The planned expansion to the Northwest Ohio Classical Academy is complete and just in the nick of time as the school readies itself for another increase in enrollment for the 2024-25 school year.
The $10 million expansion project has expanded the school’s educational space by 15,000 square feet by adding six classrooms, an upper school dining commons, and two science labs. The school is located at 5025 Glendale Ave. in South Toledo.
The addition includes new restroom facilities, support areas, and an outdoor courtyard.
Stephen Koralewski, a member of the school’s board of trustee, said the expansion was greatly needed. He said the academy opened in 2019 as a kindergarten through eighth-grade school in what used to be Calvary Assembly of God Church. At the time, it had 212 students.
The school now houses elementary, middle, and high school grades and has 564 students enrolled.
“We have had an enrollment increase year after year over a five-year period,” Mr. Koralewski said. “We anticipate our enrollment will continue to grow.”
He said expansion costs included upgrades to the existing school space to make the building safer.
“We now have fire-suppression system upgrades, a new public address system, and new fire alarm systems throughout the building,” Mr. Koralewski said.
The academy is partnered with Hillsdale College’s Barney Charter School Initiative. It has an emphasis on the sciences and liberal arts.
“We emphasize the humanities, our students wear uniforms, and our classes and instruction are very structured,” Mr. Koralewski said. “We do use some technology, but our main focus is teaching our students how to look at and read books. To learn how to focus on learning, not just remembering.”
He said the school draws students from all over northwest Ohio.
“I would say 40 percent of our students are from the Toledo Public Schools district and 60 percent are from surrounding school districts in Lucas and Wood counties,” Mr. Koralewski said. “Some districts do provide busing, but 80 percent of our students are dropped off and picked up by their parents. We do have some students from Findlay.”
The academy has also added a full menu of extracurricular activities as the school has grown.
High school students could participate in girls volleyball, cross country, swimming, basketball, and wrestling this year. Plans call for for boys volleyball and track and field to be added in the spring, Mr. Koralewski said.
Junior high students are offered girls volleyball, cross country, boys basketball, wrestling, and track. Elementary and middle school students can participate in soccer, boys basketball, cross country, and volleyball. Some sports are limited to third grade and up.
The academy has clubs for junior and senior high students to join, including Power of the Pen, National Honor Society, STEM Club, Math Club, and Chess Club.
Academy Headmaster Scott Henry said the staff and students are eager to be able to use the updated and new facilities. They expect to be able to move into the new facilities within the next few weeks.
“The new space will allow our students to fully maximize their learning potential,” Mr. Henry said. “The students in the upper school are excited to be in the new space.”
The school will be graduating its first class of 18 high school seniors in the spring, he said.
“Our academy uses a classical education model to help produce excellent human beings,” Mr. Henry said. “We help our students develop the skills and virtue to be good people. We want to help develop thoughtful leaders.”
Mr. Henry said the school, as a whole, is a community and is supported by the families. He believes the school will continue to grow.
“We have 564 students this year, and I believe we will see over 600 students this fall,” he said. “We have a partnership with our students and their families. They feel they are connected to us, and we are very proud of that.”
The academy is accepting applications for enrollment for the 2024-25 school year. It will host an open house from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the completed expansion is planned for Jan. 26.
For more information or to apply for admission, visit nocacademy.org.
First Published January 17, 2024, 4:08 p.m.
