New private school opening in N. Attleboro in the fall

Proposed Christian elementary school would serve students in RI, southern Mass.

NORTH ATTLEBORO — A new private school is opening in town this September.

Waters Church is planning to open an elementary school to be called Waters Academy on its property on John Dietsch Square.

The Christian school will serve children in grades K-5 and church officials hope to be educating 120 to 140 students the first year, with at least one class for each grade.

Town school board members have given an unanimous goahead for the school, as called for by state law.

School board members had to approve a submitted instruction plan.

Church representatives have told school officials their school will have a Christian environment, small class sizes, a comprehensive curriculum, and wide array of extracurricular activities.

It will also offer before – and after-school care, healthcare, guidance services, safety measures, community involvement, and testing.

Tuition and transportation will be provided by parents.

School committee member Ethan Hamilton said he didn’t think the new school would have too much of a financial impact on town schools.

“It will have an effect if our enrollment declines,” Superintendent John Antonucci said.

Any enrollment loss would mean less state educational aid, but church officials expect to pull students from a wide area as it will act as a regional school.

Students are anticipated to come from Attleboro, Plainville, Foxboro, Mansfield, Pawtucket and other communities in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

Many expected pupils are already enrolled in the church’s pre-K program.

The town already has St. Mary’s School, it was noted.

For the Waters Academy, classrooms will be where Sunday school classes are held and in other spaces.

Some staff have already been hired, including a principal.

“There is a lot of support and passion,” Doug White of the church said.

Over $1 million has been raised for the venture.

Waters Church already runs an early learning center weekdays for children up to 6 years old.

A 10-year plan is to expand to middle and high school grades.

The church has enough property for expansion, over 10 acres, church officials say.

Officials from the new school will have to go before the local school board in two years for a compliance check, or sooner if there are substantial changes before then in enrollment, educational programming or grades.

Waters Church was started in Norwood and also has locations in Woonsocket, Florida and Guatemala.