9th Grade academy

All first-time ninth graders at William Blount High School are a part of the Ninth Grade Academy. The goal of the Academy is to ease the transition from middle school to high school. Research has shown that by fostering a safe, positive learning environment, promoting communication between parent/student/teacher, and developing a sense of pride and respect for education, there is a significant increase in not only the graduation rate but the quality of academic knowledge gained. Each incoming 9th grader will work with a team of teachers, a 9th grade counselor, and an administrator.

Some of the benefits of this concept will be centralized location of academic classes, smaller class sizes, varied interests offered through elective classes, a consistent discipline plan for the entire academy, uniform academic expectations/syllabus/evaluations for cross-team classes as well as interdisciplinary activities to apply learned knowledge to real-life situations. This team approach will not only maximize the potential for success for each student, it will also enhance the development of higher-order thinking skills and foster a sense of belonging.