Academy of Innovation students will start the new school year in a new building

VICKSBURG, Miss. (Vicksburg Daily News) – The Vicksburg Warren School District has announced that the new Academy of Innovation middle school building will be open for its 7th and 8th grade students to begin the 2021-22 school year.  A student-led ribbon cutting event is being planned for early September and the community is invited to attend.

The state-of-the-art building, made possible by the facilities improvement bond passed in March of 2018, is ready to receive students on their first day of school, Friday, August 6, 2021. Teachers and staff will return on Monday, August 2.

“This is such an exciting time for AOI teachers, students and staff. Being able to teach and learn in a building they helped to imagine and design is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We are so grateful to the community for supporting students with this modern learning space.” said Academy of Innovation principal, Dr. Jason McKellar.

The Academy of Innovation is a STEM based program of study that provides project-based learning opportunities for students. The building was designed to support a combination of individualized and cooperative learning experiences and accommodate various learning styles. The Academy of Innovation began in 2014 with approximately 80 students and has grown to serve nearly 400 students today. The school was named the state’s first Lighthouse middle school in 2018 by FranklinCovey for empowering students in leadership, culture and academics.