A new tuition-free, public charter school is scheduled to open in Davenport this fall.
Oakmont Education recently announced that the Great Oaks High School & Career Center Davenport Campus school will open on North Brady Street in Davenport.
Oakmont is an Akron, Ohio-based charter school operator founded in 2018. It operates tuition-free, career-technical high schools.
The new school will go into the former Big Lots store at 3562 N. Brady St. That vacant storefront is next to Stuff, Etc., and across the street from Brady Street Stadium.
The front of the former Big Lots store is currently fenced off and has a large Estes Construction sign near the entrance.
“We’re proud to be the partners on an important education-focused project that supports all four pillars of our company’s community support pillars. We’re grateful to Oakmont for selecting us to be their construction partner on a project that advances education and supports the future workforce and talent needs of our region,” Estes officials told the QCBJ on Tuesday, March 31.
This project is a $3 million investment by Oakmont and includes a 15,000-square-foot renovation of the former Big Lots site to include construction, manufacturing, culinary, and healthcare training spaces, among other traditional education spaces, Estes officials added.
This project is Estes’ sixth charter school construction project in Iowa.
In December, the Davenport Zoning Board of Adjustment voted unanimously to approve a move to clear the way for Oakmont Education to establish Great Oaks High School and Career Tech Center at the location.
During that meeting, Jerry Farley, vice president of career technical education for Oakmont, described the organization’s mission to re-engage overage and undercredited youth with vocational pathways and work-based learning. “Every 26 seconds in the United States, a youth drops out of high school,” Mr. Farley said, citing national dropout estimates and a lifetime-cost figure his team uses to frame the need for alternative pathways. He told the board that Oakmont’s model emphasizes nationally recognized industry credentials, employer-focused instruction and one year of post-graduation support to boost placement and retention, according to council documents.
The school will serve students ages 16–21, providing a supportive pathway for students to earn a nationally accredited high school diploma while preparing for meaningful careers.
The Davenport campus will combine academic instruction with career technical education, offering students the opportunity to gain real-world skills and industry credentials while completing their high school education.
According to information from Oakmont Education, students at the new school will get:
- The opportunity to earn a nationally accredited high school diploma.
- Self-paced learning with opportunities for credit advancement and early graduation.
- A nationally recognized industry credential in construction, healthcare or manufacturing.
- Credit recovery and advancement programs for students who need a second chance.
- Flexible scheduling options, including morning or afternoon sessions.
- A safe and supportive school environment with small class sizes.
- One-on-one academic coaching and individualized student support.
- Open enrollment, allowing students to start when they are ready
- A tuition-free education that ensures equal access for all students.
The career pathways offered at the school’s launch — construction, healthcare, and manufacturing — are aligned with high-demand workforce needs across the Quad Cities region, helping students gain industry-recognized credentials while preparing for the workforce.
Building on success in Iowa
The new Davenport campus marks an expansion of Oakmont Education’s footprint in Iowa. It also builds on the success of Great Oaks High School & Career Center in Des Moines, which has quickly become a thriving educational option for students seeking a second chance, information from Oakmont said. Since opening, the Des Moines campus has grown to serve more than 275 students and continues to flourish as a supportive learning community.
The success of the Des Moines campus helped demonstrate the strong need for flexible, career-focused high school options in Iowa communities.
The Great Oaks High School & Career Center Davenport Campus will open under the leadership of Kris Byam, who led the launch of the Des Moines campus.
“Kris has done an outstanding job building a strong school community in Des Moines and helping students who needed a second chance reconnect with their education,” said Dimitrios Kriaras, president of Oakmont Education. “His leadership and experience will help ensure that students in the Quad Cities region have access to the same life-changing opportunities.”
Mr. Byam’s leadership focuses on creating a welcoming and supportive school environment where students feel empowered to catch up, graduate, and build a future for themselves.
Also, Mr. Farley emphasized the importance of connecting education with career pathways. “Many students disengage from high school because they don’t see how it connects to their future. Career technical education changes that,” he said. “Students can earn industry-recognized credentials that employers value while working toward their diploma. Our goal is to help graduates move directly into meaningful careers that provide sustainable wages.”
