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Supporters of Reach Academy for Girls Rally to Stop Shutdown

Reach Academy Girls website

Around 75 parents, teachers and supporters rallied at the gym for Reach Academy for Girls Charter School this week as part of a campaign to prevent the closure of the institution.

Cheerleaders filled the building chanting Keep Reach Open.

The Academy is the state’s only all-girls school but is set to be closed in June after its charter was not renewed by state officials last week.

They noted that test scores registered the lowest academic performance in the state.

Secretary of Education Mark Murphy said that after four years education officials had not seen an ability to meet student needs.

While state officials say the decision is final some Reach parents hope to change their minds.

The Wilmington News  Journal reports that school supporters have established the website, KeepReachOpen.com, that includes contact information for state legislators and other government officials.

An online petition asking the Education Secretary and Governor Jack Markell to reverse the decision had around 250 signatures by last night.

Don Rush is the News Director at Delmarva Public Media. An award-winning journalist, Don reports major local issues of the day, from sea level rise, to urban development, to the changing demographics of Delmarva.