Great Hearts Lake Charles Celebrates Future with the Community

Great  Hearts Lake Charles will be the second Great Hearts academy in Louisiana when the doors open for K-3 students on the first day of school, which is planned to open in the fall of 2027. The future campus location at St.  Luke-Simpson United Methodist Church was announced at a community event, BBQ, Books, & New Beginnings, allowing prospective families the opportunity to see the future facility and meet with leadership from Great Hearts, who are excited to bring a tuition-free classical education rooted in strong academics, character formation, and a love of learning to the Lake Charles community.

“Great Hearts has started many schools over the last 20 years. We now have 53 schools in Arizona, Texas, and Louisiana,” explained Great Hearts Co-Founder Dan Scoggin, adding that he is looking forward to opening a classical academy in Lake Charles, the first of its kind in the Calcasieu Parish. “So Great Hearts is coming here, providing classical education to these families that want it. It’s just going to be a game changer for Lake Charles and a game changer for us.”

It was a great event for the parents, children, and community members who attended. Barbecue was catered in by local favorite, Pauls’ Rib Shack, serving “Texas style barbeque with Louisiana flair.” There were book giveaways and plenty of kids’ activities to keep them engaged while parents were greeted by Great Hearts Louisiana Executive Director Jason Doughty and learned more about the elementary curriculum from featured speaker, Cammie Passey, the National Director of Lower School Curriculum for Great Hearts.

“But the best part was just sitting down and having wonderful barbecue with moms, and dads, and kids and just answering their questions about what it’s like to go to a Great Hearts school,” said Scoggin. Representatives from the Phoenix headquarters and staff from the neighboring Great Hearts Harveston were on hand to answer questions about curriculum, enrollment, the Athenaeum after-school program, and career opportunities that will come with the new academy.

Connecting with the local community is a key focus for the academy as it prepares to open. “It’s very exciting for me to see the opportunity to have Great Hearts come to Lake Charles,” shared Father Henry Mancuso, a retired priest and local community member. “The model of education, the curriculum, and the focus on the classics is something that is very intriguing to me.”

The facilities played a large part of the event as well, where Great Hearts is looking forward to a great partnership with the St. Luke-Simpson United Methodist Church. “This is more than a facility arrangement,” said Lead Pastor Bradley Swire. “It’s an opportunity for a mission in a ministry. We’re excited to be able to host that opportunity.”

“This is a wonderful place, a place that cares about character, a place that cares about families, that cares about the things that matter,” said Scoggin. “And we want to be part of that with our approach to education, with our approach to classical education that’s built to serve the family.”

You can learn more about this exciting new academy in Lake Charles or https://lakecharles.greatheartsamerica.org or join the interest list at https://lakecharles.greatheartsamerica.org/interest-list/

Note: Great Hearts Lake Charles may not receive student applications until our final charter approval by the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. We anticipate receiving approval in August, and open enrollment will begin in October. 

Do you have a story or know of one that you would like to see featured at Great Hearts? Please contactjmoore@greatheartsamerica.org.

Submit a student application to a Great Hearts Academy by visiting: https://www.greatheartsamerica.org/enroll/.