The Prince George's County School Board gave the county's first charter school the green light Thursday night.
College Park Academy, which will be located on Adelphi Road in Hyattsville, will house both middle and high school students.
Proponents say the school will offer children cutting-edge technology and tutoring not currently available in public schools.
"I just wasn't happy with the options that were available to me in my local area," said Carla Bracey Davis, whose son was selected to attend the academy.
But many weren't as luck as Davis.
Dr. Frank Brewer, the former interim executive director of College Park Academy, says 450 students applied for just 300 openings at the school. Brewer adds the school is so enticing the waiting list continues to grow even though there's no more room.
"We need this, this is like the perfect set up in our county," Davis continued.
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The school plans to open to sixth and seventh graders on August 19 and grow by one grade each year.
