Photo Credit: Farragutful, Wikimedia Commons
Over the last 25 years, Concept Schools has been working towards growing the charter school movement across the Midwest. Our schools have been thriving and growing at a rate that aligns with our passion to provide the best STEM education public schools have to offer.
With our 35 schools already halfway through the academic year, Concept is excited to announce the addition of three new campuses that are coming next fall. Check out where we are expanding to when the next academic year rolls around.
Horizon Science Academy McKinley Park
After close to two years of advocating for a new campus dedicated to its high school programming, HSA McKinley Park finally got its wish this past month.
The Illinois State Board of Education told the school on Jan. 13 that it had approved the material modification application to alter its charter agreement, paving the way for 9-12th graders to have their own space to learn starting next fall. HSA McKinley Park, which had grown into a K-12 school since opening in 2013, will move its high schoolers to Bridgeport which is located less than three miles away from its current location.
The school’s principal, Seat Vedziovski, believes this is just the beginning for not just HSA McKinley Park but the Bridgeport community as well.
“I really believe that this is going to change the community for the better,” Vedziovski said. “Within the two and a half mile vicinity (in Bridgeport), there’s no immediate high school. There’s a lot of elementary students but a lot of those families would have to send their children to a place that’s farther from their actual location. This high school is going to change everything because we’re bringing back a secondary education to the community.”
HSA McKinley Park has built a strong reputation in Chicago and across Illinois as one of the best K-12 schools in the state. As more and more families joined the waitlist to enroll their children at the school, HSA McKinley Park was ready to expand to a satellite campus. After ISBE provided feedback for what it needed to do to land the new location, the school hosted town hall meetings, community events and made a point to be present at ISBE’s board meetings.
HSA McKinley Park submitted another application and, in the end, its advocacy work was undeniable––leading to ISBE approving the school’s material modification application.
"This simply wouldn't have been possible without YOU – our engaged, thoughtful, and passionate HSA community," the school wrote on its Facebook page. "We are so grateful for all that you did to advocate for our school and this expansion."
Horizon Science Academy Davenport
Horizon Science Academy is making its way to the Quad Cities starting in 2025 after it was announced on Jan. 9 the Iowa Department of Education approved Concept's charter application to open a campus in Davenport, IA.
The school, which is currently enrolling students, will be fully operational for 210 K-6 students in the fall.
"We will know families, we will know what these students are all about. Parents will be very much engaged with teachers and ensuring that learning is taking place at the highest of levels," Concept Schools’ chief strategic growth and communications officer Chris Murphy told WQAD8.
With help from New Plan Learning, HSA Davenport will move into the Historic Johnson School Building that is located in the downtown area. The goal for the school is to eventually expand to include grades PreK-12.
HSA Davenport has worked fast putting together a team, with multiple board members already signed on to join the school's efforts to provide a high-quality, STEM-focused education to Davenport. The school is also in the process of hiring a principal ahead of the next academic year.
HSA Davenport will be the 36th school to be a part of Concept Schools' network. It is the second school Concept has opened in Iowa after HSA Des Moines, whose inception was in 2023.
Horizon Science Academy Lorain South
North Ohio is also getting a new school this fall as HSA Lorain South is set to open its doors to the families looking for a K-2 option in the area. In its first year, the new satellite campus to HSA Lorain will initially take in 150 students before trying to expand its programming to grades PreK-5.
As HSA Lorain has built a strong bond with the community, Jessika Varner, the community engagement coordinator at HSA Lorain knows there’s a lot of potential for what is to come for each school.
“It will have the same curriculum and same standards that Horizon has offered to the community throughout the community,” Varner told The Morning Journal. “The only difference is we are going to be able to offer more availability to the south side of town, so we will have buildings covering all of Lorain.”
HSA Lorain South will be the 37th school to join Concept’s network.
