Maryland’s largest charter school operator with STEM-focused curriculum signs 56,964 square foot full-building lease with St. John Properties, Inc., and plans to open in fall 2026

BALTIMORE, MD – The Chesapeake Lighthouse Foundation has chosen 7320 Parkway Drive in Hanover, Maryland as the site of their Chesapeake Science Point Middle/High School expansion. The charter school operator signed a 56,964 square foot full-building lease with St. John Properties, Inc. The Chesapeake Science Point Charter School campus network includes seven school buildings with STEM-focused curricula, including five locations in Prince George’s County. This represents Chesapeake Science Point Charter School’s second location in the St. John Properties portfolio, joining an elementary school operating within 72,120 square feet of space at 1503 and 1513 Signature Drive within Arundel Overlook in Hanover. Elementary school students began classes at the Arundel Overlook facility in fall 2023. Lacey Johansson of St. John Properties represented the landlord and Chuck Breitenother and Austin Eber of NAI KLNB represented the client in this transaction.

Founded in 2003, Chesapeake Lighthouse Foundation currently operates two elementary, two middle, and two high schools in Prince George’s County, as well as a pre-kindergarten through fifth grade elementary school, and a combination grade 6 to grade 12 middle/high school in Anne Arundel County. Graduation rates for the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) program are typically 95% or higher.

“Our innovative, nurturing and educationally-enriching school environment has been embraced by students and families alike, and we are in need of additional capacity to support our fast-growing enrollment,” stated Eric Derin, Director, Operations and Enrichment for Chesapeake Lighthouse Foundation. “Leasing an entire building is our preference given security and privacy concerns, and 7320 Parkway Drive features frontage and roadside visibility from MD Route 295, and is surrounded by densely-populated residential neighborhoods. We enjoy a close working relationship with St. John Properties, they have demonstrated a complete understanding of our concept, and the team delivered the perfect tenant build-out at Arundel Overlook. It was an extremely easy decision to partner with them again on our newest school.”

Chesapeake Science Point Charter School curriculum exposes and instills innovation and creativity in students by using coding, robotics, and virtual reality, with teaching tactics including small group classes, experiential learning, and hands-on inquiry. The school at 7320 Parkway Drive will feature a state-of-the-art robotics space and outdoor recreational areas including multi-purpose courts suitable for basketball and volleyball. Chesapeake Science Point is one of only two charter schools in Anne Arundel County, 100 percent of its students have graduated from its first two classes and attended a two- or four-year college.

“Securing a building with an outdoor area suitable for recreational activities was a key factor in our real estate decision, as it is critical for students to engage in both physical and mental stimulation to receive a well-rounded educational experience,” Derin added. “Parents are realizing that a STEM-focused education uniquely prepares students for careers in a diverse range of fields including science, technology, and engineering, and establishes a strong foundation to become leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs.”

7320 Parkway Drive, located off MD Route 100 in the MD Route 295 corridor, is equipped with 10-foot ceiling heights, and is surrounded by a free surface parking lot. It is situated approximately 13 miles from Columbia, 15 miles from downtown Baltimore, 20 miles from Bowie, and 27 miles from Annapolis.

“St. John Properties’ in-house design and construction teams worked seamlessly with the Chesapeake Science Point Charter School to deliver two new school buildings at Arundel Overlook in 2023,” stated Matt Lenihan, Senior Vice President, Leasing for St. John Properties. “We have found our flex/R&D buildings are ideal to provide students a bright and modern classroom environment combined with a healthy amount of outdoor recreation space. We are excited about the opportunity to support Chesapeake Science Point Charter School’s growth in the region, and look forward to delivering another first class school for their students and faculty.”

Founded in 1971, St. John Properties, Inc. is one of the nation’s largest and most successful privately held commercial real estate firms. The company is distinguished by its commitment to customer service, achievements in green building, and top-rated workplace culture. Throughout St. John Properties’ 53-year history, the company has developed more than 24 million square feet of flex/R&D, office, retail, and warehouse space and has investments in over 3,000 residential units. The company proudly serves more than 2,600 clients in Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, Maryland, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Utah, and Wisconsin. For more information about the company, visit www.sjpi.com.