Porterville Unified School District has tentatively scheduled to begin construction on the Porterville Military Academy in January 2018. Located at 900 West Pioneer Avenue in Porterville, the academy will be part of the complex that also houses Butterfield Charter High School, the Porterville Adult School, and Student Nutrition Services.
Construction is expected to take eight months with completion prior to the start of the 2018-19 school year. The initial class will focus on incoming eighth and ninth-grade students with future expansion to grades 7-12.
“This is a project that we have been looking at for years,” PUSD Superintendent Dr. Ken Gibbs said. “PUSD Governing Board members and administrators have made several trips to similar academies in California to gain knowledge of what we wanted to do here in Porterville. We believe this will provide another excellent option for our students to become future leaders in the community.”
The Porterville Military Academy will focus on leadership skills, utilizing a military model of leadership. The PMA also will become the 14th open choice pathway for the PUSD Pathways program and focus on producing students that are both college and career ready.
The final project proposal is scheduled to be considered for final approval this November.