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PRESSRELEASEApril18,2016MediaContact:GinaDerrickson302-856-3636gina.derrickson@saas.k12.de.us
SussexAcademyGeorgetown,DE.SussexAcademyopenedunderthenameSussexAcademyofArtsandSciencesin2000serving225studentsingrades6to8.In2012themiddleschoolreceivedapprovalforamajorchartermodificationtoaddahighschool.In2013,theschoolnamewaschangedtoSussexAcademy,theschoolmovedintoitscurrentlocationat21150AirportRoad,Georgetown,Delaware,andthefirst9thgradeclasswasenrolled.Eachyear,asanewhighschoolgradeisadded,theenrollmentnumbersincrease.2014-2015498students2015-2016594students2016-2017700studentsexpectedThereisahighdemandfor6thgradeenrollmentatSussexAcademy.Therefore,SussexAcademyusesalotterysystem.SchoolrecruitmentbeginsinNovemberandthepubliclotteryisheldinJanuary.A9thgradelotterywasheldforthe2016-2017schoolyear,asthecommunityinterestinthehighschoolhasincreasedoverthelastthreeyears.SussexAcademycurrentlyemploys36teachersand6paraprofessionals.Additionalteacherswillbehiredforthe2016-2017academicyear.TheschooliscurrentlyinterviewingforanewAthleticDirector.AcademicsarethemainfocusatSussexAcademy.ThemiddleschoolcurriculumfollowsanExpeditionaryLearningApproach.Learningexpeditionsareinterdisciplinarystudies,usuallylastingsixtotwelveweeks,ledbyateacherorteachingteam.LearningexpeditionsarebasedonStateandCommonCorestandards,alignedwithlocalcurriculummapsandfocusedonessentialcontentandskills.Eachlearningexpeditionincludesguidingquestions,kickoffexperiences,projects,lessons,fieldwork,experts,servicelearning,andaculminatingeventthatfeatureshigh-qualitystudentwork.
SussexAcademywasapprovedasanauthorizedInternationalBaccalaureate(IB)WorldSchoolinMarch2015.AllSussexAcademy11thand12gradersareenrolledintheIBcoursesandhavetheoptiontocompletetheIBDiploma.StudentschoosingtochallengetheentireIBDiplomaProgramwilltakeatotalofsixIBcourses:math,chemistry,literature,Spanish,historyandasixthcourseoftheirchoosing.Inaddition,allofthestudentsalsotake“TheoryofKnowledge,”andparticipatein“Creativity,ActivityandService.”ThestudentsroundouttheirIBDiplomaProgramwithan“ExtendedEssay”whichisa4,000wordessaythatisresearchedandwrittenaboutatopicrelevanttoanIBsubjecttheyarealreadytaking.Currently,19outoftheschool’s40grade11studentsareenrolledintheIBDiplomaProgram.SussexAcademyoffersafull-fledgedathleticsprogram.TheschoolcompetesintheHenlopenSouthConference.Thefollowingsportsarecurrentlybeingoffered:MiddleSchoolBoys:Baseball,Basketball,SoccerandCrossCountryHighSchoolBoys:Basketball,Golf,Lacrosse,Soccer,Swimming,TennisandCrossCountryMiddleSchoolGirls:Basketball,Cheerleading,FieldHockey,Soccer,Softball,CrossCountryandVolleyballHighSchoolGirls:Basketball,Dance,Golf,Lacrosse,Soccer,Swimming,CrossCountryandVolleyballTheSussexAcademyFoundationisthefundraisingentityforSussexAcademy.Asacharterschool,SussexAcademydoesnotreceivecapitalfromeithertheStateorFederalfunds.,TheSussexAcademyFoundationinitiatedacapitalcampaignin2012.Themoneyraisedfromprivatedonors,businesses,foundationsandeventshasbeenusedfortheacquisitionandbuildoutoftheschool’scurrentlocation.ThefoundationhasalsoborrowedsignificantsumsfromtheRuralDevelopmentarmoftheUnitedStatesDepartmentofAgriculture.Sincethepurchaseofthecurrentlocation,classrooms,sciencelabs,administrativeoffices,lockerrooms,restrooms,artificialturfandnaturalgrassathleticfields,aperformingartsstage,cafeteriaandanInformationCommons/Libraryhavebeenadded.Constructioniscurrentlyunderwayfora30,000squarefootmiddleschoolwingthatisscheduledforcompletioninAugust.With$14millionraisedtodate,theFoundationisworkingtoacquireanadditional$4million.Thisfinalphaseofthecapitalcampaignwillprovidefundingforthemiddleschoolwing,bleachers,athleticfieldlighting,pathways,scoreboards,additionalparkingandaconcessionbuilding.Anaquaticcenter,agenerousgifttoSussexAcademyfromSchellBrothers,isalsounderconstructionwithascheduledAugustcompletiondate.
SussexAcademyistheonlypubliccharter,tuitionfreeschoolinSussexCounty.Foradditionalinformationabouttheschooland/orthecapitalcampaignpleasecontactGinaDerricksonat302-856-3636orgina.derrickson@saas.k12.de.us.
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