The New Fountain Square Academy

Only Area High School to Make Federal Guidelines in 2009

By: Mark Stewart

Over the summer, Fountain Square Academy, located at 1615 S. Barth Avenue, has done a complete makeover of classrooms with walls being painted, installation of new classrooms, and the addition of new desks, chairs and lockers for students.

“The school is so inviting now,” said Ms. Foster. “It feels like a new school inside.”

The school which occupies the historic former Leedy Drum Factory, is the neighborhood’s only public high school to make the federal guidelines in academic achievement standards this year. The tuition-free public school, which was invited to open in the neighborhood by the Southeast Neighborhood Development Corp. (SEND) in 2005, provides a middle and high school, serving grades 5-12. It pays complete tuition, books and fees for Ivy Tech college classes for its qualified students. The school also pays for textbooks and provides transportation and a breakfast and lunch program.

“We are excited about the academic achievement of our students at the school this past year and we are even more excited about the future,” said Keena Foster, principal of the school. “Last year, our students outperformed 73 percent of the country in the amount of material they learned over the school year. That puts our school in the top 27th percentile in the country.”

“When SEND conducted a study of the most important issues facing our neighborhood, the community said ‘improved educational opportunities.’ We are pleased to have Fountain Square Academy in our neighborhood. Their small class size and focus on college preparation are vital to improving our community,” said Mark Stewart, President of SEND.

“While tutoring and remediation is available as it is in all other public schools, college is an expectation for all of our students at Fountain Square Academy,” said Ms. Foster. “Students have the potential of earning up to 60 college credits, or two years of college, while they attend high school.” That translates into a $6,000 savings and provides motivated students a jump-start on going to a 4-year university and/or earning their license for a vocational career.

Discipline at the school is tight and the school expects students to follow dress code. Class sizes are kept small to encourage a more intimate learning atmosphere. A new partnership with Garfield Park provides students the opportunity to participate on a school basketball team and enjoy other sports. The school will begin its application to be part of the Indiana High School Athletic Association this year and will offer various after school sports programs.

Enrollment is open now. School starts August 17. A few spaces still remain open. Enrollment packages are available at the school or online at www.fountainsquareacademy.org. Call 951-1000 to learn more about the school.