Cornerstone Classical Academy broke ground July 23 on its planned Wildlight Garden District campus in Yulee, marking the start of construction on the public charter school’s second location.
The school’s first campus opened in 2020 in Jacksonville.
The campus is scheduled to open in August 2027, initially serving students in prekindergarten through seventh grade before adding one grade level each year through 12th grade, according to the school.
The Jacksonville-based charter school has been advancing plans for the campus since January, when environmental permitting and site plan reviews were underway for the project about 9 miles east of Interstate 95 at Riverbluff Parkway and Pages Dairy Road. The Nassau County Development Review Committee signed off June 2, ahead of a building permit that has not yet been issued.
Wildlight developer Rayonier, through Wildlight LLC, owns the site.
Tampa-based Rowe Architects is the project architect and the civil engineer is Land O’ Lakes-based Priority Engineering.
According to cornerstoneclassical.org, Cornerstone’s curriculum includes a structured, grade-by-grade learning framework; a mathematics approach that emphasizes conceptual understanding and problem-solving; and hands-on science lessons focused on inquiry and fundamentals.
CCA founder and board chair Lindsay Randall said the project represents the start of a school community intended to serve future generations, while Chris Corr, senior vice president of real estate development at Rayonier, said the school aligns with Wildlight’s vision of providing community amenities.
“At Wildlight, our goal has always been to build a vibrant, well-rounded community where families can thrive and access to exceptional education is a cornerstone of that vision,” Corr said.
At build-out, the Wildlight Garden District is designed to encompass 4,700 acres, including 2,000 acres dedicated to conservation, a 19-mile trail network with public access to the 13-mile Green Ribbon Trail along the St. Marys River and about 4,100 homes.