Southington's former Briarwood College campus now home of new prep school

Southington's former Briarwood College campus is now the home of Elite Prep Academy, a new prep school for students in grades eight through 12.

The campus, located on 2279 Mount Vernon Road in Southington, had been vacant since 2018.

"It used to be Briarwood College as you probably know, and you know it was a great use of the property when Briarwood was there,” said Michael Kryzanski, who has lived in Southington since 2004. “They have been out for a quite a while, I think it's been at least five years. The property has been sitting vacant, nothing is happening with it."

Kryzanski said it was about time action was taken on the abandoned property.

"Things are deteriorating, so it just doesn't make sense to keep it vacant, so you know I’m happy that someone is coming in. This elite academy looks like a great organization," he said.

Elite Prep Academy, a boarding and day school for students 13 through 18 years old, has two campuses: one in New Jersey and now Southington.

The 32-acre campus will have seven buildings and feature classrooms, labs, dorms, a bookstore and athletic facilities.

Kryzanski said the school will help boost the town's economy.

"We’ll have more people coming to the town,” he said. “They'll be spending money, they'll be spending dollars at businesses, not only the students, but their families, their visitors. The business will be paying property taxes to the town which is great. I think it will add to the town's prestige as well. I think it will hopefully attract some more businesses."

The school hasn't said when they will be welcoming students or how many they are expecting. More information about Elite Prep Academy can be found on their website here.

Kaye Paddyfote is a reporter at FOX61 News. She can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on X and Instagram.

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