Located in a 5,000-square-foot space that was previously used as mall storage, the Simon Youth Academy at Katy Mills will contain four flexible-space classrooms and is expected to host 50-60 students when it opens this fall.[/caption]
Construction has started on a new high school dropout academy inside Katy Mills; a facility that will be operated by Katy ISD, officials said.
Jay Kenworthy, communications director for the Simon Youth Foundation, said the foundation—part of the Simon Property Group, owner of Katy Mills—specializes in dropout recovery and prevention. The foundation is constructing the new campus in collaboration with Katy ISD and will offer classes for students who have dropped out of KISD schools, he said.
In addition to the campus inside Katy Mills, KISD’s Martha Raines High School will also be added to the foundation’s network of what will be 28 programs in 12 states, Kenworthy said.
“When a community grows, new challenges emerge with the student population you’re trying to educate,” Kenworthy said. “So, any way that we can be a part of the solution, we’re happy to.”
Kenworthy said the foundation will follow its typical business model of covering the construction costs and providing the facility rent-free. KISD will staff the school and provide the curriculum.
Heather DeVries, a dropout prevention, intervention and recovery coordinator at KISD, has been tabbed as the academy’s coordinator.
DeVries said that the 5,000-square-foot space—which previously served as a mall storage area—will be equipped with four classrooms that can be reconfigured in a variety of different ways and is expected to host 50-60 students this upcoming school year. Classes are expected to begin in early September with a grand opening set for Sept. 22, she said.
According to DeVries, the curriculum will emphasize post-graduation possibilities and the district is looking forward to the support that it will receive from the foundation, which includes enhancement grants, professional learning opportunities for teachers and student scholarships.
Located in a 5,000-square-foot space that was previously used as mall storage, the Simon Youth Academy at Katy Mills will contain four flexible-space classrooms and is expected to host 50-60 students when it opens this fall.[/caption]
Construction has started on a new high school dropout academy inside Katy Mills; a facility that will be operated by Katy ISD, officials said.
Jay Kenworthy, communications director for the Simon Youth Foundation, said the foundation—part of the Simon Property Group, owner of Katy Mills—specializes in dropout recovery and prevention. The foundation is constructing the new campus in collaboration with Katy ISD and will offer classes for students who have dropped out of KISD schools, he said.
In addition to the campus inside Katy Mills, KISD’s Martha Raines High School will also be added to the foundation’s network of what will be 28 programs in 12 states, Kenworthy said.
“When a community grows, new challenges emerge with the student population you’re trying to educate,” Kenworthy said. “So, any way that we can be a part of the solution, we’re happy to.”
Kenworthy said the foundation will follow its typical business model of covering the construction costs and providing the facility rent-free. KISD will staff the school and provide the curriculum.
Heather DeVries, a dropout prevention, intervention and recovery coordinator at KISD, has been tabbed as the academy’s coordinator.
DeVries said that the 5,000-square-foot space—which previously served as a mall storage area—will be equipped with four classrooms that can be reconfigured in a variety of different ways and is expected to host 50-60 students this upcoming school year. Classes are expected to begin in early September with a grand opening set for Sept. 22, she said.
According to DeVries, the curriculum will emphasize post-graduation possibilities and the district is looking forward to the support that it will receive from the foundation, which includes enhancement grants, professional learning opportunities for teachers and student scholarships.
