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The first day of school was an eventful one for LaGrange Academy as students, teachers and community members crowded in front of the school’s facade. The group congregated to celebrate the long-awaited opening of its new upper and middle school facility on Wednesday.

The small student body took a break from going over syllabuses to join the ribbon cutting for the building that will house nine high school and middle school classrooms, as well as the new administrative offices.

One of the speakers at the event was senior, and student government association president, Prem Kamat.

“I spent the last 12 years here at LaGrange Academy without any major renovations or updates to the campus,” Kamat said. “As we students walk these halls for the first time, we must remember its purpose as a monument to a commitment of a lifelong love of learning. So let’s embrace this new space and the decades of learning and accomplishments soon to come.”

Head of School Dr. John Mehaffey had the honor of cutting the ribbon on the new building, courtesy of the LaGrange-Troup Chamber of Commerce.

“We are creating spaces where innovative learning can flourish, where students can explore their passions, and where lifelong memories will be made,” he said.

Mehaffey said the expansion is timely, as the city of LaGrange continues to grow.

“With the growth of LaGrange in the past few years and anticipated in the future, we thought it was a pivotal time in our school history to be ahead of that curve and have room for future growth,” he said.

The initial steps for the building kicked off three years ago. The academy started its capital campaign, reaching out to donors and working with a planning committee to see if the construction was feasible. A year ago, the construction began, finally culminating on Wednesday.

It just so happened that everything came together in time for the first day of the 2024-2025 school year.

“It was great to open the doors to the kids, open the doors to the community. It was an exciting day for all that we’re able to celebrate with our greater LaGrange community,” Mehaffey said.

As the public toured the new space, middle and high school-age kids filed into the new classrooms to begin their lessons.