The Collegiate Academy of Albany is expected to open next fall on an 18-acre site that includes a former National Guard armory in Albany. Last week, the Dougherty County Commission unanimously approved an intergovernmental transfer of the property to New Schools for Georgia (NSG), a nonprofit overseeing the school’s founding and development. The property is located at 1500 N. Monroe Street and 409 Eighth Avenue in Albany.
After the $300,000 purchase is finalized in January of 2020, New Schools for Georgia plans to invest almost $5 million at the site to build new classrooms and renovate existing buildings. NSG also plans to develop a playground and athletic fields for soccer, baseball and softball.
The Collegiate Academy of Albany (“CAA”) is a new, independent, tuition-free, public charter school that will serve families in Albany, Dougherty and Lee counties and all of Southwest Georgia. As part of its mission, the school seeks to prepare students to succeed in college and future careers. CAA will open in August 2020 with up to 376 students in grades K-3 on a first-come, first-served basis with no admissions testing. The school plans to add one grade per year until it reaches a capacity of 1,450 students in grades K-12. Prior to the last week’s site announcement, more than 100 students had already applied to attend CAA. Since the school has a statewide attendance zone, CAA founders expect demand to exceed seats available. If that occurs, enrollment will be conducted through a public lottery to be held in March 2020.
Albany natives Teresa and Allen Hughes founded The Collegiate Academy of Albany to provide additional high-quality educational options to families in their hometown and throughout the area. In announcing the agreement, Mr. Hughes, chairman of CAA’s Board, said, “we are grateful to the County Board of Commissioners for their decision to sell the Armory property to the charter school, demonstrating their desire to attract high-quality educational options for area families, which in turn makes the Dougherty County area more attractive for business investment.”
CAA will be part of the SABIS® Network, a global network of schools that are backed by a 134-year old tradition of educational excellence, serving 70,000 students in 20 countries. Schools in the SABIS® Network implement an integrated, comprehensive K-12 program that uses dynamic materials, proven methods, and cutting-edge technology to deliver positive academic results.
