Pooler school is third Chatham County childcare facing closure this year

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - Around 65 families are scrambling after Advanced Academics Academy suddenly announced it is closing.

Advanced Academics Academy opened in 2020. Lori Lewis is the co-owner and administrator of the Pooler private school. She opened the school after years of public school teaching in the South.

“We know that the heartbeat of a community revolves around having a circle, and childcare must be part of that,” Lewis said.

“I was disappointed beyond what I knew,” Lewis said.

She believes that private and personal education is important for a community. But now, the school is closing, and around 70 families are left scrambling after they received the notice suddenly.

“This is our home. This is our academy we want to be here for as long as the doors are open, but now this reality is setting in like…today is our last day,” said Van Ky, a parent of a student.

Parents face childcare search

Van Ky is one of multiple parents who said the next steps are hard. The hour drive to the next childcare facility is impacting her job.

“I definitely need to look for something remote because it can be an hour drive, there’s no way I can work somewhere in the office because I have to drive her there,” said Haruethai Bollinger, a parent of a student.

Advanced Academics Academy is the third childcare facility facing closure this year in Chatham County. Some parents said their children are looking at months on a waitlist to get into another private childcare service.

“My other friends are leaving, my other friend, my other friends and I don’t like that, I miss my friends,” said Ahraya Ellis, a student at Advanced Academics Academy.

Lewis said it will take a “Hail Mary” to financially save her school.

K-8 had its last day Wednesday. The preschool’s last day is a month away. After that, Advanced Academics Academy will be no more.