The Freshman Academy is a small learning community within the school that strives to support freshmen as they transition from middle to high school. Teachers plan and communicate together in a professional learning community to help ensure that students achieve. Our Freshman Academy is a transition program based largely on the research-based, results-oriented smaller learning community (SLC) concept.Research has revealed that SLC’s create a greater sense of connectedness and belonging for students as well as academic equity. In addition, studies have shown that SLC’s, such as our Freshman Academy, produce improved academic achievement and decreased behavioral problems