A sudden development caught families off guard, the EXCEL Academy Public Charter School in Prince George's County announced its closure mere days before the new school year began. Parents received the news last Friday, leaving them scrambling to find alternative schooling options for their children. The first day of classes at EXCEL had been scheduled for the following Tuesday.
According to a statement obtained by FOX 5, Prince George's County Public Schools (PGCPS) indicated that they were working closely with affected families to facilitate smooth transitions into new educational spaces, including charter and other schools where space permits. Families are expected to receive direct communications from the district regarding enrollment details and further steps. The school cited multiple factors contributing to their decision to close, including the financial toll of the COVID-19 pandemic, insufficient enrollment numbers in previous years, and issues with relocating to a new facility.
The school's abrupt closure, which had been lauded for its International Baccalaureate program, has left approximately 500 students from kindergarten through eighth grade without a school. NBC Washington interviewed Amie Dortch, a parent whose son has been at EXCEL since kindergarten, expressed her dismay, saying, "He's in eighth grade, now. This was his last year to be with his friends, and now he has to go to a whole new school."
Another parent, Marketa Robinson, shared with NBC Washington her concerns about locating new schools for her three children before the rapidly approaching first day, "Very upsetting," she said. "My kid, she was very upset. She wanted to see her friends; she was excited. And now, nothing." Seed/Excel board chair Clarence Jones Jr. and president Lisa Butler McDougal outlined the reasons behind the closure in a letter, which referenced severe financial challenges during the pandemic, low enrollment figures, and the recent relocation as significant factors, as reported by The Washington Post.
As the community grapples with the fallout of this unexpected closure, PGCPS officials learned of EXCEL's decision to shut down last Thursday. Stating their commitment to impacted students and their education, the district has stepped in to ensure that the vacated spaces left by EXCEL are filled with fitting, quality educational alternatives for the displaced young minds.
