Academics

Overview

Middle school is a challenging time for students. Schoolwork becomes more rigorous. Social pressures and distractions become greater issues. Classes at Frederick Law Olmsted Academy North (FLOAN) are single-gender/all-boys. Research shows that single-gender classes can improve student learning and behavior, especially when parents are involved and supportive.

Students are assigned to grade-level teams with teachers having a common planning time. Students take classes in math, language arts, science, social studies, and related arts. Related arts classes include our new Explore pathway classes (Consumer Science and Engineering and Design), a Project Based Learning class, physical education (PE), health, band, orchestra, chorus, and computer studies

Students receive frequent reports about their achievement. These reports are in the form of a report card at the end of each nine weeks. Bi-weekly reports for all students are sent home. If students need extra support for basic skills, FLOAN provides Extended School Services (ESS) and in-class interventions as well as outside school services coordinated by the Youth Services Center (YSC)/Reach office.

If students have all A’s and B’s on their report card, their names are listed on the Honor Roll. Special activities are planned throughout the year for Honor Roll students on teams each grading period and schoolwide two times a year. Each week, teams nominate a Student of the Week who has shown improvement in attendance, behavior, and academics for that week.

To read about JCPS progression, promotion, and grading as well as other academic information.

English Language Arts

All grades are anchored in resources from Expeditionary Learning (EL) which provides students with rigorous and engaging texts from diverse perspectives.

Topics Include:

6th Grade: Greek Mythology, Critical Problems and Design Solutions, American Indian Boarding Schools, Remarkable Accomplishments in Space Science
7th Grade: The Lost Children of Sudan, Epidemics, The Harlem Renaissance, Plastic Pollution
8th Grade: Folklore of Latin America, Food Choices, Voices of the Holocaust, Japanese American Internment

Math

All grades engage in "productive struggle" through Illustrative Mathematics (IM). Students explore math concepts in real world, contextualized situations to help them retain them long-term and provide a solid foundation for even more complicated math they will encounter in high school.

Science

All grades journey through the units from OpenSciEd which encourages students to explore, ask questions, make claims, and test hypotheses.

Social Studies

JCPS Social Studies curriculum is inquiry based meaning that students examine primary documents and artifacts in order to make inferences and connections about various cultures' geography, religions, achievements, politics, economies, and social structures.

Band

The band program at Olmsted Academy North serves those students in sixth, seventh, and eighth grade who are interested in learning how to play an instrument and play with a group of musicians. Students begin instruction in sixth grade Beginning Band and progress each year. Students have the opportunity to audition for the All-County Band each year and to participate in the Kentucky Music Educators Association (KMEA) events, such as the district Solo and Ensemble Festival and Large Ensemble Festival. In addition, students may also participate in ensembles after school, such as the Advanced Band. Performance opportunities in the Olmsted bands include seasonal concerts during the fall, winter, and spring.

Chorus

Olmsted Academy North has created a new and exciting opportunity for young men. The chorus program was established during the 2012-13 school year and is available to students of all grade levels. Students are given the opportunity to enroll in year-round chorus classes or to explore singing through a semester course. Student musicians are able to participate in the unique experience of an all-boys chorus, as Olmsted has the only all-boys chorus in JCPS, while learning valuable lessons in music and life skills. Chorus students regularly work on skills also acquired through sports, such as team building and performance analysis. Students in the chorus program discover elements of music theory, literacy, and expression and leave our school prepared for participation in high school chorus. The Olmsted Chorus performs annual concerts of a variety of music to share their talents with families and friends.

Consumer Science

Culinary Arts (Cooking), Food Science, Sustainable Living, Hands-On Student Creations, and Employability Skills