Montgomery, Ala. (12/15/2021) – Freedom Preparatory Academy, the top performing charter school network in Memphis, Tenn., is presently seeking to open a new charter school location in Montgomery, Ala. The charter network seeks to open in the Fall of 2023.
Founded in 2009, Freedom Prep’s 12-year history began with 100 enrolled students at one middle school and successfully grew to over 2,300 students enrolled in grades Pre-K through 12 across five Memphis campuses. Over the past five years, Freedom Prep has matriculated five graduating classes with 100 percent graduation rate and 100 percent acceptance into four-year colleges and universities. In 2019, on a trip to the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, founder Roblin Webb, realized the need for Freedom Prep Academy to expand its work to “truly transform education across the South, expanding opportunity and resources to historically marginalized communities.”
Freedom Prep Academy serves a high proportion of economically disadvantaged students, with 85% of them qualifying for free and reduced lunch. Freedom Prep also serves students with IEPs and 504s across all grade levels. With a majority student body that is of Black and Latinx descent, as well as staff and school leaders that mirror the makeup of their students, Freedom Prep is on a journey to create new schools for the South that ensures Black and Brown students across the region have access to an education that allows them to excel in college and in life.
“We want community engagement that builds trusted relationships,” states Justin Hampton, Regional Director for Freedom Prep. “We want families and community leaders to know us, and to consider themselves a part of what’s going on at Freedom Prep.”
Community engagement began in Montgomery, in the Spring of 2019, as a candidate for operating the conversion of Davis Elementary School, Nixon Elementary School and Bellingrath Middle School. Since that time, Freedom Prep has met with over 100 residents and community leaders, both in person and virtually to share in their programming’s goal to expand their reach.
“What I appreciate about Freedom Prep is their commitment to the whole student, not just grades. They meet students where they are and guide them along the path to success. Having the school here in Montgomery will certainly have a positive impact here in the community.” – Iesha Brooks, Montgomery Parent
Currently, Freedom Prep has been exploring other potential locations closer to the populations they historically serve as they presently are in conversations with Restoration Baptist Church, located at 164 E. South Blvd, in the former Harrison Elementary School.
To learn more about Freedom Prep Academy and to receive updates about the charter process, please visit www.freedomprep.org. For all media inquiries, please contact Justin Hampton via email at [email protected] or by phone at (334) 557-3690.
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