Washington Montessori Public Charter School’s trustees board approved the addition of ninth grade to the pre-K through eighth-grade campus.
The addition will be the first step in a four-year process to add a high school to the Beaufort County charter school.
“Timing and finances were in a situation that made it somewhat feasible,” said Jen Hales, head of school.
Annual parent surveys showed there was enough of an interest to proceed with the expansion, which would include a new gymnasium. The school would add a building for high-school and middle-school students. It would have a science lab and a kitchen for new elective courses.
A Montessori high-school curriculum offers students a worldview. To that end, Hales said, students would have the option of traveling abroad through the new program.
“That’s something that’s really exciting for us,” Hales said.
The current middle-school staff has been trained to teach students from 12 to 18 years old. Hales said at least one additional teacher would be hired to maintain the current student-teacher ratio of 15-1.
“We’re never going to be a Washington High School. But we’re hoping to start with between 10 to 15 kids.”
Current eighth grade students will be given first priority for open slots. Any slots left open will be filled via the school’s lottery system.
For more information about the school and its application process, go to www.wmpcs.org.