Amana Academy Turns Fitness Center, Offices Into School

The Alpharetta-based Amana Academy public charter school has been in a former grocery store for years. Today a ribbon cutting was held for an expansion for its middle school used another 18,000 square feet of the shopping center.

The middle school already is operating in that space, which at one time housed a Curves fitness center and Alpharetta's Community Development offices. Another 20,000 square feet of the shopping center remains unused by Amana Academy, and Executive Director Ehab Jaleel said that space would be developed for the elementary school in the future.

Amana Academy Closes on Alpharetta Square Plaza Purchase to Expand April 2013

Students attending Amana Academy come from all over North Fulton, primarily from Alpharetta and Roswell.

"Everyone knows the importance of education," said Alpharetta Mayor David Belle Isle during the ribbon-cutting ceremony. He said as mayor he tries to talk to potential employers and to better the city.

"It's amazing how big a role education plays in that," Belle Isle said.

"Here's the thing about Alpharetta: You could not be in a better city for education," he said. "Four of the top 10 high schools in Georgia serve Alpharetta. And this school and other schools like it, are right there with them."

Employers and families looking for a place to live find this is the place to be, the mayor said.

John Eaves, chairman of Fulton County

Not only is Alpharetta dynamic, not only is Fulton County dynamic, but this entire region is dynamic," he said.

Diversity and higher education are helping the region in its growth, Eaves said. Next what is needed is secondary education improvements.

"I believe that what Amana is doing is a step in the right direction. I believe that the Fulton County School system is one of the best in the entire state," he said.

Eaves took a call a year or so ago when there was controversy about supporting the school and its request for a bond issue. He said he supported Amana Academy because he knew the school. The full board of commissioners voted to approve the bond issue by the Fulton Development Authority.

"So we are behind this school because we believe in this school," Eaves said. "Your reputation is starting to precede itself."