Statement from the City-University Partnership’s Board Chair, Senator Jim Rosapepe:
On June 22, 2017, the Prince George’s County Board of Education voted to renew College Park Academy’s (CPA) charter for five years, reflecting the great academic performance of students in the school since its launch in 2013. The Board also designated a geographic area around the school from which up to 35 percent of future students will be guaranteed entrance. This should provide assurance, starting with incoming 6th graders in Fall of 2018, that students living in College Park and the boundaries of six area elementary schools – Berwyn Heights, Cherokee Lane, Hollywood, Paint Branch, Riverdale, and University Park – will be admitted to College Park Academy.
For the last 4 years, CPA has been offering high quality education to middle and high school students. In 2016, CPA students earned among the highest state test scores in Maryland, exceeding the Prince George’s, Montgomery, Anne Arundel, and Howard Counties’ averages.
It is a public charter school, founded by the University of Maryland and the City of College Park as part of the College Park City-University Partnership’s 2020 University District Vision to expand high quality preK through high school educational opportunities. CPA provides personalized learning and a rigorous, college preparatory curriculum, including UM courses in high school.
Many people helped achieve this vision. Thank you to the many leaders and parents, including: Prince George’s County Board of Education members, in particular Chair Dr. Segun Eubanks and College Park’s Lupi Grady; CEO Kevin Maxwell; UM President and CPA Chair Wallace Loh and his team; CPA’s Board, in particular Denise Mitchell, Rob Day, Bob Catlin, and Carolyn Bernache; the Mayor of College Park and City Council members; and Delegate Joseline Peña-Melynk.
For more information about College Park Academy, visit www.collegeparkacademy.com. Applications for the 2018-2019 academic year will be open between November and January.