Revelers were treated to tours of the 60,000-square-foot technologically advanced facility
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INDIANTOWN — The ribbon was cut Wednesday morning, Aug. 3, as local dignitaries, students, faculty and staff joined hundreds of community members to dedicate Indiantown High School — Martin County’s newest charter high school.
“This is a full-throated, whole of college, whole of community, whole of state commitment to Indiantown,” said Dr. Timothy Moore, President of Indian River State College (IRSC), as he welcomed guests to the event. “We are here in word, deed and dollars to change lives … to afford each child in the Indiantown community the ability to achieve their God-given full potential.”
Revelers were treated to tours of the 60,000-square-foot technologically advanced facility at 19000 S.W. Citrus Boulevard, which has been specifically designed to support the school’s mission to offer pathways to the workforce, while creating opportunities to earn college credit and prepare for transfer to public and private universities. In addition to eight core-content classrooms, the school features specialized lab spaces housing academies in Health Science, Emerging Technologies, Mechanical Technology, Construction Technology and Environmental Technology.
Operated by IRSC in partnership with the Martin County School District, Indiantown High School began as a vision by local educators and community leaders. “We have been dreaming about adding a new high school in Indiantown for years,” said Marsha Powers, chair of the Martin County School Board. That vision was nurtured by IRSC and entrepreneur and philanthropist Charles Johnston and his wife, Sandra, who pledged a founding gift of $10 million to the project, Powers said. The Johnstons volunteer at Hope Rural School, a nonprofit Catholic elementary school for immigrant children in Indiantown, and were also impressed by IRSC’s commitment to helping students of all backgrounds and means achieve their dreams through education.
Powers added, “Thanks to the generosity of Charles and Sandy, the collaboration in the community, and the commitment to success by so many … this truly collaborative effort will allow students to graduate from high school ready for the workforce or prepared to pursue other pathways to success.”
“Statewide, communitywide, we have been able to take the Johnstons’ vision and, in two years, we’re ready to open our doors and welcome in our students,” said Anthony George, Jr., chair of IRSC’s District Board of Trustees. “We will rise to any challenge that a state college is capable of. Mr. Johnston, you gave us a challenge. We hope we have met your expectations.”
“We are very fortunate to have leaders who gave a philanthropic leadership gift, then matched by the IRSC Foundation, combined with the Martin County School District and the Governor’s office resulting in completion of this project,” Dr. Moore added.
Indiantown High School opens on August 9 for students in grades 9-11. Students may still apply for admission by visiting https://irsc.edu/about/indiantown-high-school.html.
Indiantown High School is one of two public charter high schools that IRSC operates in partnership with the Martin County School District. Clark Advanced Learning Center opened in 2004 on the College’s Chastain Campus in Stuart and is among the top 20 high schools in Florida.
