Wesleyan College wants approval for a K-12 charter school in Macon. What we know.

A new K-12 charter school could be opening its doors soon in Macon on a college campus.

Wesleyan College submitted this week its letter of intent for the new school to operate locally under the Bibb County School District’s jurisdiction, the college announced Wednesday.

College officials described the move as an opportunity to “expand on the institution’s commitment to educational excellence and community development.”

“Wesleyan College has a proud history of providing innovative, high-quality educational opportunities to women. However, all too often, I hear from local high school students that they haven’t set foot on our campus,” Wesleyan College President Meaghan Blight said in a press release. “We know that exposing students to college from an early age eases the transition and prepares them for future success.

“Building these educational opportunities in our city will help to build our local workforce and strengthen our economy here in Macon-Bibb.”

If approved, the Wesleyan Academy anticipates opening its doors in fall 2026.

Wesleyan is a women-only institution, but the charter school will welcome both male and female students into its K-12 program, which will offer both experiental learning and dual enrollment opportunities, the college said.

Wesleyan expressed excitement in being able to work with the Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce and the Macon-Bibb County Industrial Authority to ensure Wesleyan Academy would provide educational pathways that create local workforce opportunities for the students.

Macon-Bibb Mayor Lester Miller showed favor for the proposed charter school.

“A strong workforce is essential to building our economy here in Macon-Bibb County. That all starts with education,” Miller said in a news release. “I welcome Wesleyan College’s leadership in this area and the school’s commitment to finding innovative new approaches to building our community.”

Stephen Adams, executive director of the Macon-Bibb County Industrial Authority, said the charter school would be a win for both education and local businesses.

“By equipping students with both the skills and the mindset for success, this proposed charter school will help ensure that our local industries have access to a well-trained, future-ready workforce,” Adams said.

Wesleyan’s charter school application comes three months after Bibb County Schools rejected a proposed K-5 charter school, The Infinity Academy.

Information on the school’s approval process as well as updates can be found on Wesleyan’s website.

This story was originally published November 20, 2024 at 1:49 PM.