The Idaho Public Charter School Commission voted unanimously on Thursday to approve two new charter schools, each with conditions that must be satisfied before they can open. The decisions affect families in Meridian and Pocatello, offering additional options for parents seeking school‑choice opportunities.
Doral Academy expands to a Meridian high school
Doral Academy of Idaho, currently a K‑8 arts‑integration charter in Meridian, plans to add a second campus that will serve grades 6‑12. The new campus, Doral Academy Preparatory, will house up to 840 students and include athletics. Sara Frost, chairwoman of the charter’s board, said the school will continue its “vibrant and enriching” arts‑based curriculum for middle and high schoolers.
The preparatory school is slated to welcome its first ninth‑graders in the fall of next year, with additional grades added as the new south‑Meridian building is completed. Frost highlighted rapid residential growth in south Meridian and Kuna as a driver for enrollment, noting that the K‑8 campus grew 27 % last year, from 325 to 414 students.
Commissioner Wally Hedrick raised a caution, pointing to declining birth rates and lower public‑school enrollment statewide. He warned the charter that relying on future housing development could be risky.
Elevate Academy brings career‑technical education to Pocatello
Elevate Academy, a statewide network of career‑technical charter schools, announced a new campus in Pocatello that will serve grades 6‑12. The school will become the network’s seventh charter in Idaho and the fourth charter school in Pocatello, the state’s second‑largest city in the east.
Logan Waetje, industries coordinator for Elevate, said the new school will expose students to career training as early as sixth grade, giving them a “different look” and earlier access to job‑ready programs. The campus is scheduled to open in 2028.
Conditions attached to approval
Both charter applicants must demonstrate balanced operating budgets and provide lease or purchase agreements for their facilities. They must also submit copies of all grants, loans, and contracts secured to fund and operate the schools. If any condition is not met, the commission can delay openings or revoke approval.
The approvals reflect the commission’s support for expanding school‑choice options while maintaining fiscal responsibility. Parents in Meridian and Pocatello now have additional pathways for arts‑focused and career‑technical education, pending the schools’ compliance with the commission’s requirements.
Original reporting: Idaho Education News — read the source article.
