Thales Academy, a college preparatory network of Pre-K-12 independent schools, announced that it will hold a grand opening for its new Franklin campus on July 20.
The grand opening will mark the first day of the school’s year-round calendar for the 2020-2021 academic year, Thales Academy said in a press release.
Franklin, Tennessee joins Glen Allen, Virginia as locations Thales Academy has identified for expansion this year. The Franklin campus will begin with grades K-3 during its first year and expand from there. In addition to Franklin and Glen Allen, Thales Academy operates eight schools in North Carolina.
“We are thrilled to open the doors to our first campus in Tennessee and provide our newest Thales Academy students with our high-quality education at an affordable price in a safe environment,” said Bob Luddy, founder and chairman of Thales Academy.
The Thales model emphasizes Direct Instruction rather than Common Core to learn the basics of reading, writing, and arithmetic for K-5 students, and a classical curriculum for 6-12 students.
Another factor that sets Thales Academy apart is its ability to provide a high-quality, private education at a low cost. Tuition at Thales Academy Franklin is $5,300 per year (or $5,000 annually if paid in full upfront), and scholarships, discounts, and payment plans are available to further reduce this cost.
Luddy said the school will be following all required health practices known at this time and will adopt many recommended practices, based on necessity and feasibility for the campus. All procedures will be subject to change based on the most up-to-date information available throughout the school year, and Thales Academy will continue to monitor conditions and adjust accordingly.
“In this time of uncertainty for many school districts, we are glad to be able to offer educational strength and consistency for families at Thales Academy. Seats are filling fast, but we do still have a few spaces available at our new Franklin campus if anyone is still looking for a school option for their child for this school year,” said Bethany Bateman, admissions counselor.
Thales Academy educators said they are eager to begin teaching again in the classroom.
“We strongly believe that providing an in-person educational experience is of utmost importance for the well-being of our students and families,” Dean of Students Josh Herring said. “Returning to school will help students to continue progressing academically and socially, will promote positive mental health, and will allow our working parents to focus on their obligations to their employers.”
Thales Academy said some of the hallmarks of its program include rigorous, college-prep academics that emphasize learning to mastery, character formation, real world skills development, personalized attention, and affordable tuition with no extra fees or fundraising.
“The school strives to cultivate critical thinkers by teaching how to think, not what to think; fostering often forgotten skills such as writing and grammar; and developing confident leaders with strong character,” Thales Academy said in a statement.
“I cannot wait to get the 2020-2021 school year started and meet everyone on the first day of school,” said Rachael Bradley, administrator of Thales Academy Franklin. “I welcome anyone who is interested in more information or a private tour to contact me at rachael.bradley@thalesacademy.
A prospective parent information session is being held on Wednesday, July 8 from 3:00-4:00 p.m. at the Franklin Mercantile Deli (100 4th Ave N, Franklin, TN), and those interested in attending can sign up at: https://bit.ly/ThalesFranklinM
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Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of The Minnesota Sun and The Ohio Star. Follow Anthony on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
