“This project truly fits our vision of the continued growth and expansion of our program of formation at Royalmont,” said Tony Ferraro, Royalmont Academy executive director. “One of the inhibitors to this growth in the past has been finding the right facility while still maintaining our presence in Mason – which we believe is the optimal location for our school.”
Ferraro said the Mason Heights campus is ideal for the Catholic school as it provides much needed space for instruction and enrollment growth.
This year the school serves 177 students in preschool through eighth grade.
“This number is fairly consistent with the growth pattern we have seen over the past six to seven years when we have averaged approximately 10-15 percent annual growth,” Ferraro explained. “Our school enrollment has more than doubled since the schools inception 16 years ago.”
Since moving this summer, Ferraro said the school has seen an increase in admission inquiries for late preschool enrollment and next fall.
Built in 1967, the one-story building has 59 classrooms and additional educational spaces that include an annex, gymnasiums, cafeteria, computer and science labs, library, multiple playgrounds and a separate preschool building – more than doubling the size of Royalmont’s previous location.
“We are able to expand many programs that were ‘space limited’ in the past,” Ferraro explained. “Additionally, with two full gyms and a large gym that is being converted into a full-scale auditorium, we are growing our athletic and fine arts programs. Royalmont now has two science labs and two complete computer labs, as well as dedicated space for offices and meetings. Additionally, school officials have begun the design phase for the conversion of a large space into an oratory, or chapel.
“While we may not use all of this space immediately, the cost of building this campus on our own would not be an economic possibility for our school,” Ferraro said.
Royalmont Academy will lease the Mason Heights building for two years with plans to purchase the property from the Mason school board for $1 million.
Royalmont Academy is a private, non-parochial Catholic school of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati offering an education to students in preschool through 8th grade. It serves families from 23 different parishes and 13 different public school districts across Southwest Ohio, stretching from Springboro to the west side of Cincinnati.
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