Legends Academy finds permanent home in Orlando

ORLANDO, Fla. — One of Central Florida’s oldest community charter schools has finally found a new and permanent home.

The soon-to-be new home for Legends Academy along John Young Parkway will offer state-of-the-art learning opportunities for more kids.

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Two decades ago, the original Nap Ford Community School opened in Parramore, named for Orlando’s first commissioner to represent district 5, considered the city’s urban epicenter.

The school moved to Washington Shores in 2017 as Legends Academy to make room for UCFs expansion and Creative Village.

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The shift for the STEM focused K-8 meant it relied on 22 portable classrooms. The plan for a permanent home is finally in sight across six acres off John Young Parkway, in a partnership with Frontline Outreach as Frontline works on its own plans to relocate.

“We have hundreds of children on our waiting list, we fill up really really quickly and so being in this location is going to allow us the opportunity to expand our reach,” said executive director Dr. Jennifer Porter Smith.

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The project is supported in part by the Private Charter School Growth Fund and additional fundraising efforts are underway.

The first step begins in January to renovate the 40,000-square-foot building and then add another 20,000 of new construction.

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