Marietta Charter to Find New Life as Wright Prep Academy

At one point facing certain closure at school year's end after , the will remain open, albeit under a new name.

Imagine Schools, which operates the charter school, announced today that it will keep the campus open for the 2011-2012. The school will become Wright Prep Academy, a tuition-free private school serving students in kindergarten through fifth grade. In addition, Imagine will open Wright Start Prep, an early learning center for 3- and 4-year-old students.

“Imagine Schools wanted to keep the school open so that students and families would be able to attend their school of choice," principal Christy Tureta said. "Although the school name has changed on the outside, the warm and inviting environment remains on the inside. Many of our existing teachers also are planning to return next year. We are committed to this community, to the parents and to the students.” 

The Wright Start Prep early learning center, which is expected to serve approximately 55 students, will offer academic programming that will prepare students for elementary school, while integrating character education into every aspect of the school day. Tuition for the preschool will be comparable to other local preschool programs.

But for the K-5 school, Imagine Schools will pay all costs associated with operating the Wright Prep Academy private school. Current Marietta Charter School students and their siblings of those students will be given first priority for admission to the new private school.

The Marietta Charter School's future first became in doubt last summer. Citing problems at the school ranging from enrollment numbers to financial issues and academic performance, the Marietta City Board of Education voted unanimously to deny the school another five-year charter and the addition of sixth grade.

After the denial at the local level, the school turned to the state commission, which has the power to grant charters for schools unable to secure them at the local level.

But on Dec. 16, the state Charter School Commission by the school for a charter in the 2011-12 school year. Although the commission often denies charters, this decision was rare in that it involved an existing school.

Marietta Charter then appealed the commission’s decision to the state Board of Education, which declined to overturn the appeal on Feb. 9.

Registration has already begun for Wright Start Prep and will continue until the program is full. For information about Wright Start Academy, call 678-391-7722. For information about the K-5 school, call 770-590-4430.