The Cave Spring Historical Society and the Cave Spring Community Coalition (CSCC) are pleased to announce that the historic Hearn Academy will serve as one of two campuses for the new Cave Spring Learning Center to open in fall 2022.

The Hearn Academy will serve as the campus for high school students. Other locations within the city limits of Cave Spring are being considered for K-8 students with a decision and announcement to be made in the coming weeks.

According to Loring Kirk, President of the Cave Spring Historical Society, “The board voted to restore the Hearn Academy as an educational resource for the community. The restored academy will offer space for virtual learning while maintaining the character of the 1910 building.”

The Hearn Academy served K-12 students from 1910 until 1925 when it closed due to the rise of public-funded schools in the area, including Cave Spring School which opened in 1922.

According to Judy Taylor, Chair of the CSCC, the Cave Spring Learning Center anticipates serving between 50 and 100 students via a partnership with the Georgia Cyber Academy (GCA), a state-funded charter school that provides virtual instruction with certified teachers. The Learning Center will provide a traditional school setting with qualified paraprofessionals in each classroom.

“We are excited about the opportunity for public education to continue in Cave Spring, the quality instruction that will be provided via the GCA, and the individual student support to be provided by the Learning Center staff.”

Taylor added: “In spring 2021 state-wide milestone testing, GCA students outperformed the state average in all grade bands: elementary, middle and high school. Thus, parents can be assured that their students will receive instruction that is equal to (or better than) that provided by school districts across the state.”

The CSCC encourages interested parents to register their students by March 14 – at the GCA website: www.georgiacyber.org. For further information, contact Judy Taylor at 706-346-4458.