Charter school soon to open in vacant Prattville shopping center

PRATTVILLE, Ala. (WSFA) – High Point Town Center, a shopping center, has been sitting vacant since the 2008 recession.

Now, one charter school will soon call this space home.

Construction workers are busy getting Ivey Classical Academy ready to open by early August.

“We found this location a few years ago. It was built as a shopping center,” said head of school Dr. David Withun.

Withun says the charter school follows a curriculum developed at a private college in Michigan.

“We are affiliated with Hillsdale College. They provide us with support through training our teachers,” said Withun.

This fall, the school plans to enroll more then 600 kindergarten through fifth graders and 60 staff members, 32 of them teachers.

“We’re going to grow into a K through 12 school by adding a grade every year,” said Withun.

Withun says a charter school receives taxpayer funding and runs much like a public school but has the ability to get creative with the way their students are taught.

The school will also have extracurriculars like art, music, gym, and language.

In the future, they plan to add sports teams as they add grades each school year.

Students from Elmore County or children of staff will get priority enrollment, but students from all counties are welcome to enroll.

Prior education, discipline, and attendance scores are not considered for enrollment.

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