AUGUSTA, Ga ( ) – The Georgia Discovery Charter Academy is set to open in Augusta next fall. Initially, it will cater to 4th and 5th graders, with plans to gradually expand to include 8th graders over the next five years.

The Richmond County School Board approved the new charter school on Tuesday, marking the first locally approved charter school in the county.

The school aims to support students struggling after 3rd grade testing.

“We aim to address behavioral issues through outdoor learning, animal therapy, art therapy, and daily STEM programs. We believe these methods will enhance student engagement and better prepare them for high school,” explained Kenisha Skaggs, the founder of Georgia Discovery Charter Academy.

Kenisha Skaggs, who also founded SOAR Academy, will bring principles from her private school experience to the new charter school.

“There’s a mental health crisis among our young people; they spend a lot of time on smartphones. Our school will reconnect kids with their community and encourage outdoor activities, fostering healthier emotional development. We also focus on ensuring our children’s engagement extends beyond high school,” Skaggs added.

The approval process for the charter took approximately 6 to 9 months, but Skaggs feels it was worthwhile to provide access to educational resources typically unavailable to most families without public funding.

“That small group intervention, some of those therapy supports everyday is something that many families in Richmond County desperately needed.” Skaggs said.

While the school is working on partnerships for a permanent location, it will temporarily operate at Pineview Baptist Church when it opens next fall.

The Georgia Discovery Charter Academy is offering innovative educational approaches to enhance student engagement and address the needs of underserved children in Augusta.

“I’m very excited for parents to not have the burden of paying for something super innovative. For kids seeing that there’s so much more than what’s in their backyards. We believe in kids leaning outside, we believe in community based learning. So many kids haven’t been to the Savannah River, they haven’t been to the Jessye Norman Ampitheater, we just believe in learning out loud.” said Skaggs.

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