“School starts next week for the Clark County School District. There are some schools that are already in session: public charter schools.
Charter schools are publicly funded. They’re given money by the state but they’re run by an independent board of directors. The 100 Academy of Excellence located near Carey Avenue and Martin Luther King Boulevard in North Las Vegas is one of those schools. It has seen a huge jump in enrollment. The number of kids has nearly doubled from 350 when it opened last year to 600 this year.
‘We have been able to expand because we have had so much support from the community,’ said Principal Peggy Selma.
Local businesses have donated a new playground and thousands of dollars in school supplies. The non-profit group, 100 Black Men of Las Vegas, helped the school go door-to-door to bring in students from as far away as Henderson.
‘We have so many parents who bought into what we were doing last year that they told their co-workers, their family members, their friends,’ said Selma.
The increase in enrollment will bring more than $1.2 million to the school this year. While the Clark County School District has cut back on programs, the academy has expanded its music and language offerings while still keeping its student-teacher ratio around 25-1. That’s exactly the type of individual attention many of these parents were seeking.
‘I have gone to kindergarten classes with like 30 kids in the classroom, and I don’t see how you can teach a child like that,’ said Erica Stringfellow, whose child goes to 100 Academy of Excellence.
‘I don’t want my kid to be left behind and unnoticed. Here I believe he will be noticed,’ added Ladonna Ivery, whose son attends the academy.
The 100 Academy of Excellence is still growing. Administrators say the school can have as many as 850 students. They are still looking for more kids to fill their empty seats.”
Article published on August 23, 2011 by 8NewsNow.com