Madison County Mayor Jimmy Harris, commissioners and developers joined school officials for a tour of the new 60,000 square foot Madison Academic High School at 575 Lambuth Blvd., Wednesday.
“The goal is for the kids to move in after Christmas break, starting next semester,” Chris Alexander said, “This has been about a 16 month construction schedule – so it’s good to be at the finish line.
“It will be a tremendous asset to Jackson and Madison County and the school system.”
Alexander, who serves as Vice President of Retail & Residential Development, Healthy Community, LLC, said Madison Academic students will be able to take dual enrollment in classes nextdoor at the University of Memphis Lambuth campus – either with faculty at the Lambuth campus, in the high school with Lambuth faculty or through UofM Global, the University’s online program.
“One of the reasons we were looking to build Madison Academic at the University of Memphis was to help build back the Center City of Jackson and we’re looking for more folks to build new construction homes, fix up some dilapidated homes in the neighborhood (where) right down the street we have a dozen new homes going up around Morgan, Deaderick and Union Avenue.
“Half of the homes have been pre-sold (and) we’re starting to see a lot more interest in the neighborhood and redevelopment and rebuilding the tax base.”
The new high school – expected to cost approximately $12.6 million – faces Lambuth Boulevard, where Epworth Hall, a former residence hall, once stood.
Madison Academic, which opened at 179 Allen Avenue in 2003, will be able to expand enrollment from approximately 450 to 600.
The Madison Academic baseball and soccer teams will have access to the outdoor athletic fields on the Lambuth campus, and the school’s basketball programs will be able to play home games in the Lambuth gymnasium.
Through the partnership, Madison Academic students also will have use of other facilities on the campus, including the theatre, chapel and library.
(PHOTO: Madison County Mayor Jimmy Harris, County Commissioners and developers join school officials for tour of the new Madison Academic High School)
