A new era of innovation and growth for Fairmont Schools.
Fairmont North Tustin has long been recognized for its exceptional academic outcomes, including its students achieving some of the highest test scores in Orange County, as well as for its emphasis on students’ social and emotional well-being.Its well-earned reputation for excellence has led to high demand for a Fairmont education in the surrounding community, which has resulted in long “waitlists,” year after year. But those waitlists are about to be a thing of the past. The school recently broke ground on an expansion project that will set the stage for a new era of innovation and growth.
“This isn’t just an expansion of our physical space; it’s an expansion of our potential,” said Head of School Dr. Jennifer Maan. “By enlarging our campus and introducing new facilities and programs, we’re further enhancing our dynamic learning environment. This development will allow us to accommodate more students while simultaneously elevating the quality and breadth of education we offer.”
Plans for the preschool-through-eighth-grade campus include developing and retrofitting a 1.5 acre parcel along with the 7,500 square feet of structures the school recently acquired, adding a state-of-the-art STEAM lab, a new library/media center, an enhanced assembly hall/theater, and additional classrooms and playground facilities. Construction is set to be completed in time for the start of the 2024-25 school year.
This expansion was a long time coming. Opened in 1998 as the fourth of Fairmont Schools’ five Orange County campuses, it didn’t take long before North Tustin was bursting at the seams. The small campus footprint constrained the school from keeping up with the demand for a Fairmont education. When Fairmont had the opportunity to secure the adjacent property, plans for expansion were able to move forward.
For North Tustin parent Russ Tanner, this is a very welcome development. “I have four children who have attended Fairmont North Tustin — the youngest of whom is currently here,” said Tanner. “I’m excited about the opportunities this will provide for both her and her friends who have been waitlisted, particularly with the new STEAM lab.”
Fairmont partnered with SmartLab HQ to create an all-encompassing STEAM educational space that synergizes everything from the physical classroom setup to the teaching materials and assessment methods. This system will foster an interactive, project-oriented learning model that seamlessly integrates the STEAM disciplines of science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics. The lab will also feature a number of cutting-edge enhancements, including a mobile solution that will allow students to film, edit and share live and produced video content, and a milling collection that will enable them to cut, engrave and design 2D and 3D products.
“We’re embarking on an exciting journey with this expansion,” said Maan. “It opens up a world of new possibilities for our students, creating a future that is bright and full of promise.”
Fairmont is accepting applications for the 2024-25 school year at Fairmont North Tustin and its other four campuses. Contact (714) 234-2741 or abeckwith@fairmontschools.com for information.
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