Graduate
Florence Academy
Program Description
Graduate Florence
Academy is a comprehensive academic alternative to renew
hope and accelerate at-risk, eighth grade students to the
high school level through intensive course curriculum and
individualized instruction in a Florence School District One
small learning community.
Graduate Florence
Academy is a Florence District One initiative that is housed
at the Florence Career Center and administered and staffed
by South Florence High School personnel. This initiative is
made available largely through a South Carolina EEDA grant.
Systemically the academy fits as one of the four teams of
teachers and students that make up the School of
Foundational Studies at South Florence High School.
Key Components
-
Reduced
class size (20 students per class)
-
13 to 1
student-to-staff ratio
-
Emphasis on
hands-on learning
-
Chance for
students to enter 10th grade with 8 Carnegie
units (high school credits)
-
Curriculum
that is interdisciplinary, rigorous, relevant, and
responsive to students’ current and future needs
-
Classroom
activities that enhance the students’ affective,
cognitive, and psychomotor development
-
Individualized and technology-based instructional
strategies
-
Emphasis on
building student skills through exposing students to
real-world challenges.
-
Schedule
designed to allow one-on-one interactions and mentoring
relationships.
-
Program
structured to facilitate home-school partnerships that
support student learning.
-
Located at
Florence District One Career Center
2008-09 Selection Criteria
District
Guidelines for participating students follow:
-
Must be a
regular education student and have attended at least one
year at the middle school
-
Must be 14
on or before the opening of school on August 18, 2008
-
Must have
repeated at least one school year and not
be currently eligible for promotion to the ninth grade
by either age promotion or traditional district policy.
-
Must have a
MAP Lexile score of 700 or higher.
Principals’
recommendations, as well as student discipline records,
academic performance, and state assessment scores may also
be considered in the selection process.
Number of Students
The program can
accommodate up to 45 students a year. This is a one-year
program only. At the end of the year, students in the
program are placed in their home high school to finish
completing their graduation requirements.
Outcomes
Participating
students will be promoted to 10th grade in the
home high schools at the end of the school year. They will
have acquired the courses, skills, attitudes, and aptitudes
needed to graduate high school in four years.
Additional Considerations
-
Student
commitment and parental support are critical to the
success of the program. Student and parent/guardian
must complete information sheets, sign commitment forms,
and cooperate with home visits. Attendance at an
informational meeting is required as it is an early
indicator of family commitment.
-
Reasonable
grade-level academic potential is required for all
students. No Special Education services are provided as
a part of this program.
-
Student
acceptance is provisional. Students must satisfactorily
complete the first five weeks of the program before
being formally inducted into the academy. Students who
do not qualify at the end of five weeks are reenrolled
at their home middle schools for the remainder of the
school year.
For More Information,
Contact
