MacKenzie Scott gives $3M to Indianapolis school planning expansion to South Bend, Lafayette

Paramount Schools, an Indianapolis-based charter school, will receive $3 million from MacKenzie Scott, the school announced this week.

The unsolicited and discretionary gift will allow Paramount to expand by building two new facilities in South Bend and Lafayette. The expansion will reach more than 1,000 students, the school shared.

In addition to Paramount's flagship K-8 Brookside campus, the school has grown into a network of charter schools, including a middle school in Englewood and an elementary school in Cottage Home.

“Scott is recognizing what we all see when we walk the halls and visit the classrooms at Paramount Schools,” Tommy Reddicks, Chief Executive Officer, said in a statement. “Our model keeps proving, year after year, that it can help students from all backgrounds and abilities to learn and grow at rates and levels that are rarely seen in urban education. We’re so excited to be recognized for our achievement and our continual excellence.”

Paramount opened its first school in 2010.

Scott, a billionaire philanthropist and ex-wife to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has donated to various schools and nonprofits in recent years.

More:This Indianapolis charter school is outperforming schools in wealthy suburbs. Here's how.

This is not the only gift Scott has made in Indianapolis. In May, Scott made the largest single gift from an individual donor of $2.9 million to Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Central Indiana.

In 2021, Scott gifted $25 million to United Way of Central Indiana, the largest gift from a single donor in the organization's history.

Rachel Fradette is a general assignment reporter at IndyStar. Contact her at rfradette@indystar.com or follow her on Twitter at @Rachel_Fradette.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: $3M donation made to Indianapolis charter school for Indiana expansion