South Carolina Construction News staff writer
Libertas Academy Woodruff officially broke ground on October 8, marking the start of construction for a new public charter school and a 103-acre athletic complex that city officials say will benefit the entire community.
The groundbreaking event, held in partnership with the City of Woodruff, drew local leaders including South Carolina Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver, Charter Institute at Erskine Superintendent Cameron Runyan, Woodruff Mayor Kenneth Gist, City Manager Lee Bailey, and Allen Smith, CEO of One Spartanburg. Board members from Libertas Academy Woodruff were also in attendance.
School Director Celina Patton said the academy will open with students in four-year-old kindergarten (4K) through sixth grade, expecting 700 students in the first year. The school plans to expand to include seventh and eighth grades, eventually serving 1,000 students at full capacity.
“Our curriculum has been around since the early 1980s and is rooted in research,” Patton said. “We emphasize high-quality academics, daily physical education, and arts programs that enhance classroom learning.”
Construction of Libertas Academy Woodruff is being led by Reedy Land Co., a Southeast-based real estate development firm that helped assemble the 300-acre site for the Riverbend development. The project is a collaborative effort with Reedy Commercial, True North, and GMW Land Holdings, aiming to transform the former Enoree Farms site into a mixed-use community that includes educational, recreational, and residential spaces.
The Riverbend Athletic Complex will feature four full-sized turf fields for baseball, softball, and soccer, along with pickleball courts, walking trails, a dog park, and a kayak launch. Spartanburg County Parks and Recreation will manage the facility in partnership with the city, making it accessible to the community.
“This project provides opportunities for kids, recreation for residents, and an economic boost for the city,” said Woodruff City Manager Lee Bailey.
Libertas Academy Woodruff, authorized by the Charter Institute at Erskine and supported by Tutelage School Solutions, is scheduled to open in August 2027. It will be the second Libertas Academy in Spartanburg County, following the opening of Libertas Academy Boiling Springs in 2023.
