Baldwin Success Academy opens in Milledgeville
The academy brings therapeutic, disciplinary and transitional programs together while offering smaller classes and more individual support.
MILLEDGEVILLE, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A new school in Baldwin County is opening this year, giving students a different path to success. School leaders say they want to change the way people think about alternative education and help students reach their goals.
The new Baldwin Success Academy is an alternative school designed to provide personalized paths for students, such as therapeutic, disciplinary and a transitional program. Director Dr. Ashley Broxton says the program was needed due to students being virtual.
“Because of budget cuts, we went from in-person to virtual, and we didn’t see good progress in our students academically,” Broxton said. “So, our families and students were begging for it to come back in person. So, that is one reason we brought the school here, and to make sure our therapeutic program has a home. They were originally spread out between three schools, and we wanted to bring them together to feel more like a family unit.”
Broxton says this new academy will take a different approach than past career pathways.
“The Baldwin Success Academy is not just for students with discipline reasons,” she said. “We’re truly offering nontraditional pathways for all our students so it’s not a one size fits all. We look at each student, their academic needs, social needs, behavioral needs and we personalize a pathway for them.”
Broxton believes smaller class sizes will give students the individual attention they need to succeed.
“We have a smaller class setting,” she said. “We also have more one-on-one support. A lot of our students have two teachers in their classrooms, and they push in together, work together and collaborate together to provide a more structured support.”
Baldwin County Superintendent Dr. Kristina Brooks says the top priority is making sure vulnerable students have a safe and stable place to call home.
“Often they have been served in a virtual environment, which leaves them idle to walk the streets and create chaos and not have the support they need to be successful,” Brooks said.
Dr. Broxton’s main goal is to help every student succeed.
“And that’s academically, emotionally, behavior, whatever success looks like for that student,” Broxton said. “So, that’s our overall mission, making sure we provide personalized pathways for all the students that come through our doors.”
Baldwin County school leaders are preparing for a significant change this fall with more students expected to fill classrooms, and more staff needed to keep up with that growth.
