Math and science “academies” have grown more popular around the country in recent years. But the movement apparently has stalled in Gary, Ind., as Ball State University has withdrawn its sponsorship of a new school there.
The school was scheduled to open on Aug. 20 in the city the Jackson Five made famous. But according to the Associated Press, university officials found that the school had not secured an adequate building, enrolled students, or hired teachers.
The school was to be known as the Indiana Math and Science Academy, a charter school. A university official is quoted as saying it made the decision now in the hope of giving families enough time to find another school.
Math and science academies have taken hold in communities across the country. Twenty years ago, there were only 15 such academies nationwide, according to an estimate from an association that works with them. Today, there are more than 100, serving about 37,000 students. Many academies target high-achieving students, though they also include magnet schools and those serving traditional and disadvantaged student populations.