MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The Milwaukee Academy of Science has announced plans to open a new campus in August at 1441 N. 24th St. The new campus will initially cater to students from four-year-old kindergarten through fifth grade.

Founded in 2000, MAS has offered STEM-focused education to students in Milwaukee. According to a press release from MAS on Thursday, Jan. 4, the decision to open a second campus comes after the academy added 250 middle and high school students to its main campus, an expansion driven by the rising number of applications and retention rates in the elementary grades.

The new campus will mirror the existing MAS curriculum and educational goals, serving up to 600 additional students, aiming to alleviate the pressure from the extensive waitlist, which reportedly included around 1,600 students last year.

The expansion is not just a response to community needs but also a move to enhance the local workforce through education.

Chief Executive Officer Anthony McHenry mentioned the significance of the new campus in the school's press release.

"Families deserve a high-quality education for their children, and today represents a significant opportunity for us to answer that call," he said.

Applications for fall 2024 student enrollment will open on Feb. 1, and MAS is offering employment opportunities for educators and staff to support the new campus. Further details on both enrollment and employment can be found on the MAS website.