at their own pace. At the CCC, the sky is the limit!

We are proud to have the strongest coaching staff in the Southeast, led by three Resident Grandmasters and numerous other titled players.

What makes the CCC unique is that our coaches are local. Unlike many academies that advertise Grandmasters who only teach remotely, our staff lives, works, and trains right here in Charlotte. They are full-time professionals dedicated to your child's growth, providing the kind of hands-on mentorship you simply cannot get from an app or remote tutor.