Tawanya Figgs says she felt her 11-year-old son Ta’vion Wilson needed a change going into his sixth-grade school year.¶
Figgs says the traditional public schools in Knox County aren’t preparing him for high school and she’s been looking into private school options. Her search for an alternative ended after meeting staff at the new Knoxville Preparatory School.¶
“They were just so family oriented and just so friendly and polite and just open arms where it’s like if you didn’t know what was going on they were willing to tell you or give you a better idea of what you’re going to be getting yourself into,” said Figgs. “Feel like you’ve known these people forever and you just met them.”¶
Knox County School Board members approved Knox Prep last year and the public charter school is planning to open in August with a founding class of sixth-graders, including Wilson. The school will be a replication of the all-boys Chattanooga Preparatory School in Hamilton County, eventually serving grades six through twelve.¶
Figgs says the “brotherhood” model the school plans to provide is ideal for her son as he’s the youngest of four children. Wilson’s closest sibling is four years older.¶
“I think getting him involved with boys his age and introducing him to stuff that’s different, other than what the other middle schools offer, I think will be great for him because it’s the lower ratio aspect for the kids per teacher and it’s not as many kids starting in the school system versus going into the Knox County School System,” said Figgs.¶
The school’s family atmosphere was on display at a recent “Welcome to Knox Prep” event Figgs and her son attended.¶
It provided future students and parents a chance to tour the campus and get to know school staff, extracurricular opportunities, and support services, setting the stage for a smoother transition into the first year."¶
The success of our inaugural 'Welcome to Knox Prep' event reflects the warm and inclusive community that defines Knox Preparatory School," said Knox Prep Principal Janet Bravo. "We are thrilled to welcome our new scholars and their families into the Knox Prep family and look forward to supporting them as they embark on this exciting chapter of their academic lives."¶
The academic plan for the new school was also a big selling point to Figgs.¶
The state named Chattanooga Prep to its Reward school list this year for demonstrating high levels of performance and/or growth.Knox Prep will provide the same collaborative community model and Figgs believes it’s what her son needs to be prepared for high school and college.¶
“The Knox Prep is going to show them the different trades. They’re more hands on, they offer different things for the boys to do in the program so it’s not like they’re just sitting there just to get pushed through,” said Figgs. ¶
