The town of Lake Lure was one of the first regions in Western North Carolina and in the Hickory Nut Gorge to establish schools to educate the youth of the town. Before the opening of Lake Lure Classical Academy in 2010, Gorge students were served by the Rutherford County Schools.

Lake Lure Classical Academy, LLCA, is a public charter school offering a college-preparatory education to students in grades K-10. LLCA will add a grade level each year becoming a K-12 school in the fall of 2015. LLCA utilizes the Core Knowledge Program in its Elementary and Middle grades, then transition to a Classical Curriculum as the school expands into High School. LLCA is free and open to North Carolina students.