Rapoport Academy Public School

Gomez Administration Building (1952)

Gomez Administration Building, the centerpiece of Quinn Campus, will serve as the primary academic building for Meyer Public High School. This 15,000 ft.² building will contain a dozen classrooms with state-of-the-art educational technology, as well as administrative offices. The completion of this building will allow for significant expansion of high school enrollment. Once Gomez is in use, the Meyer High School Annex building will be converted into a 5th grade center for students transitioning to Quinn Campus from Rapoport Elementary--this in turn will allow for expansion of enrollment at Quinn Campus Public Middle School.

Estimated Cost: $2,300,000

Gomez Administration Building

Gomez Rear                                                                   Gomez Side

How Can I Help?

You can contribute to these renovation projects through financial or in-kind donations. Since Rapoport Academy is a public school operated by a 501(c)3 non-profit organization (East Waco Innovative School Development, Inc.), your gifts are tax-deductible. Your financial contribution can be in any amount, but we have listed below some opportunities for those interested in commemorating their gift. Possible in-kind donations range from construction materials and services to items of furniture and technology. To learn more about how you can support these projects, contact our Institutional Development Director, Gaylene Reed, at (254) 754-8000 or (254) 855-2397 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Donation Opportunities:

• Gomez Adminisration Building naming opportunity ($750,000)
• Memorialize band hall in Gomez building ($250,000)
• Sponsor the technology lab in Gomez building ($75,000)
• Recognition as a "partner" in our efforts ($10,000+)

Donations can be made in any amount, and every dollar donated will go directly to contruction costs. Several generous individuals and organizations—such as Paul and Jane Meyer, Gary and Diane Heavin, and the Brown Foundation—have already supported this project, and your donation, no matter how large, will ensure that these facilities are restored for the purpose of public education.

2011: Grant Hall (1956) - Renovation Complete!

Grant Hall, a men's dormitory for Paul Quinn College, now serves as a dining hall and creative arts facility for Rapoport Academy middle school and high school students. The renovation of this 16,500 ft.² building includes the following features:

• Kitchen facility capable of serving 750 students and staff members through the National School Lunch Program
• Dining hall for over 500 students and staff on Quinn Campus
• Small kitchen for use in culinary arts courses
• Dance studio
• Fitness studio (equipment donated by Curves International)
• Music studio (band and choir)
• Drama studio
• Art studio (including pottery kiln donated by Baylor University)

At the request of Mr. Brian Pardo and Life Partners, Inc., who made a generous donation to complete our renovation funding, the building is now officially named the Vance Dunnam Creative Arts Center. See below for before and after pictures:

Before

Grant Hall

Grant Entrance                                                                        Grant Side View

Grant Interior

After

Vance Dunnam Creative Arts Center

Dunnam Creative Arts Center Interior

2008: Science and Mathematics Building

In 2008, Rapoport Academy completed renovation of the Bishop O.L. Sherman Science Hall (1966). The building had been overgrown with vegetation, but volunteers from Rapoport Academy and Baylor University assisted in clearing away the building to allow for renovation. Funding from Waco Foundation and Cooper Foundation aided this project, which returned the building to its original purpose--an academic building centered on the teaching of science and mathematics.

Volunteers clearing the building for renovation

Exterior before renovation

Exterior after renovation

Every effort was made to restore the original look and feel of the interior, including preservation of the original blue tiling in the main hallway. It was necessary to reconstruct the walls in each of the classroom spaces in order to restore them to usable condition.

2007: Meyer High School Annex

In 2007, Rapoport Academy completed renovation of the former Sherman-Abington Library (1964), which prior to renovation had served as a storage garage for Waco Habitat for Humanity. The building currently serves as one of two academic buildings for Meyer Public High School. As Rapoport Academy expands its enrollment, this building will eventually serve as a fifth-grade center, providing a facility for students transitioning from the elementary to the middle school campus.

BEFORE :                                                                          AFTER:

2003: Quinn Campus Middle School

In 2003, Rapoport Academy undertook the first full-scale renovation project on Quinn Campus. With the aid of a federal renovation grant, the two-story Moody Liberal Arts Building (1968) was renovated for use as a middle school facility, including a kitchen for the school's food service program. Before and after images below:

Rapoport Academy would like to thank the following supporters of these renovation projects:

• Waco Foundation
• Cooper Foundation
• Spencer Foundation
• The Allergan Foundation
• City of Waco
• L-3 Communications
• Texas State Technical College
• Rogers Engineering
• Build Texas
• Baylor University Steppin' Out
• Douglas C. Brown
• A&M Church of Christ Youth Group
• LPHI, Inc.
• HEB
• American Bank
• Congressman Chet Edwards
• Curves International