Girls IN STEM Academy makes positive strides in rezoning

INDIANAPOLIS — Paramount Schools of Excellence gained approval to continue to move forward with the rezoning process for a Washington Township building that will house its new Girls IN STEM Academy.

More than 100 people showed up Feb. 29 to a Metropolitan Development Commission hearing at the City-County Council building in support of rezoning of the former church campus on Michigan Road.

Girls IN STEM Academy, authorized by Education One at Trine University, purchased the 10-acre building last fall. In order for the school to open, the site must be rezoned from religious to educational use.

Girls IN STEM Academy, operated by Paramount Schools of Excellence, is a K-12 all-girls public charter school opening this fall in Indianapolis. The goal of Girls IN STEM Academy is to close gaps of gender and racial achievement in science, technology, engineering and mathematics through a curriculum designed by Paramount Schools of Excellence.

 In partnership with Every Girl Can STEM, Purdue Polytechnic High School and The Girl Scouts of Central Indiana, Girls IN Stem Academy will provide innovative, collaborative STEM education.

Paramount Schools of Excellence utilizes an integrated research-based curriculum within its schools to increase every students’ potential against measurable standards through an environment of excitement, inclusion and community collaboration. Paramount has been recognized as one of the top 200 Indiana schools providing Promising Practices for accessibility in STEM Education.

At the hearing, supporters of Girls IN STEM Academy wore purple shirts to show their support, including members of the Education One team, the Mind Trust and individuals from the community. Speakers on behalf of Girls IN STEM Academy shared academic data, plans on addressing potential traffic concerns, and how their school model will positively  impact disadvantaged girls  in the community.

Chrystal Westerhaus, the principal of Girls IN STEM Academy, alongside Danielle Shockey, the CEO of Girl Scouts of Central Indiana, shared their collaborative efforts to provide a high-quality choice school for girls in the community during the hearing.

The hearing examiner, Judy Weerts Hall, shared that her decision would not involve the politics of traditional public schools and public charter schools.

She said, “I am considering solely whether the rezoning of a school is appropriate here; I don’t feel like it's relevant for me, if it’s a public school, if it’s a charter school, if it’s a private school.”

The next step in the rezoning process is scheduled for March 20 at the Indianapolis City-County building, where the Metropolitan Development Commission will hear the rezoning proposal.

In addition to Girls IN STEM Academy, Education One authorizes Paramount South Bend and Paramount Online Academy.

To learn more about Education One and Girls IN STEM Academy, visit education1.org.