All boys charter school set to open in Fall 2012

FORT WAYNE, Ind (WANE) - Over the weekend leaders at Grace College gave the green light for an all boys charter school to open in Fort Wayne this Fall. The men behind the school say they're already seeing an overwhelming amount of interest from families.

So, why an all boys charter school? The founders say statistics show boys learn differently than girls.

It's called the Smith Academy for Excellence or SAFE. The founder Thomas Smith and his sons Corey and Cameron say their goal's to attract almost 200 sixth to ninth grade boys.

"They could be urban students. They could be suburban students it doesn't matter. We want to help young men to be successful," Thomas Smith said.

Thomas says since getting the green light from Grace College he's seeing an overwhelming number of families who want to get their sons enrolled.

"We've had a number of people who have already pre-registered their students."

So how will SAFE be different from all the other charter schools in Fort Wayne?

The founders say they're going to make a special learning plan for each student. All will have to focus on academics, social and community growth, as well as learning character.

SAFE has a partnership with Grace College . The Smiths say this will help prepare students for college. Some may even decide to go to Grace.

"Grace (College) would be a natural fit for a lot of them I think but we will certainly help them in any way to get them to any school they want to go to," Corey Smith said.

Thomas says young men and their families can pre-register by going to their website . That's also a way they can learn more about the charter school too.

"We'll go to community sites, we'll go to homes, we'll go to churches to give information about our school," Thomas Smith said.

The founders of SAFE say their school will fill a void in our community.

"We think that will make them more rounded students, and rounded young men. We want them to be strong, young men that will help to lead their families which will help their familes lead the community and which will make the community stronger."

They're going to build this school on a lot near the corner of Hessen Cassel Road and Paulding Road from the ground up. It will open Fall 2012.