Beautification Edition - 1736 Magazine, Summer 2019

Downtown Augusta’s John S. Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School is one of the top performing high schools in the country.
The school’s chrous is shown in this photo prior to a recent performance at St. Paul’s Church. [SPECIAL]
and has given this area of the urban
core a refreshed sense of pride.
Since 2006, the Richmond County
Board of Education has devoted $42
million in renovations to this landmark
and completely changed the
landscape of the area. A new athletic
complex, gymnasium, kitchen, cafeteria,
and classrooms have added to
an overall sense of renewal.
In addition, the Early College
Program is among the schoolchoice
options offered at Laney. The
program is a collaborative effort
with Augusta University that allows
eligible students to complete a specialized
curriculum, and if students
make sufficient grades and meet
entrance requirements, they enter
Augusta University and are able to
earn two years of college credit. The
program is open to all Richmond
County high school students and has
the potential to save families $35,000
or more in college expenditures.
Additionally, Laney hosts one
of the county’s two Academies for
Advanced Placement Studies—the
other is located at Westside High
School. This specialized program
is supported by a three-year grant
from the National Math and Science
Initiative and offers students an
impressive selection of AP courses.
Still very much within the urban
core, the Academy of Richmond
County lies just up the hill from
downtown. Chartered in 1783, ARC
is one of the oldest public schools
in the United States, and thanks to
the oversight of many school board
members and politicians, it has
maintained its architectural and academic
integrity for almost 250 years.
Countless alumni – to include governors,
celebrities, doctors, judges,
and athletes — have graced the halls
and stairwells of this beautiful building
and share memories that surpass
time and place.
ESPLOST revenues have been set
aside for this national landmark at
the tune of more than $35 million
for updates and new construction
projects. As part of modernization
and restoration, Richmond now
hosts the International Baccalaureate
(IB) Diploma and Career-related
Programmes – both of which offer
rigorous curricula; in addition, IB
students gain an understanding of
international affairs, community
service, and citizenship.
Colleges and universities from
around the world respect the qualifications
received by our IB graduates
and the Programme has played
an integral role in making sure our
students are globally competitive.
Live, work, play, and learn in
Augusta! We are committed to
downtown development, the residents
of Richmond County, and the
futures of our children. If you’re not
sure about where our heart lies, come
downtown and check out a few of our
treasures.
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