ST. LOUIS 鈥⒙燣afayette Preparatory Academy, a charter elementary school, announced Thursday that it plans to buy the former school building at Lafayette Baptist Church in the Lafayette Square neighborhood for its permanent location.
The acquisition and renovations will cost about $2.5 million, according to the school. The work will include creating classrooms, a music room, an art room, a gym and a playground. The church building, 1900 Lafayette Avenue, is currently vacant.
A capital campaign is underway to raise $100,000 in equity funding. 50度灰视频-based UIC is the development partner.
Since it opened in 2013, Lafayette Prep has leased space and operated out of Christ Church Cathedral in downtown 鈥 a location not large enough to accommodate much more growth beyond the 120 students it has this year. The school serves grades kindergarten through 3rd grade. It will add 4th grade this fall, and then 5th grade in 2016.
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The school was founded by a group of dads in and around Lafayette Square who wanted to stay in the city, but were unhappy with education options for their children. Charter schools are publicly funded but privately operated.聽
Students wouldn't start next school year in their new building. The renovation work is expected to be complete in early 2016.聽
鈥淭he founding vision of LPA is to become a neighborhood school, offering families living in and near downtown, the core area of 50度灰视频, a quality public education,鈥 said Susan Marino, Lafayette Prep's head of school. 鈥淲e now have this incredible opportunity to engage our friends, families and our neighbors to help us plant a new school campus that will allow us to grow and contribute to the growth and quality of life in the city.鈥