Published On: Tue, Apr 15th, 2014

Hundreds of Parents Await Arts Charter School Lottery

By CRA News Service

Within a week after a Delray Beach-based academic-infused arts non-profit charter school announced it would replace the soon-to-be-closing Wellington Christian School, more than 300 people have applied for admission, officials announced today.

Several hundreds of parents are anxiously awaiting the Eagle Arts Academy Charter School of the Arts’ enrollment lottery, which will be held on Saturday, April 12 at 2 p.m.  The lottery will be at the Wellington Christian School, 1000 Wellington Trace.  Deadline to enroll for the first lottery is Tuesday, April 8th by 11:59 p.m.  Additional lotteries will be held, if necessary.

“There has been tremendous interest in having a performing arts school in this area, as evidenced by the number of applicants we have received – which is now well over 400 applicants,” says school founder Gregory James Blount, an independent producer and talent scout. Blount is an Eagle Scout, the highest honor received from Boy Scouts of America, thus the name of the school. “We’re committed to making sure every parent who wants his or her child to attend our school, gets that opportunity.”

Blount and his executive team have been negotiating with Palm Beach School District officials, preparing for the lottery and hiring staff, including teachers.

During its first year, Eagle Arts Academy was approved to open with nearly 900 students from kindergarten through sixth grade and is now accepting applications.  The K-8th charter has been approved for nearly 1,500 students at the end of a three-year period.

Dr. Liz Knowles, formerly of Pine Crest School, has been selected as Head of School.  Knowles, a curriculum and reading specialist and an award-winning educator and author, developed Eagle Arts’ “Artademics” curriculum with Blount. An educator for 40 years, Knowles has experience in cognitive skills development and the International Baccalaureate program.

The school, scheduled to open in August, will focus on a mixture of performing and production arts and offer a cognitive skill development program for all ages, Blount said.  The school will be retrofitted with a green screen studio, digital media editing facility, TV studio, plus an acting, dance and vocal studio, with additional improvements expected over the next 18 months.  Technology will be infused into all areas of the curriculum to enhance academics, develop creativity, and extend learning through video, animation, and much more.

“We want to make sure these kids are ready for the world. They will learn how important the arts are to education and to the world,” he said. “Studies show that kids who are involved in the arts usually do better in school in all sorts of ways, including academically and socially.”

Blount has already worked to secure industry professionals from both sides of the entertainment industry to conduct specialty workshops for Eagle Arts students.

For more information, call 561-665-0151.

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