New Charter School Proposed In Annapolis Mall, Vote Coming Next Week

ANNAPOLIS, MD - A new charter school could soon open in the Westfield Annapolis mall.

The school, dubbed New Village Academy, would offer "high school done differently" for Anne Arundel County students.

The Anne Anne Arundel County Board of Education is slated to vote on the school on Wednesday. The meeting is scheduled for noon in the board room, located in Annapolis at 2644 Riva Road.

If approved, New Village Academy could open in the fall of 2024. School leaders said they are considering leasing a space within the Annapolis mall.

The school is targeting an enrollment of 150 to 250 students. Tuition would be free, as New Village Academy would have a contract with Anne Arundel County Public Schools if approved.

Students from anywhere in the county could apply through a lottery, which would prioritize Annapolis communities with low incomes. There would be no selective admissions.

If approved, the lottery sign-up will open on Oct. 1 at aacps.org.

"Our small size will enable us to be more nimble than a larger school system and provide an incubator for new strategies to inspire and challenge students who are not thriving in larger traditional high schools," New Village Academy founder Romey Pittman said in a press release.

New Village Academy on Aug. 3 said it earned a grant from NewSchools Venture Fund. The money comes from the fund's Launch 2024 Venture Portfolio.

New Village Academy is one of 18 new public and charter school teams in the country to earn this funding. 

The proposed charter school says it would prioritize experiential and project-based learning over lecture time. 

Students would spend one or two days per week in a workplace learning career skills. Small groups would also meet frequently with a mentor to discuss their academic and personal goals.

More information on the potential school is posted at newvillageannapolis.org.

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