A.C.E. Academy—a charter school dedicated to academics, character, and entrepreneurship—will close on a three-million-dollar education bond to expand their facilities. The school will open a new, state-of-the-art pre-school facility in the Fall, accepting children from three to five years old. In the Spring, A.C.E Academy plans to begin new construction on a 10,000 square foot pre-school and will add 5,000 square feet to its existing facilities for additional classrooms. In addition to jobs the expansion will create in the construction trade, the school will add six faculty members including four teachers. The pre-school will accept resource vouchers and private pay tuition.
“We are so proud of our growth and excited to expand our educational services to support more children,” said Laila Minott, Co-Founder and Superintendent of A.C.E Academy Charter School. “We have been working to secure the bond for expansion for years, and now it has come to fruition. We are excited to increase the phenomenal staff at A.C.E. Academy, while contributing to the economy and adding jobs to the region.”
Celebrating 11 years in education, A.C.E Academy was founded in 2014 by entrepreneurs Laila Minott, Shawn Smalls, and Shannon Martin, and is a public, tuition-free K-8 charter school. The school’s curriculum and summer camps focus on college preparation and entrepreneurship, and is most well-known for its Young Moguls club which has allowed its students to create small businesses earning more than $30,000 to date. Since its inception, A.C.E. Academy has prided itself on equipping students from all backgrounds to succeed in college and careers by driving academic excellence, developing strong character and instilling an entrepreneurial mindset. They’ve educated more than 450 students from across the Charlotte Metropolitan area this academic year. Their specialized programs include Marching into Manhood, Big Dreamers and Little Legacy, peer mentorship and character education. Current programs also encompass athletics, foreign language instruction, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education, mentorship opportunities and book clubs.
