West Baton Rouge school system breaks ground on school upgrades
West Baton Rouge School Board members hosting a groundbreaking, for an effort they say will provide much need upgrades to students in the area.
Shovels in hand, school leaders are breaking ground on a project they're very excited about.
West Baton Rouge Schools Superintendent Chandler Smith said Cohn Elementary will transform into Cohn Intermediate School.
Another part of the plan is taking place on the other side of town, finding a new purpose for Port Allen Middle School.
'Both Cohn and Port Allen Middle each have about 200 students in each school. So, combining our resources onto one campus better efficiently uses our resources we have as a school system,' said Smith. 'With this transition, we are also opening the doors for Port Allen Middle School to be reimagined as an Early College Academy, giving our high school students unprecedented access to college-level opportunities right here at home. Together, these changes reflect a forward-thinking vision, one that meets our students where they are, and takes them where they dream to go,' Smith mentioned.
Smith says this will allow students to earn up to an associate's degree while still in high school.'We can't wait for this to get started this summer, Cohn is a special project for us,' he said.The Cohn campus should be ready in about a year, and the Early College Academy is supposed to open in 2027.
The school system recommended combining the two campuses because of low enrollment.
West Baton Rouge school system breaks ground on school upgrades
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