Charter board approves Victory College Prep split: separate middle and high school charters

The Indianapolis Charter School Board approved separate charters for Victory College Prep’s standalone middle school and high school on unanimous and near‑unanimous roll calls Tuesday after a public hearing that included school leaders, teachers, alumni and parents.

Victory College Prep (VCP) asked the board to formally recognize two new charters to separate its current K–12 campus into a standalone middle school and a standalone high school on a second site. Joseph Myers, VCP board chair, told the board: “Your vote this evening will ensure that more Indianapolis students who come from historically marginalized communities can access sustainable, high‑quality education in the decades to come.”

Board staff from the Office of Education Innovation framed the hearing as the public step in a months‑long review. VCP’s leaders presented operational readiness details: a secured second site at the former Bethel Park elementary, a staffing plan that organizers say is already more than 80% complete for the coming year, and a multi‑year enrollment and finance model the operator said will be sustainable at full scale.

During public comment, more than a dozen current VCP teachers, students and alumni described the network’s dual‑credit offerings, internships and extra‑curricular programs. Multiple speakers said separating middle and high grades into different campuses would strengthen age‑appropriate programming and improve student outcomes. “A new middle school of all our own will create a sense of pride for them,” said Shrenta Hewlett, a VCP teacher and longtime staffer. High school teachers described plans to expand SAT preparation, dual credit and alumni coaching to raise college matriculation and persistence.

Board members focused their questions on financial sustainability, transportation and academic outcomes. VCP officials said the Bethel Park building purchase was funded from cash reserves and did not add debt. The operator said its current network enrollment is roughly 1,100 students and that the target for the coming year is 1,300, expanding to 1,500 at full scale. On transportation, the operator said it runs an extensive bus network covering large parts of southeast Indianapolis and expects to scale routes with enrollment; roughly 80–85% of current students ride buses.

Board members pressed VCP on academic performance, particularly high‑school math and SAT scores. VCP leaders acknowledged gaps in college‑readiness math and described the stand‑alone high school as a way to focus resources on SAT preparation and postsecondary supports.

After the presentation and Q&A the board voted separately on the two charter applications. The motion approving Victory College Prep Middle School passed unanimously. The motion approving Victory College Prep High School passed 7–1, with one board member voting no.

Victory College Prep will proceed to the usual post‑approval pre‑opening and pre‑enrollment steps required by OEI, including facilities renovation timelines, staffing and monthly pre‑opening checkpoints.

Votes at a glance: Victory College Prep — Middle School: approved (roll call: 8 yes, 0 no). Victory College Prep — High School: approved (roll call: 7 yes, 1 no).

The board’s approval begins a year‑plus process of pre‑opening activities (facilities work, staffing, enrollment verification and safety inspections) before the high school and middle school can enroll students for the coming school year.