New Village Academy Celebrates Opening of New Public Charter High School at Annapolis Mall
New Village Academy celebrated the opening of its new tuition-free public charter high school Tuesday, August 18, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at its new facility inside Annapolis Mall, marking a major milestone years in the making.
The celebration came one week before New Village Academy is scheduled to welcome students for its first day of school on August 25.
The opening followed years of planning, community partnerships, fundraising, construction and collaboration with Anne Arundel County Public Schools to establish a new high school option for county students. Community members, elected officials, families and education leaders were invited to tour the completed facility and learn more about the school's approach to education.
“Congratulations to everyone who refused to give up on this project,” Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman said. “New Village Academy will open minds and open doors, not only for the students lucky enough to enroll, but also for the educators, businesses, community institutions, and families that are touched by those students. We will all be inspired.”
The program included remarks from AACPS Superintendent Dr. Mark Bedell, Board of Education Member Dr. Joanna Tobin, County Executive Pittman, Maryland State Senator Shaneka Henson, Annapolis Mayor Jared Littmann, New Village Academy Board President Marcus Jones and New Village Academy founder and principal Romey Pittman.
Civic Builders, a nonprofit charter school development organization, partnered with New Village Academy to finance and develop the facility, transforming former retail space at Annapolis Mall into a school designed to support hands-on, collaborative and community-connected learning.
“Great schools can change the trajectory of students and communities, but they need the right spaces to do it,” Civic Builders CEO David Umansky said. “New Village Academy is exactly the kind of ambitious, dynamic school Civic Builders exists to support. Seeing these doors open to students is our mission in action, and a reminder of what becomes possible when we invest in educators with a bold vision.”
Following the ceremonial ribbon cutting, guests had an opportunity to tour the school, meet members of the New Village Academy community and learn more about its educational model.
New Village Academy was created for students and families seeking what the school describes as “high school done differently.” Its model includes weekly internships, hands-on Community Action Projects and academic experiences connected to students’ interests, future careers and the needs of the Annapolis community.
Each student will also belong to a small group known as a Crew, led by an adult who will serve as the student’s primary advocate and family contact throughout high school. The school says the combination of individualized support and real-world learning is intended to give students a greater role in shaping their education and future.
“We built New Village Academy because many students don’t see high school as helping them reach the future they envision for themselves,” Romey Pittman said. “When we put students in the driver's seat of their own learning, connect it to real work in the real world, and make sure every young person is known as an individual, something remarkable happens. That's what New Village is here to show.”
Dr. Bedell said the new school will provide another educational option for county students.
“For students who have not found a good fit in traditional educational settings, New Village Academy offers the opportunity to chart a different course to Belong, Grow, and Succeed,” Dr. Bedell said.
The school's location inside Annapolis Mall also represents a new use for space traditionally associated with retail.
“The opening of New Village Academy at Annapolis Mall represents an exciting investment in the future of our community,” Annapolis Mall General Manager Mackenzie Fontaine said. “Every child deserves a nurturing environment where they can learn, grow, and discover their full potential.”
Ms. Fontaine said the mall was proud to welcome the school and described the partnership as part of the mall's role as a community destination where families can “connect, learn, and thrive.”
New Village Academy is open to Anne Arundel County residents entering grades 9 through 12. According to the school, families may still apply for the 2026–27 school year. Students applying after the lottery window are placed on a waiting list on a first-come, first-served basis as seats become available.
The ribbon cutting marked the completion of the school's physical transformation. Its next milestone comes Tuesday, August 25, when New Village Academy is scheduled to welcome students for its first day of classes.
Location: New Village Academy, 2280 Annapolis Mall Road, Upper Level, Annapolis, MD 21401
Entrance: Enter the mall from Bestgate Road and proceed up the Green Parking Ramp between The Container Store and Crate & Barrel.
Enrollment: www.newvillageacademy.org/how-
For media inquiries, interviews, or additional information, contact:
Ashley Williams
awilliams@newvillageacademy.
443-579-6695
Comments
Post a Comment