FREDERICK, MD (February 26, 2013) – The Frederick Classical Charter School, a new institution with a focus on offering a well-rounded liberal arts and science curriculum to Frederick County-area students, has selected Riverside Technology Park as its inaugural location. The K-8th grade school signed a lease with St. John Properties, Inc. for 28,620 square feet of space within the 490,000 square foot business community positioned between MD Route 40 and Interstate 70 on Monocacy Boulevard in Frederick, MD. The school, which is utilizing a random lottery system for student enrollment, plans to open in August at 8445 Spires Way. Rocky Mackintosh, President of MacRo Ltd. represented the tenant and the landlord was represented by Danny Severn of St. John Properties.

Frederick Classical Charter School will provide a classical education organized into three stages that correspond with students’ individual development. The initial grammar stage, which teaches English grammar and fundamental knowledge, is applied to students from K-4. This is followed by the logic stage in grades 5-8, where students utilize their reasoning to better understand previous learning and acquire more knowledge. The high school years address the rhetoric stage, which marshals knowledge and reason to persuade others and for students to express themselves.

A group of Frederick County parents initiated the concept for the tuition-free Frederick Classical Charter School in 2009, with Board of Education approval granted in summer 2010. Throughout the past two years, the founding families have worked to complete all logistics necessary for opening, including the site selection, school design and construction, hiring of teachers and administrators and formulation of the final curriculum. There are more than 5,400 charter schools in the country, serving more than 1.7 million students.

“Among our first crucial decisions was the selection of the school location and, in Riverside Technology Park, we have secured a strategic position in the Frederick area that provides convenient access to the largest percentage of students in the County,” explained Tom Neumark, President of Frederick Classical Charter School. “The professionals at St. John Properties exhibited great patience throughout the site selection, leasing and school design process, and were invaluable mentors who helped us every step of the way. It is clear that St. John understands and values the importance of creating this charter school to better serve the needs of the local community.”

Frederick Classical Charter School is organizing a lottery system for student enrollment, which is expected to begin in March. The school plans to open with approximately 280 students in grades K-6, with grades seven and eight to be added in subsequent years.

“St. John Properties is very proud of its support of Maryland-area schools,” explained Matt Holbrook, Regional Partner for St. John Properties, Inc. “The mission statement of the Edward St. John Foundation, Inc. is based on the belief that education has the power to transform lives and strengthen communities.”

Riverside Technology Park is a 44-acre business community located in the City of Frederick, at the entrance to the new 333,000 square foot National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) Advanced Technology Research Facility. NCI is the nation’s only Federally-Funded Research and Development (FFRD) center dedicated solely to biomedical research and development. The business park consists of six R&D/office/flex buildings with additional developable land available along Gas House Pike and Monocacy Boulevard. Riverside Technology Park is situated near numerous retail amenities and the Frederick Municipal Airport. It is located approximately 55 miles from Washington, D.C. and 45 miles from Baltimore City.

About St. John Properties

St. John Properties, Inc., founded in 1971, owns and has developed nearly 17 million square feet of R&D/flex, office, retail and warehouse space in Maryland, Colorado, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin. For more information about the company, visit sjp.mu9b0uf9-liquidwebsites.com.

For more information, contact:
Al Cunniff, Director of Marketing, St. John Properties, Inc.
410-369-1277