Paramount School of Excellence celebrates grand opening in Lafayette

Margaret Christopherson, Lafayette Journal & Courier
·2 min read

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Paramount School of Excellence's Lafayette location held its grand opening and ribbon cutting Friday.

Staff, students, parents and local leaders all gathered to celebrate Lafayette's latest school — one that is "student-centered."

"We are student-centered, very inclusive with our populations," said Heather Brooks, principal of the new Lafayette Paramount School of Excellence, "and our results show that we close the achievement gap in all of our demographic areas. Whites, Blacks, Hispanics, it doesn't matter their starting point or (when) they come to us. We get results."

Heather Brooks, the principal of the new Paramount School of Excellence in Lafayette.
Heather Brooks, the principal of the new Paramount School of Excellence in Lafayette.

Paramount School of Excellence are charter schools for students across the state. Now with six locations, the schools are available in Indianapolis, Lafayette and soon, South Bend.

The Lafayette location is a K-6 school, with plans to incorporate grades seven and eight in the coming two years.

A classroom within the Paramount School of Excellence in Lafayette.
A classroom within the Paramount School of Excellence in Lafayette.

Students within this grade-range, whether they are homeschooled, just entering into the school system for the first time, or currently attend a different school, are welcome to join the Lafayette location at any time.

"We are a (tuition-free) public charter school," Brooks said. "So as long as they can get here, then they can come here. Anyone in the state of Indiana."

Along with being tuition-free, a free breakfast and lunch is included each day for students.

The new Paramount School of Excellence location in Lafayette.
The new Paramount School of Excellence location in Lafayette.

Brooks also shared with the Journal & Courier what she is looking to with the opening this school in the Lafayette community.

"First of all, getting the staff here for some professional development and learning about the Paramount model," Brooks said. "Then of course, the first of August, our first student day, getting all of the students here. Right now we're about 223 (enrolled students). We anticipate about 250 students."

To learn more about the Paramount School of Excellence's Lafayette location, visit lafayette.paramountindy.org.

Margaret Christopherson is a reporter for the Journal & Courier. Email her at mchristopherson@jconline.com and follow her on Twitter @MargaretJC2.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Lafayette is the new home of a Paramount School of Excellence location