Freshman Academy
What is the Freshman Academy?
The Freshman Academy provides scaffolded, individualized, and engaging instruction to students who have been struggling academically prior to entering high school. The Freshman Academy provides a supportive pathway to earning credit and achieving academic success. There is a Freshman Academy at each high school in SMCPS: Chopticon, Great Mills, and Leonardtown. Rising Freshmen are recommended for the program by their 8th Grade Team based on a records review of the following areas:
ATTENDANCE BEHAVIOR COURSEWORK
The 9th Grade Freshman Academy Teams review the list of recommended students for the program, make additions as necessary, and invite qualified 9th graders to join the program. If you feel you or your student would benefit from the program, contact the student's 8th grade counselor.
Left: CHS FA students at Greenwell State Park in Dec 2022.
Right: Great Mills FA students and their teacher at Greenwell State Park Field Trip Fall 2022
Top: LHS FA on a field trip in Washington, D.C. Jan 2023)
What classes do Freshman Academy students take?
The Freshman Academy (FA) follows the SMCPS calendar and high school bell schedule. The FA students take the same number of courses as other 9th graders. But, the FA is a “school within a school” at each of the high schools. The Freshman Academy has a dedicated staff of teachers, a counselor, and an administrator who meet daily to evaluate and plan supports for student progress. Class sizes are generally smaller to allow for more interaction between the educators and students. Each Freshman Academy Team plans field trips and activities to promote success building.
All Freshman Academy students are enrolled in
Freshman English
Core Algebra
Earth Space Science
U.S. History
Freshman Seminar–teaches study and executive functioning skills, supports core classes, and provides social-emotional learning experiences
Physical Education/Health 1 (elective)
Elective of choice
Each high school’s capacity in the Freshman Academy program is capped at 75 students.
For general information about the program, contact Brooke Fallon at bsfallon@smcps.org. For more specific information related to the Freshman Academy at your high school, contact the specific high school using the links below.
Check out the video of the Freshman Academy presentation to the Board of Education in June 2022 below.
