What's at stake?
Robert Golden, a former NFL player and founder of Golden Charter Academy in Fresno, created the academy to blend education with environmental experiences. Now, a new campus is on track to be completed by July of next year to serve as the academy’s new home.
A new public charter school campus in Fresno Unified is on schedule to be completed by July of 2026 and will be the new site for Golden Charter Academy.
Founded by former NFL player and Edison High alum Robert Golden, Golden Charter Academy is a K-8 charter school with an emphasis on environmental conservation. They are partnered with the Fresno Chaffee Zoo and utilize the zoo as an extension of the classroom. The school opened its doors in 2021 at their current campus north of Homan Elementary, west of the Tower District.
The new $26 million dollar campus is on schedule to complete construction by July of next year right across the street from the zoo on Belmont Avenue. Its architectural design is in line with Golden’s vision of a campus that blends nature with education.
“We wanted to really make a statement with this facility; when people drive by this facility, I told the architect I wanted people to say ‘what’s that?’” said Golden during a press conference on Thursday, describing his vision for the new campus.
The campus will host four buildings that are designed with indoor and outdoor components for learning. According to Golden, the campus will be energy efficient and make use of green spaces and natural light to elicit a “zen” feel. The school was designed by famed Fresno-based architect, Arthur Dyson, who also designed University High School, among other prominent buildings in the region.
Michele Cantwell-Copher, the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools, congratulated Golden and the school’s board on the campus progress and for Golden Charter Academy’s out-of-the-box learning philosophy.
“As the county superintendent, it’s my responsibility and my privilege to support all schools that believe in challenging students and giving every child the tools they need to succeed and in forging new paths; Golden Charter Academy does precisely that,” said Cantwell-Copher.
The school’s dean, David Watson, shared his enthusiasm for the new facilities and for the learning that will take place once the campus is complete. Watson joined Golden Charter Academy last year and says he’s here to stay.
“Let’s be real, these kids earned this,” said Watson, adding “we want them to go out and let everyone know what this small school in southwest Fresno can do.”
For Golden, the progress on the campus’ construction is proof of an idea that began to take shape during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to Golden, the school’s focus on nature and conservation came from noticing how the pandemic took away hands-on experiences and open-air learning from students.
“When we designed this school it was in the middle of covid that we wanted to design a school [so] that if something like that was to ever break out again, kids can continue their learning,” Golden said.
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