Academics
Amherst County Public Schools (ACPS) offers a student-centered academic program that focuses on the relationships between talented students and capable and caring teachers. Our goal, Every Child-Every Day emphasizes the development of students’ passions and abilities.
The cultural and economic diversity of our community, the teaching styles, and the approaches to learning are all essential to ACPS Academics. We believe that in today’s global world, our students need to know more than one culture, one history, and one language.
ACPS offers a challenging curriculum for all students starting with our pre-school programs, through elementary, middle, and high school. We continue to expand programs that are geared toward active strategies that involve the students with each other and with the subject matter being studied. Students learn differently. To meet those different needs, our teachers are encouraged to offer students opportunities that support mastery of learning through portfolios, projects, presentations, and the traditional assessment format.
The ultimate goal is for students to exit ACPS being prepared for college or a career in our community or abroad. Advanced Placement courses, as well as, Career and Technical offerings allow students to forge a path that is right for them. Whatever the path chosen a rigorous academic experience is available for all students. Instruction is rooted in the basics, yet encourages students to take responsibility for their own learning. Amherst County Public Schools is committed to supporting a student-centered academic program that contributes to a vibrant learning community.
TOTAL ENROLLMENT: Approximately 4,000 students
SCHOOLS: 6 Elementary Schools 110 - 480 students
2 Middle Schools 470 - 700 students
1 High School 1,400 - students
Grades 9-12 – Seven period day schedule; AP and dual enrollment (college) courses available, early college program through Central VA Community College, Central VA Governor’s School for Math, Science & Technology, CVCC XLR8 STEM Academy programs; full range of Career & Technical Education offerings; modern science and technology labs; fine arts programs; championship athletic teams; many opportunities for extra-curricular and athletic sponsorships; alternative programs; emphasis on high expectations, differentiation of instruction, and rigorous standards.
Grades 6-8 – Exploratories; intramurals, limited inter-scholastic sports; strong emphasis on student achievement and preparation for rigorous program of studies; Accelerated Reader and Writer’s Workshop utilized; emphasis on high expectations, differentiation of instruction and rigorous standards; opportunities for professional learning communities, individual and team planning
Grades K-5 – Heterogeneous classes, stressing the basic core subjects with an emphasis on Early Literacy Development; computer labs, fine arts, physical education and guidance programs; emphasis on differentiation of instruction and visible learning; professional learning communities, individual and team planning opportunities and ongoing school improvement efforts.
Teacher Induction – The Amherst County Teacher Mentor program in based on evidence based best practices in the area of Instructional Coaching. ACPS provides direct mentoring support to teachers (mentees) in their first two years of teaching in the division. New teachers participate in new teacher induction activities including a week of workshops and activities prior to beginning the school year and new teacher induction activities/meetings are conducted at each school throughout the school year.
Technology – Programs and resources balance current and cutting edge technologies in order to enhance student educational opportunities, goals and achievement. Information technology staff is available to oversee, support and maintain network infrastructure and security. Instructional Technology Resource Teachers (ITRT) are licensed teachers who are available to assist with the integration of technology in the classrooms and provide professional development for the use of technology in the classrooms.
PROGRAM OF STUDIES
We are certainly in unprecedented times and know how important school and education are to our students and community. We take our commitment to provide the best education possible for every child, every day very seriously. Our school strives to be intentionally excellent and we believe that it is imperative to extend that intentionality to our program of studies. Your building and central office administrators and counselors have carefully reviewed, altered, and expanded the course offerings for the 2022- 2023 school year. Our goal is always to fully prepare all of our students for life after high school. We realize that our students have multiple pathways post-graduation and we strive to create a program of studies that will provide opportunities for the diverse needs of our scholars. Whether a student’s trajectory is leading them towards college, vocational school, the military, or the workforce, our program of studies will lay the foundation for all of those possible futures.