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Advanced Math and Science Academy Charter School (AMSA) of Marlborough,Massachusetts, opened to sixth and seventh graders in 2004. Now it goes throughgrade 12, and has graduated two classes. School enrollment is open by lotterywith preference given to local residents. Students are tested upon entrance andgiven remedial help as needed.
AMSA is getting great results. Students at each level are scoring high onstate and national tests. So why have they had a turbulent beginning? Initiallystudents left in droves after eighth grade. Was the work too hard? Was thepreparation too good? Now some could enter private prep schools. Were parentsunsure about the “unproven” school and its college entrance potential?
Charter schools are undergoing some of the same developmentdifficulties that new businesses face. Each one needs to be judged on its ownmerits. If all teachers would work in teams to turn their learning environmentsinto desirable places, social and economic factors in student homes would notmatter. Every student would feel accepted and valued in his space.
See Julia Steiny’s article:
