Celebrating a New Chapter: Monticello Academy Breaks Ground on West Point Campus Expansion

On November 20 at 8:40 a.m., Monticello Academy proudly broke ground on the next major step in its mission to provide an academically rigorous, well-rounded liberal arts education that emphasizes the traditional American values of hard work and strong moral character.

The new expansion—designed by Babcock Design and constructed by Forge Contractors—will significantly enhance the learning environment for our students and support our long-term vision for excellence.

Executive Director Dane Roberts kicked off the ceremony by describing some of the opportunities students will have with the expansion to junior high grade levels, including instrumental music, painting, robotics, and athletics teams. Project Superintendent Josh Anderson then talked to the students about safety during construction. One student from each class then took a shovel to turn the first dirt.

It’s all about the students, so of course they took the first turn!

What This New Building Will Add

The expansion, designed by Babcock Design and built by Forge Contractors, will include new K–4 classrooms, which will free up space in our existing building for grades 5-9. This shift helps us address growth while also giving each age group a learning environment better suited to their needs.

We’re especially excited about the new spaces being added for:

• Robotics and computer science

• Music

• An expanded library

Since every Monticello student—from kindergarten on—participates in a structured sequence of music, art, PE, computer science, and more, these new spaces will support programs that are already a core part of who we are.

Safety Comes First

Monticello Academy remains committed to providing one of the safest school environments in the state. The new building will include our full suite of advanced security measures:

• A fully secured building envelope

• Ballistic film on all glass

• Fob-controlled access to every instructional space

• Comprehensive internal and external video monitoring, covering every entrance, exit, hallway, and classroom

Just as we invest in academic excellence, we invest in the safety and well-being of every student and staff member.

Why This Expansion Matters

Last year’s state achievement data showed Monticello Academy leading all surrounding district schools and charter networks in overall proficiency. We’re proud of that—not because of the number itself, but because it reflects the hard work of our students and teachers.

This project will help us build on that momentum. More space, better-suited classrooms, and dedicated rooms for specialized subjects all contribute to the kind of learning environment that helps students thrive.

A Thank-You to Everyone Who Made This Possible

A groundbreaking is symbolic, but it’s also a reminder that none of this happens alone. We’re grateful to:

• Our teachers and staff

• Our families

• Our students (who were easily the most excited group this morning)

• Babcock Design, Forge Contractors, and Chris Field of Alliance Contracting

• The West Point community for supporting our growth