By Rachael Schuit
Broken Arrow Public Schools is one step closer to getting an 8th grade academy, something district leaders say is necessary due to an overcrowded student population.
The Broken Arrow Board of Education has awarded a $23 million contract to Key Construction to build the academic center. The project has been years in the making.
“With the inflation and all the changes in construction, we discovered that we didn’t have as much money as we originally thought we were going to have for this project. So, we have altered the project a little bit but it’s still an 8th grade academy,” BAPS Deputy Supt. Karla Dyess said.
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The new 8th grade Academy will be located on the Sequoyah Middle School campus and will house about 450 of the district’s 8th graders, including 150 from other schools. Dyess notes the district’s middle schools are at capacity.
An analysis conducted by Verified News Network in November found that every elementary and secondary school in the district was over capacity.
Dyess said a redistricting process will determine which students will be going to the new 8th grade academy, and that forums will be held for parents before any decisions are made.
“We’ll look at our boundaries, see where our current kiddos live and then possibly look at maybe moving some of those kids when they’re in 6th and 7th grade so that they don’t have to change schools twice,” Dyess said. “So we’re trying to be really thoughtful about what students are going to attend that school. Hopefully make that transition easier for them because nobody wants to leave their current school.”
Dyess said the district also plans to leave 50 spots open so families interested in new programming offered by the academy can apply, even if they don’t live in the boundaries.
“Their parents would just have to provide their own transportation,” Dyess said. “It’s another option for students to choose from, as well.”
Students who attend Sequoyah Middle School will automatically be enrolled.
Dyess said the unique programming that will be offered at the new two-story building is still being decided. The next step will be looking for an 8th grade academy principal to assist with setting up staff and academics.
We’re told the new eighth grade academy will open at the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year if construction proceeds as planned.
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