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

  • LSU Breaks Ground on $200M Residential Project

    Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, La., recently broke ground on a new residential complex, according to university news. The South Quad residential project will consist of two buildings and add a total of 1,266 beds for freshmen students. The development comes with a price tag of $200 million, and it’s scheduled to open to students in fall 2027.

  • Massachusetts K–12 District Selects Architect for New Junior High

    Swansea Public Schools in Swansea, Mass., recently announced that it has selected Finegold Alexander Architects to design a new junior high school for the district, according to a news release. The firm will create the Feasibility Study and Schematic Design for Joseph Case Junior High School after a lengthy selection process by the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA).

  • How a Portable Sink Helped an Art Classroom Run More Smoothly

    Classroom design decisions can have outsized effects on instructional time and safety at schools juggling mismatched infrastructure, strict budgets, and crowded schedules — particularly in the arts. Between spilled paint and dirty brushes, art classes run smoother with a sink in the studio. But many schools don’t have a sink in every art classroom.

  • Little Grand Market

    Designing for Belonging: Why Student Wellness Starts with Space

    From walkable site planning to flexible interiors, intentional design choices play a critical role in how students experience comfort, connection, and community.