Kenner Discovery Health Sciences Academy breaks ground for new $36 million High School

The Kenner Discovery Health Sciences Academy (Discovery) charter school community presented a huge $36 million Valentine to the families of Kenner and Jefferson Parish by breaking ground on construction of a new high school made possible by a partnership between its dedicated school family and the leaders at Jefferson Parish Public Schools.

CEO Dr. Patty Glaser joined Jefferson Parish Public School System Superintendent Dr. Cade Brumley, the Friends of Discovery Board of Directors and Jefferson Parish community and civic leaders turned shovels at a site near Kenner City Park Pavilion, as the Kenner Discovery Health Sciences Academy Band and students cheered them on.

“We are thrilled to be able to expand and offer more Jefferson Parish residents the opportunity to attend a high quality, open enrollment charter school for grades K-12. We could not be more eager to break ground for our new building,” said CEO Glaser.  “The building will provide a beautiful learning environment, incorporating cutting edge design and features for our students to grow and prosper.”

Discovery’s new high school building will be located at 3837 Loyola Avenue in Kenner, LA. The building is expected to be finished by January, 2020. The new high school will be a state-of-the-art facility with specially-designed classrooms and resource rooms. The 125,000 square-foot building will include nine science labs, a teaching kitchen, counseling center, co-curricular area, cafeteria, library/media center.

"Kenner Discovery is a high performing school in our district and this new facility is exciting for the school's families and the City of Kenner,” said Superintendent Brumley. “This modern, state-of-the-art facility will add value to the portfolio of Jefferson Parish Schools, especially when our average school is 54-years-old."

Founded in 2013, Kenner Discovery Health Sciences Academy is a Type 1 charter school authorized by Jefferson Parish Public Schools. Discovery currently has a student body of 1,536 students in grades Pre-K through 11th grade and nearly 200 full-time faculty members. The school will continue to add a grade level each year until reaching a full Pre-K through 12th school, with its first graduating class in 2020.

“This is the beauty of community partnership,” said Discovery Health Sciences Foundation Board Chair Diane Hollis. “Thanks to the vision of our CEO, Dr. Glaser, this innovative concept for public education in Kenner was nurtured and grown into the quality school we have today for our families. This project is made possible by the fundraising efforts of its Board, its parents and students, and our community leaders who believe in parental choice and high academic standards for your young people. Thank you to Superintendent Cade, the School Board and so many city and state officials who believed in our vision and are able to stand with us today in a show of unity.”

Discovery currently operates on four campuses in Jefferson Parish: Maine Campus (2504 Maine Ave., grades 1-8), Vintage Campus (201 Vintage Dr., grades 9-11), Rivertown Campus (415 Williams Blvd., Kindergarten) and its Discovery Education Center (3528 Sam Lenox St., Pre-Kindergarten 4).