Boone’s Advanced Academy Won’t Be Housed at Doherty High
Friday, April 10, 2015
The current enrollment at Doherty is more than 1,400 students, making it the largest school in the district. Adding the Academy would put the school over 1,600 students.
According to Boone, the Advanced Academy would require ten to twelve classrooms, and a fully-equipped science lab.
“Operation at the existing facility at Doherty is not an option given the challenges with enrollment. We feel though that it is still appropriate for the Academy to be affiliated with Doherty and as such we would begin to identify alternative temporary space.”
“We are looking at location that would have a reasonable proximity to Doherty and one that would meet the quality learning space that we are seeking,” said Boone.
Worcester School Committee member and GoLocal Worcester MINDSETTER™ John Monfredo wrote in his column last month that there were mixed responses about the Academy at a February meeting with interested parents. Monfredo said, "Many parents felt that the academy estimated to cost over $2 million by its fourth year was an expensive investment for so few students. Some questioned why rigor in the curriculum can’t be on-going at all schools
Following Boone’s proposal, Monfredo suggested that the city hold back funding for this year for the Academy to look for another site, consider the Innovation model for the 2016-2017 school year and see if the funding could be sustainable, and in the meantime, try to expand Advanced Placement offering in the city’s high schools.
“The Advanced Academy is something that we all like,” said Monfredo. “But there’s not, at least this year, a need to have this proposal.”
As GoLocal reported in December, the academy is poised to be part of the International Baccalaureate Program and will hold a maximum of 250 students. The IB program requires it's students to complete six international baccalaureate courses in grades nine through 12. In grades 11 and 12, the students take special examinations and assessments in those particular subjects. They are graded by external examiners. The subjects the students take are Languages, Social Studies, Science, Mathematics, and the Arts. They require the students to do independent research on a subject of study and write an extended essay on that subject..
Related Articles
- Monfredo: Worcester Public School I.B. Academy- A Discussion That Needs to Continue
- Monfredo: More Information on the I.B. Program Proposed For Doherty High
- Will Dr.Boone’s New Academy Strip City’s High Schools of Best Students?
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