Murphy – Expanding into high school won’t be the only new thing happening at The Learning Center charter school this fall.
For the first time, the school will also have an athletics program this year, offering cross country in the fall, wrestling in the winter, plus track and field in the spring. Students in grades 6-9 will be able to participate in the program.
“It’s something we’ve kind of always talked about,” athletic director Mike Catuto said. “It’s one thing the school hasn’t had just in terms of other schools in our area.”
The Learning Center has had a wrestling club for students in grades 1-8 since 2018, competing at events in Metro Atlanta and north Georgia. The club will remain available for grades 1-5.
“We did see some big improvements with student-athletes, they really did enjoy it,” Catuto said. “Conversations with teachers and parents, they could notice a difference in attitude, self-esteem, just a lot of different things sports can contribute to.”
As the school expands into 10th, 11th and 12th grades over the next three years, the plan is to become an official member of the N.C. High School Athletic Association and eventually compete in the Smoky Mountain Conference. This year, The Learning Center will compete against other schools despite not yet being a member of the association.
Catuto said The Learning Center is planning to offer more sports in the future, with co-ed middle school soccer scheduled to start next fall. Cross country, track and field, and wrestling don’t need a minimum number of students to field a team, and co-ed soccer is doable even with the school’s small enrollment.]
The school is capped at 24 students for each grade. The goal for the next few years is to try to build a program in each of the sports, and students are looking forward to the opportunity.
“The handful I’ve talked to so far, and (I) ran into a few in the grocery store, everyone seems excited about it,” Catuto said.