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Students, staff, and community members gathered together on Tuesday morning at LaGrange Academy in celebration of a groundbreaking ceremony for a new academic building. 

With the academy hosting hundreds of students, faculty, and staff members, the expansion of the campus will help to improve the learning environment for many. For several years, the school has operated two mobile classroom buildings in the parking lot of the campus. 

The 11,000-square-foot building will have nine new classrooms for upper and middle school students at the academy along with several new administrative offices. 

“Lagrange Academy has got great teachers, great students, and high-quality education, but our facilities have not been invested in for the last several years, and it’s time to invest in our school,” Al Zachry, a member of the Board of Trustees of LaGrange Academy and Chairman of the Capital Campaign, said. “We need to add classrooms to provide for future growth and we want to provide a high-quality environment for our students to receive their education.”

With several generous donations from community members and organizations, the academy has raised $5.2 million so far, meeting its working goal for construction. The Callaway Foundation, in particular, has donated a significant amount towards the project by matching donations. The total cost of the project is approximately $6 million, making the school shy of its funding goal. 

“Thanks to your efforts, we have achieved our working goal of raising $5.2 million, and that’s an amazing feat for our community, but we can’t stop there when there’s still so much that needs to be done for our school,” Zachry said. “In order to fund all of the projects envisioned as part of this Capital Campaign, we will continue to strive for our stretch goal of raising $6 million.”

In honor of GivingTuesday, the school hopes for donations from the community to help further facilitate the education of current future and students.

“A lot of people have worked very hard to make this school what it is, and I’m grateful for the past investments in facilities that my children enjoy today,” Zachry said. “On this Giving Tuesday, I ask you to think of LaGrange Academy and the impact it has on the lives of these children.”

Construction of the new building will begin in early December and is expected to be completed by late 2024. 

“As we embark on the construction phase, let us keep in mind the profound impact Lagrange Academy will have on the lives of our students,” Head of LaGrange Academy, Dr. John Mehaffey said. “Each brick laid and every beam raised represents an investment in the future leaders, thinkers, and innovators who will shape our world.”