Signature School’s Koch Center for the Arts and Sciences Opens New Doors for Students

Signature School will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Robert L. Koch II Center for the Arts and Sciences at 4:00 PM on Monday, January 6, 2020. Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch and Evansville Mayor Lloyd Winnecke are scheduled to give brief comments following the cutting of the ribbon at the new building located in downtown Evansville on the corner of Sixth and Main. The opening of the Koch Center is made possible by $2.5 million in grant dollars awarded to the Southwest Indiana Regional Cities Initiative by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation.

“Through regional planning and quality of place projects, Indiana communities are working together to transform their regions into places where workers and their families have access to a quality education, vibrant neighborhoods and exciting opportunities,” said Indiana Secretary of Commerce Jim Schellinger. “With the opening of the new Koch Center, the Signature School and southwest Indiana are gaining a major asset for attracting and retaining talent, creating a hub for students and teachers to advance STEM initiatives, increase career and college readiness and develop the skills needed in today’s 21st century workforce.”

Signature School’s Executive Director, Jean Hitchcock, remarked, “This is a huge moment in Signature School history. The opening of the Koch Center has enabled us to advance our already outstanding program, offering more spots to students while keeping our sense of community. We feel extremely grateful to the Southwest Indiana Regional Cities Initiative and to the Economic Development Coalition of Southwest Indiana.”

Beth McFadin Higgins, President of the Southwest Indiana Regional Development Authority, noted, “The Robert L. Koch II Center for the Arts and Sciences is not only transforming the physical landscape of Downtown Evansville, but it is also transforming opportunities for students by increasing enrollment. Talent comes in many forms, and we want to make sure we’re creating environments that can attract and retain talent here in Indiana’s Great Southwest.”

Signature School is an International Baccalaureate world school and an Advanced Placement Capstone Program school. Signature was named the Most Challenging High School in the nation in 2019 by the Jay Mathews (of the Washington Post) Challenge Index. It was ranked the tenth best high School in the country, the third best charter nationwide, and the best high school in Indiana by US News & World Report last spring. Signature School was designated a 2014 National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education.