Classes start next month, and EdPower will have four years to improve academics, graduation rates and test scores.

RTV6's Rafael Sanchez spoke to Chancellor Marcus Robinson, who said he understands the challenge before him.

He's opened charter schools before, but his group has never turned around an existing failing school.

"The issue is we're going to have to bring a different focus to learning. We're going to have to bring structure to the culture of the school," Robinson said. "But, we've got a great place to do it. IPS has done an amazing job of keeping up this facility and making it world-class."

Jacqueline Payne is registering her daughter at the new Arlington Community School, and she's expecting a lot from the group hired to take over.

"I want to see if they're going to do what they're saying to make Arlington High School a better school," Payne said. "And if (they're) not, I'll have to choose another school."

As part of the grand reopening, Arlington alumni came back to their alma mater, hoping to reclaim the school's legacy.

One returning alumna was actress Vivica A. Fox, a 1982 Arlington High School graduate who is best known for her role alongside Will Smith in the film "Independence Day."

"Your foundation does start in high school," Fox said, "and we need to tell the parents that, 'While you're asking us to be remodels, you have to be remodels to tell them to get up, to go to school, to be respectful, to be our future.' Our kids are generation next."

School starts for Arlington seventh-graders Aug. 13, and the other grades will join in through Aug. 22.