CEMCS Celebrates Groundbreaking for Future Campus

Coastal Empire Montessori Charter School (CEMCS) celebrated a major milestone in its growth and continued service to families in Chatham County with a groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, at 2001 Cynthia Street, the future home of the school’s expanding educational program.

The event marked a significant stage in CEMCS’s renovation of the former Coastal Georgia Comprehensive Academy campus, a facility that will be transformed into a permanent school home designed to support the Montessori approach to teaching and learning. The project reflected years of planning and collaboration among school leaders, families, the Savannah-Chatham County Board of Education, and community partners.

Founded to provide families with an innovative public-school choice grounded in Montessori principles, Coastal Empire Montessori Charter School has grown into a valued educational option for students across Chatham County. The school currently serves students from Pre-K through fifth grade and is one of six charter schools authorized by the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System.

In 2025, the Board approved a purchase and sale agreement for the property, paving the way for long-term investment in the campus and its students. “Every child deserves access to a learning environment that inspires curiosity, creativity, and academic growth,” said Dr. Denise Watts, Superintendent of Schools. “We are proud to support Coastal Empire Montessori Charter School as it transforms this campus into a space where children can thrive and where innovative teaching and learning can flourish for years to come.”

The renovated campus is expected to provide enhanced learning spaces, improved student amenities, and expanded opportunities that align with the school’s mission of nurturing independent thinkers, lifelong learners, and responsible citizens. The school’s planning documents also identified future improvements focused on safety, technology, science education, and student learning environments.

“This groundbreaking symbolizes the beginning of our school’s next phase. We are not simply renovating a building; we are creating a new school home where our dedicated staff and board members can guide and support students and their families in exploring, discovering, and growing. This campus will allow us to expand opportunities for current and future generations of Montessori learners,” said Stephanie Babcock-Wright, Executive Director of Coastal Empire Montessori Charter School.

Community members, elected officials, educational partners, and district leaders joined the governing board, administrators, and stakeholders for the ceremonial turning of the soil, celebrating the beginning of a new chapter for Coastal Empire Montessori Charter School and the families it serves.