Laureate Academy, a Jefferson Parish charter school recognized by the state last year as one of the most improved in Louisiana, has bought its campus after nearly a decade of renting — a move school leaders say will allow the school to expand.
The K-8 public school in Harvey last month purchased the former Catholic school campus from the Archdiocese of New Orleans. The deal’s closure follows a year of negotiations over the six-acre plot, which includes six buildings, said Laureate founder and President Claire Heckerman Whitehead.
School officials declined to say how much Laureate paid for the Oakmere Drive property, saying the terms of the sale prevent them from disclosing any details about the amount until a later date.
The sale gives Laureate full control over the site, allowing the charter to expand if it wants. It also provides peace of mind for students and school leaders who no longer need to worry about whether St. John Bosco, the church that previously operated on the property, will reclaim its buildings, Heckerman said…