Three new Georgia charter schools are set to open in fall 2025 and 2026 after gaining approval from the State Charter Schools Commission of Georgia (SCSC). On Wednesday, Aug. 28, the SCSC approved Dominion Purpose Academy, a start-up charter school planning to locate in Columbus, Georgia. The SCSC also authorized petitions for Fayette Classical Academy and Cherokee Classical Academy, both of which are replications of Atlanta Classical Academy and plan to open in Fayette and Cherokee counties.
All three schools participated in the Georgia Charter Schools Association’s Charter Incubator program, a competitive training process designed to attract and prepare top talent for establishing or replicating public charter schools in Georgia. Fayette Classical Academy and Cherokee Classical Academy were part of GCSA’s Replication and Expansion Cohort in partnership with the State Charter Schools Foundation of Georgia.
“We’re excited that these approvals will expand charter school access to more communities across our state,” said Dr. Bonnie Holliday, President and CEO of the Georgia Charter Schools Association. “The opening of these public charter schools in Muscogee, Fayette, and Cherokee counties will help meet the growing demand and offer essential educational options to thousands of students.”
“The SCSC’s approval of each new school marks a monumental achievement for education in our state, as we celebrate the authorization of schools supported through the GCSA Incubator. The journey of each school is a testament to the power of collaboration, vision, and dedication,” said Christa Thomas, GCSA’s Vice President of New School Development. “We are honored to have partnered with visionary leaders, passionate community advocates, and dedicated governing board members who have all been unwavering in bringing educational options to their communities. Each school stands as a beacon of opportunity, ready to deliver high-quality education to families who have long sought these choices. This is more than just the opening of new schools; it’s the fulfillment of a collective dream to enrich our communities and empower our students.”
Dominion Purpose Academy, Cherokee Classical Academy, and Fayette Classical Academy received state approval after completing the GCSA Charter Incubator program. This program supports start-up schools through the charter petition process and provides coaching and professional development during their initial two years. The Incubator also provides existing charter schools and charter networks with the training, resources, and support to scale proven models of success to serve additional locations or students.
“The approval of Dominion Purpose Academy by the SCSC is a historic vote for the families in Columbus, Georgia. As the first start-up charter school in the area, Dominion Purpose Academy will provide another schooling option for families, allowing students to become more confident thinkers who make a direct impact on their communities,” said Dr. LaTasha Adams, Executive Director and Founder of Dominion Purpose Academy. “We sincerely appreciate the SCSC for their generous support and the GCSA Incubator for its essential guidance in shaping our school design process.”
“We are grateful to the State Charter School Commission for allowing us to share their mission of providing high-quality public education through charter schools,” said Dr. Matt Stone, Liberty’s Director of New Schools. “Our outreach has shown how much the classical education model is in demand, and we’re thrilled to serve in these communities. The GCSA Incubator Program has been instrumental in helping us strengthen our model and prepare for replication, offering unwavering support that has significantly contributed to our organization’s growth.”
Dominion Purpose Academy
Dominion Purpose Academy is the first charter school in Columbus, Georgia, that was designed with community support to serve families in Muscogee County. The tuition-free public school will serve students in grades 4-8 and seeks to open in Fall 2025 with grades 6 and 7. The school’s mission is to cultivate the knowledge, skills, and dispositions of confident thinkers who learn on purpose through relationships, rigor, and relevance. Design Thinking and Servant Leadership undergird everything at Dominion Purpose Academy as the school strives to ensure educational excellence and equity for all students.
Cherokee Classical Academy and Fayette Classical Academy
The mission of Liberty’s schools is to form knowledgeable, virtuous citizens. Fayette Classical Academy and Cherokee Classical Academy will be replicated after Liberty’s flagship campus, Atlanta Classical Academy. The schools will be non-selective, tuition-free and will offer a rigorous, classical curriculum with a focus on civic virtue. The content-rich, liberal arts curriculum includes literature, history, mathematics, sciences, Latin, the arts, character education, and ultimately a host of sports, fine arts, and extracurricular activities.
Each school will begin with students in grades K-6 and add a grade per year until reaching their full K-12 configuration. Fayette Classical Academy is approved to open in August 2025 and will serve residents of Fayette, Coweta, Spalding, Clayton, Fulton, and Henry Counties, and the City of Atlanta. Cherokee Classical Academy is approved to open in August 2026 and serve residents of Cherokee, Cobb, Paulding, Pickens, Bartow, Fulton Counties, and the cities of Marietta, Atlanta, and Cartersville.