Freedom Preparatory Academy students, families, staff, faculty, board members and community members gathered Saturday afternoon for the groundbreaking of the school's new building in Provo.

The new school, which will be built near the current building, will house students in grades seven through 12. Kindergarten through sixth grade classes will remain in the old building. The expansion will be finished in August, in time for the 2013-14 school year.

The decision to expand the charter school to include a high school involved a lengthy application process and much discussion in the community about the building of the new school.

On Saturday, though, excitement was high.

"It's a great day," said Ken Parkinson, the school's chief administrative officer. "It's going to be a beautiful school."

Director Lynne Herring credited the parents of students at the school for the expansion, explaining that many of them wanted to keep their children in the charter school.

For the small group of ninth-graders who have been students at the school since its creation, the day held particular significance.

Taylor Parkinson, a ninth-grader from Springville, said he had been thinking of going to a different school for high school. But with Freedom Academy's expansion, he's excited to continue at the school.

Beck Hansen, 14, of Provo explained that "it's cool to know that we were the first ones at the school and have been here since the beginning."

"It's a magical day," Bethany Day, 15, of Provo added, as a big smile spread across her face.

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Freedom Academy breaks ground for new addition