CCI Expands Learning Space at the Lincoln Academy

Lincoln Academy in Beloit completes addition

CLINT WOLF Senior Reporter – The Beloit Daily News Sep 21, 2023 Updated Sep 22, 2023

BELOIT — The Lincoln Academy has more room for scholars to move about in and expand their minds as the charter school in Beloit recently completed a two-story addition.

The new 16,000-square-foot addition to the east side of the school at 608 Henry Ave., provides a new space for a cafeteria and kitchen as well as learning lab spaces, office space and more, said Kristi Cole, chief education officer at the Lincoln Academy.

“It was a challenge to use our gym as a cafeteria. Now that we have the cafeteria and kitchen on the second floor, it frees up the gym for other uses,” Cole said.

Other spaces for learning labs and office spaces were part of the expansion as well. A multi-purpose room was added in the expansion, which is used for indoor recess and adaptive physical education. An advanced manufacturing lab is on the second floor of the addition, which offers instruction in robotics and use of CNC machines. And the lower level has a design lab where students learn architectural design, fashion design, stained glass, sculpture and more.

The Lincoln Academy also was able to build out some shell space that had not been utilized until this year. This allowed the school to expand space for students with special needs. Cole said 14% of the Lincoln Academy enrollment is made up of special needs students.

The school also was able to expand its medical services lab, which is equipped with an ambulance built into the classroom area. Also an e-sports lab was added. Cole noted the Lincoln Academy has its own e-sports team which started competing against other schools in video gaming last spring.