ATLANTA — A private school in Downtown Atlanta is working to expand and keep offering a free education for dozens of metro students who are experiencing homelessness.
Breona Joyelle said she discovered the Boyce L. Ansley School a few years ago and stated that her children finally had a stable place to learn.
“When you’re dealing with homelessness, you’re dealing with where you’re gonna stay, not knowing if they’re gonna be clean the next day, how you’re gonna get them there," Joyelle said.
The private school offers free tuition for children experiencing homelessness, with buses for transportation, mental health support, and classes on finance and parenting.
As a private school, there are no residency zones, and students come from across the metro, like Ashley Morgan’s children who come from Clayton County.
“Every morning, ready to go to school, and I be ready to send them off," Morgan said.
Right now, the school offers classes for Kindergarten through 4th grade. Both Morgan and Joyelle are excited that by next fall, the school will be adding 5th grade so their daughters can stay at the school.
"I don't want my daughter to go to another middle school," Morgan said.
Ray James is the new head of the school and said they are renovating a second floor to fit the new grade. Each new grade costs between $500,000 and $700,000, with that funding mostly provided by individual and corporate donors.
"Promises to Kids and families are sacred, so we have to make sure we can meet that goal," James said.
He said they’ll add another grade every year until that original class of students reaches 8th grade- at which time these children will go to Christo Rey High School.