FCPS considers merging all-boys and all-girls STEM schools. Families oppose plan

Fayette County Public Schools staff and a committee of community stakeholders are considering a proposal to combine an all-boys STEM academy and an all-girls STEM academy at a new building opening next fall.

The potential combination of the two science, technology, engineering and math schools — the George Washington Carver STEM Academy for Boys and the Rise STEM Academy for Girls — would be housed at a new, $58.4 million building at Versailles and Mason Headley roads that was initially going to house only the girls’ academy. Rise STEM Academy Principal Cynthia Bruno sent a message to parents Tuesday alerting them to the proposal.

“Our new building was intentionally designed as a specialized learning environment for girls in STEM. Every detail — from the murals and lobby design to our colors, spaces, and overall culture-was created to center girls’ voices, identities, and leadership, build confidence in STEM fields where women have been historically underrepresented, provide a sense of belonging in a space that was made for them,” she wrote.

Bruno urged parents to make their wishes known.

“As principal, I want to be clear: I fully support the continued growth, success, and sustainability of both Rise and George Washington Carver STEM Academy. These programs are powerful, research-based models that are making a difference for scholars across Lexington,” she wrote. “At the same time, it is essential that decisions about facilities and program alignment honor the intentional design, mission, and purpose behind our new Rise building-and ensure that both programs have spaces where their scholars genuinely feel they belong.

“The original intent and investment behind designing this building (was) specifically for girls in STEM. Your voices matter in this process. Now is the time to speak up.”

The George Washington Carver STEM Academy for Boys is housed on East Sixth Street, and the Rise STEM Academy for Girls is on Spurr Road.

The status of another current program — a public alternative school on Walt Robertson Road called The Stables — is also under review by staff and committee members.

Tracy Bruno, chief of staff for Fayette County Public Schools, told the Herald-Leader that the district had a meeting scheduled for Thursday where staff and parents from all three schools could be heard.

“These representatives will be able to provide a voice for their respective schools,” Bruno said. “This opportunity will also be available to any other school or program that is reviewed throughout this process.”

Fayette County resident Rachel Mills told the Herald-Leader on Wednesday that she thought Rise, which she described as an exemplary program attended by her niece, was being deprioritized by FCPS.

“As we are aware, girls and women in STEM are severely underrepresented in the field, and offering a school setting that specializes in young girls mastering math and science is critical to the future of Kentucky and our nation. Rise needs to be treated as a priority for Lexington, not an expendable program. This is something that is not too late to remediate, but it will require FCPS actually prioritizing STEM education for girls,” Mills said.

Bruno told families of children in the Rise academy that the proposal was part of a districtwide initiative aimed at long-term sustainability and financial efficiency.

A message from Bruno dated Nov. 18 included talking points from parents who opposed the combined school for several reasons, including that the academy’s murals, color palette and logo were selected to amplify girls’ belonging and confidence in STEM fields.

No urinals were installed at the school, they said, because the design assumed an all-girls population.

They also argued that boys deserve a space that reflects their identity and learning, too.

Girls thrive academically and socially in purposefully designed single-gender environments, families said. Students at Rise have made significant academic gains, with students outperforming girls across the district in reading and math. Some parents say the change will compromise both programs.

The district initiative, known as Project Right Size, involves a close examination of facilities, with an eye toward finances. The district has faced significant budget problems in the past year, including a since-resolved projected budget shortfall and a dwindling contingency, or rainy day, fund.

The committee’s advisory members are:

• Gerry Brooks, retired educator
• James Brown, Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government council member at-large
• Erica Beatty, FCPS employee
• Neha Cheriyan, high school student
• Annissa Franklin, vice president, Urban League of Lexington-Fayette County
• Joe Gibson, retired educator
• Dr. Rodney Jackson, medical professional
• Cristina Lancaster, high school student
• Abdul Muhammad, banking executive
• Rev. David Peoples, Imani Missionary Baptist Church
• Betsy Rains, retired educator
• Stephanie Spires, child advocate in education and former school board memberAlan Stein, business leader
• Mizari Suarez, legal services professional
• Rabbi David Wirtschafter, Temple Adath Israel

Thursday’s meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. at the John D. Price Administration Building, Room 150, at 450 Park Place.

District leaders will also present an update at the school board’s Dec. 8 planning session, and the proposal could be voted on at a Dec. 18 school board action meeting.

This story was originally published November 19, 2025 at 6:45 PM.