Courtesy Cumberland Academy, a Tyler charter school, opened its middle school campus on Monday.

Cumberland Academy opened a middle school campus on Monday, the first day of school.

The Tyler charter school opened in 1996 as a private school and two years later reopened with a charter.

In 2010, the elementary school relocated to 1340 Shiloh Road and also changed its emphasis to technology and the arts.

With the addition of seventh grade and the new campus next to the elementary school, the school is expanding its mission to older students.

The plan is to add eighth grade next year and apply to the Texas Education Agency for a high school expansion.

“There is definitely a lot of excitement and enthusiasm in the air on the part of our students and our faculty as well as our parents,” middle school Principal Sherrill Echols said Monday.

More than 370 students attended the middle school on the first day, but Mrs. Echols said the school continues to enroll students.

In addition to the core academic subjects, the middle school will have specialty classes such as dance, violin, choir, art and drama.

The school also will offer competitive basketball, cross country and track as well as drum line in its first year.

“Our theme is building a legacy and … we had four short … assemblies with our groups of students and I encouraged them to be part of building a legacy in our first year at Cumberland Academy,” Mrs. Echols said.

Sixth-grade social studies teacher Cindy Nick, who has taught for more than 30 years, said she was drawn to the campus by the school’s concept.

“I like the fact that Cumberland focuses on the whole student,” she said. “Students are encouraged here to be creative. They’re encouraged to use innovation and to think outside the box, and I love that because I think that’s going to promote growth in the students and enhance their educational experience.”

She said although some of the students are coming from the elementary school, many are from other schools, which creates a neat atmosphere.

“It’s really exciting to watch them become a part of the culture of our school,” Ms. Nick said. “It’s just really, it’s neat.”

A charter school is a type of public school that is subject to fewer state laws than schools in traditional school districts. It receives state funds based on average daily attendance, but does not collect local taxes, according to the Texas Education Agency website.