Construction Begins on Atlanta School with Health Clinic, YMCA

School officials broke ground on a new Atlanta elementary school that will include an on-site health clinic and YMCA Early Learning Center. The $51 million project is slated to open in 2020.  

Atlanta Public Schools and the Grove Park Foundation both provided funding for the new Woodson Park Academy. Earlier in the summer, charter school network KIPP Metro Atlanta took over daily operations and staffing of the new academy after APS signed a contract with them.

The new school was created after APS closed Woodson Elementary and merged it with Grove Park Intermediate to create a Pre-K through 8th grade program at Woodson Park Academy.

 “The goal of the revitalized campus is to give families comprehensive support with proven partners. Students will have access to early childhood programming, a YMCA, a health clinic, and more. APS is committed to graduating students ready for college and career and realizes in addition to a high-quality education, our work also includes helping families break the cycle of poverty,” the district said in a statement, reported by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Students currently attend school in a nearby building but are scheduled to move into the new facility next year.

About the Author

Yvonne Marquez is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Preparing for the Next Era of Healthcare Education, Innovation

    Across the country, public universities and community colleges are accelerating investments in healthcare education facilities as part of a broader strategy to address workforce shortages, modernize outdated infrastructure, and expand clinical training capacity. These projects, which are often located at the center of campus health and science districts, are no longer limited to traditional classrooms.

  • UNT Dallas Holds Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for $100M STEM Building

    The University of North Texas at Dallas in Dallas, Texas, recently celebrated the opening of its new, $100-million STEM Building, according to local news. The ceremony on Dec. 2 preceded the first day of classes in the facility on Jan. 12, 2026.

  • Illinois District Boosts Security at High-School Stadium

    Richmond-Burton Community High School in Richmond, Ill., recently announced that it has completed the redesigned entrance to its high school stadium with a new focus on school security and community engagement, according to a news release. The district partnered with Wold Architects and Engineers on the project as part of District #157’s year-long facilities master plan.

  • Spaces4Learning Trends & Predictions for Educational Facilities in 2026: Part II

    As education leaders look toward 2026, the design of K–12 and higher education facilities is being reshaped by powerful, converging forces. Survey respondents point to the rapid growth of Career and Technical Education, deeper alignment with workforce and industry needs, and the accelerating influence of AI and emerging technologies.

Digital Edition