Queen’s Grant buys land to expand campus

Josh Swartzlander and Christine Amaral show off the future home of a gymnasium and student performance center. Kayla Berenson/MMHW photo

MINT HILL – For years, students at Queen’s Grant High School went off-campus for athletic games and performance events. Soon, they will be able to host these events on their campus.

The charter school’s board recently closed on a $475,000 property at 10331 Idlewild Road, right next to the campus. Leaders plan to build a gymnasium and a student performance center on the empty land.

“We’d really like to get a place where the students have an outlet for both sports and arts,” Principal Josh Swartzlander said. “Right now, that’s probably the toughest thing for our kids. Bringing that kind of brings the campus together.”

The school also holds its graduation off-campus, so Chief Financial Officer Christine Amaral said the new space will allow them to hold graduation, student ceremonies and student meetings on their campus.

“We’ll be able to host just about everything on campus now,” Amaral said.

In addition to the gymnasium and performance center, the board would also like to add more parking spaces and eventually, an administration building.

“This [space] will just tie it all together,” Swartzlander said.

Swartzlander said the board does not have a set date to break ground on construction for the gymnasium and student performance center, but more information will be released soon.