Melissa ISD celebrated the opening of Cardinal Renaissance Academy with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, Aug. 11, marking the conversion of a longtime district building into the district's sixth elementary school, according to a Melissa ISD announcement.
District leaders, board members, staff, families and community members gathered for the milestone, the district said. The campus is at 2950 Cardinal Drive.
From junior high space to Elementary No. 6
The building first opened in 2002 as part of Melissa Jr. High School. In 2004 it became Melissa Ridge Elementary Intermediate School for grades four through six. Over more than two decades it also served as Melissa Middle School, Melissa Ridge Intermediate School and, most recently, the Melissa Sixth Grade Center, Melissa ISD said.
After renovations, the facility reopened as Cardinal Renaissance Academy, again welcoming elementary students.
Project-based IB learning
Melissa ISD said CRA will use a project-based learning model that integrates math, science, social studies and ELAR, with hands-on work, collaboration and real-world connections. Students will also take traditional specials such as PE, art and music, plus coding and Spanish, according to the district.
