Land for Jefferson County Public Schools

Duncan Commercial Real Estate, led by Will Duncan and Suzanne Cheek, has been proud to assist Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) with complex site search, assemblage, and acquisition efforts supporting two significant new public school campuses.

Duncan Commercial recently assisted JCPS with the assemblage and acquisition of approximately 17 acres at 5500 and 5127 Terry Road for the future home of the Grace M. James Academy of Excellence, an all-girls middle school focused on STEAM education and career pathways including engineering and healthcare sciences. The academy is currently located in the former Roosevelt-Perry Elementary School and will relocate to the new Terry Road campus upon completion of construction.

Previously, Duncan and Cheek also assisted JCPS with the site search and land acquisition for the new campus of the W.E.B. DuBois Academy, now under construction on Poplar Level Road adjacent to Thomas Jefferson Middle School. JCPS broke ground on the project in April 2024, with the new campus projected to open to students in 2026.

Both school locations required the strategic assemblage of multiple off-market properties, identified through a detailed site-selection process guided by clearly defined educational, demographic, access, and infrastructure criteria. By prioritizing site requirements and long-term school goals, Duncan Commercial evaluated numerous alternatives, creatively analyzed land-use potential, and successfully assembled the properties necessary to bring each project to fruition.

These projects reflect Duncan Commercial’s ability to navigate complex public-sector real estate assignments and deliver thoughtful, mission-driven site solutions that serve students, neighborhoods, and the broader community.