Atlanta Youth Academy (AYA) is a Pre-K-to-8 independent school that provides robust education opportunities to low-income students, predominantly from single-parent households with median annual incomes of under $24,000. NMTC-financed the construction of a new academic building and student-life building, to be located on a six-acre unsafe and contaminated brownfield site, along with the renovation of an existing multi-purpose recreation building.

The expansion allowed AYA to increase its capacity from 150 students to 225 students. 100% of AYA students graduate 8th grade and enroll in high school, 100% of alumni graduate high school, and since 2010, 93% matriculate to 4-year college and 6% matriculate to 2-year college. These successes are particularly striking given students from this income bracket have less than a 64% high school graduation rate nationally. The new academic building includes 14 classrooms, dedicated performing and visual arts spaces, a maker space, a library, and administrative space. The student-life building includes dedicated cafeteria space and a commercial kitchen, as well as a flexible space with a stage that can accommodate full-school gatherings.