The Nicholson Performing Arts Academy at School 70, located at 46th and Central Avenue, has been closed for a year while renovations and expansions were completed. The project included air conditioning for the entire building, expanded stage, dance studio/black box theater, new lunchroom, new playground, new security, lighting, ceilings, windows, carpet, and ADA upgrades.

In the University Program now at the school, each classroom is "affiliated" with an Indiana University, like IU, Purdue, and Ball State. The university gives the teacher souvenirs to hand out to the students and provides educational aids that are used to expose the grade-schoolers to what studies and career paths are available.

Principal Kami Phelps explained that School 70 is a feeder school for Broad Ripple's Art and Music Magnet and that 70 "made AYP and got an A for PL221". AYP is the state's assessment of Annual Yearly Progress and Public Law 221 is Public Law 221 (P.L.221) is "Indiana's comprehensive accountability system for K-12 education. Passed by the Indiana General Assembly in 1999-prior to the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001-the law aimed to establish major educational reform and accountability statewide. To measure progress, P.L.221 places Indiana schools (both public and accredited non-public) into one of five categories based upon student performance and improvement data from the state's ISTEP+ and End-of-Course Assessments (ECAs). • A (Exemplary Progress) • B (Commendable Progress) • C (Academic Progress) • D (Academic Watch - Priority) • F (Academic Probation - High Priority)."

Congratulations to School 70 for great education and to an updated building!