October 30, 2017
For Immediate Release
On September 27, 2017, City Academy officially broke ground on the school’s new Early Childhood Center and publicly launched the Campaign for City Academy.
By 2020, City Academy will grow the school’s student population from 185 scholars to 250 students. In order to do so, the Campaign for City Academy will include the addition of an Early Childhood Center, serving children age three through second grade. The school will also renovate the current facility.
Once completed, the Early Childhood Center will be a state of the art, first-class facility that meets spatial, academic, extra-curricular, and developmental needs of the school’s youngest scholars. The early childhood center will expand the school’s current early childhood education program to include three-year-olds. The Early Childhood Center will integrate learning through collaboration among teachers and families, and include a dedicated outdoor learning space and studio classrooms.
Renovations to the current facility will include a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) wing. The STEAM wing will allow for experiential projects and cross-curricular connections, fostering love of science and math in students. Renovations to the current facility also include updated classrooms with enhanced technology, a new outdoor learning classroom, and a designated area for before and after school programs that will allow for more diverse programming.
At the groundbreaking ceremony, long-time supporter and City Academy volunteer, Alicia McDonnell, explained the importance of the school. “We live in uncertain and difficult times socially, economically, and politically. It is easy to feel frustrated and pessimistic and think there is no hope for change or improvement. But when I see the students of City Academy, I feel hopeful and encouraged because I know our students are the future civic, business, and political leaders of St. Louis. I see my support of City Academy as an investment in the future of St. Louis. There is no better economic development plan than to give every child an outstanding education.”
The renovations and Early Childhood Center are scheduled to be completed by 2019 with the student body reaching 250 by 2020.