He may be a college dropout, but that isn’t stopping billionaire Kanye West from venturing into the world of education.
West, known for the waves he’s made in both the music and fashion industries, seems to be following through on his announcement earlier this year to open a small private school in Southern California per Simi Valley Acorn. The Chicago-native reportedly revealed plans which include a four-acre parcel on Tierra Rejada Road — an unincorporated area between Moorpark and Simi Valley.
A permit has reportedly been issued by the Ventura County Building and Safety Division requesting a change of occupancy for the former Simi Valley Stoneridge Preparatory School. The school shut its doors in the early 2010s after having operated on Tierra Rejada Road since opening in 1965.
In the past, Stoneridge was the center of controversy, specifically for its repeated issues with rule violations relating to the school’s basketball program. The school is also said to be home to some of the nation’s top recruits on the tiny campus with less than 50 students.
The property is currently vacant and was listed for lease and includes a 5,728-square-foot building with classrooms, labs, offices, kitchen, restrooms, storage, a basketball court and an open field.
The school is said to be named after West’s mother, Donda West, who was a professor in the English department at Chicago State University and will honor her legacy in academia. His late mother is also the inspiration behind West’s latest album “Donda,” and AfroTech previously reported that it made streaming history.
Per the reports, Donda will be a tuition-free private school that will serve approximately 60 students from kindergarten through high school.
“Finding the intersection between faith and the innovation of future, Donda Academy is focused on equipping students with an education that will last in the ever-changing world,” read the mission statement on a mostly blank website for the school.
