What is the Newcomer Academy?

The goal of the Newcomer Academy is to provide a welcoming and respectful environment to meet the needs of sixth through tenth grade English language learners (ELLs) in the Jefferson County Public School district. All students at the academy are beginning English speakers, and most are in their first year of instruction in a U.S. school. Many of our students have had limited or interrupted educational experiences in their native countries. Newcomer Academy students go to a different middle or high school with an ESL program after one to three semesters at the Newcomer Academy.

The A2G (Accelerate to Graduate) program is a program designed for graduating seniors at Newcomer Academy.  The A2G program allows seniors to participate in individualized, standards-based learning in order to meet all remaining graduation requirements.

To be eligible for the A2G program, the student must currently be an English Language Learner, 18 or over, and need 10 or fewer credits to graduate high school.  Students should have passed ELD 1 or scored a 2.0 or higher on the WIDA assessment at the intake office.  Students will have an option to have one year of education with Newcomer Academy before completing one year in A2G if needed.   

Vision

To provide a welcoming and respectful environment that meets the unique linguistic, academic, and social/emotional needs of sixth-through tenth-grade English Language Learners (ELLs) in the JCPS District. These students typically are in their first year of instruction in a U.S. school. They are usually at the beginning levels of English proficiency and may have had limited, or interrrupted, educational experiences in their native countries.

Mission

As a community, by using an intensive curriculum and research-based instructional strategies, we collaborate to promote the language and academic skills needed for successful transition to other classrooms and meaningful participation in our community.