Smith Academy for Excellence

Charter school authorized by Grace College, 1819 Reservation Drive, Fort Wayne; opened in the fall of 2012; boys in grades kindergarten through twelve and girls in kindergarten through sixth grade as operated today

Origins: Smith Academy began on paper in the winter of 2012. Its charter application, dated February 6, 2012, named organizers Thomas Smith and his sons Corey Smith and Cameron Smith, and the Grace College board approved a seven year charter on March 23, 2012, the founders signing three days later. The school opened that fall with grades six through nine, described in the week's reporting as one of the first all boys charter schools in Indiana. Grace College calls it the brainchild of Thomas Smith, a former Wayne High School principal, and his sons.

Namesake: The name is a family name, not one man's. The school's own site says Smith Academy was founded by Thomas, Corey and Cameron Smith, and no source consulted states that the school was named for Thomas Smith alone or for any single member of the family; that point remains unresolved. The application documents the father's career: Thomas Smith had taught for 25 years and administered for 19, served as principal of South Side High School from 2001 to 2010, and was principal of Wayne High School from July 2010.

The District: A charter school has an authorizer where a district school has a corporation. Smith Academy's has been Grace College, through Grace Schools Charter Authority, LLC, from the start. The charter was renewed in 2019, and the audited statements record a further renewal for fifteen additional school years, in effect until June 30, 2039. Operations run through The Leona Group, LLC, under a management agreement covering programming, personnel, building operations and business administration at eight percent of revenue.

The Building: The school spent its first twelve years at 725 West Washington Boulevard, the address in every Grace College authorizer report from 2012 to 2022. In 2024 it moved to 1819 Reservation Drive, a building with a full sized gymnasium on 20 acres, its home from July 1, 2024. The building was previously the Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church and school site; the congregation voted on February 25, 2024 to sell it to the academy. The school calls Reservation Drive a step toward a permanent home in southeast Fort Wayne, still being worked toward.

Growth: Smith Academy is small, and its grade span grew in both directions from the opening six through nine. Authorizer reports list 69 students in 2012 to 2013, 85 in 2013 to 2014, a dip to 63 in 2014 to 2015, 90 in 2015 to 2016, and 72 to 75 in grades four through twelve in later years. The audited statements report about 65 students in 2024 to 2025. The school was boys only for its first thirteen years. Girls in kindergarten through fifth grade began enrolling in 2025 to 2026, and the 2026 to 2027 flyer lists girls to sixth grade.

Athletics: The IHSAA approved Smith Academy for initial probationary membership for 2013 to 2014, an all boys school of 33 students in grades nine and ten, eligible for tournament play from 2017 to 2018. The association's 2017 to 2018 directory gives the nickname as the Fighting 54th, and its current assignments place the school in Class 1A Sectional 52 in boys basketball.

Today: Founder Corey Smith leads the school, with Yul Craig Martin as board chair. The program rests on three pillars, Scholarship, Character and Service, over a basic liberal arts model, with dual credit courses, a Character Development and Leadership Program and service learning. The school states its purpose as developing elite scholars exhibiting responsibility, dignity, character and an instinct of service.

Sources:

1. Grace College, "Grace Charter Schools," and the charter application, Indiana Department of Education file, February 6, 2012: the approval, opening, organizers and Thomas Smith's career.
2. Grace College authorizer annual reports, 2012 to 2022: addresses, spans and enrollments.
3. Smith Academy audited financial statements, year ended June 30, 2025: the renewal to 2039, the Leona Group agreement and about 65 students.
4. Smith Academy, New Location FAQ and school site, fwsafe.com, and Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church newsletter, March 2024: the 2024 move and the sale vote.
5. Smith Academy enrollment flyers, 2025 and 2026: the opening of enrollment to girls.
6. Indiana High School Athletic Association, membership release, 2017 to 2018 Directory and sectional assignments: probationary membership, the Fighting 54th nickname and Class 1A placement.
7. National Center for Education Statistics, 2024 to 2025: 64 students.