Legacy Prep, a K-6 charter school in Birmingham, received a four-year renewal from the Alabama Public Charter School Commission on Tuesday.
Dr. Reneta Johnson, executive director of Legacy Prep, said the school has 440 students and a waitlist of 118.
“The only reason we couldn’t accept them is because we don’t have space. It’s in very high demand, especially in our area,” Johnson told 1819 News in an interview on Friday.
Johnson said the school plans to offer additional grade levels in the coming years.
“Our next immediate action is to open our middle school and so we’ve already started having sixth grade now. We’re actually going to go up to K-6,7,8. Our goal is to go up to 12th grade so we’ll be able to add a grade each school year but our immediate focus right now is to support the middle school section,” Johnson said.
Johnson said the school compares testing data with other public schools in Birmingham because that’s “where our students come from.”
“We’re very happy about (the renewal),” Johnson said. “We did very well as we presented with our data. We were up on the Birmingham area in reading, math, and science for our 2022 data and that’s what they looked at for the renewal factor. We are showing growth pulling from that same pool of students. Our economically-disadvantaged percentage is like 99% so having that many students who are economically disadvantaged and still making progress was something that we got commended for from the charter commission.”
The Alabama Public Charter School Commission also gave Montgomery-based LEAD Academy a two-year renewal to continue operating as a charter school authorized by the state on Tuesday.
“We believe in a Montgomery where every child is given the tools they need to be knowledgeable, productive, and well-rounded citizens and to lead themselves and our community well,” Erik Estill, Executive Director at LEAD Academy, said in a statement. “We appreciate this charter renewal as it allows us to continue our important work in empowering our scholars and partnering with their parents to help them become the leaders of tomorrow.”
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email caleb.taylor@1819News.com.
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