There are currently 1106 students enrolled at ARMS with 48% Latino, 36% African American, 7% Asian, 6% White, 1.7% Two or more races, 0.2% Pacific Islander, and 0.1% American Indian. Our students are 51% male and 49% female with 100% of students receiving free breakfast and lunch. Additionally, 19% of our students are classified as ELL, 10% are a Student With Disability (SWD), and 4% are considered Academically Intellectually Gifted.
Albemarle Road Middle School is an International Baccalaureate Magnet school focused on developing 21st Century learners that are ready to thrive in a global society. There are four content areas that all students must pass to graduate which include Math, ELA, Individuals & Societies, and Science in addition to selected electives. Student electives include dance, Spanish, chorus, band, art, orchestra, physical education & health, and various technology courses. Depending on their English fluency, students with ELL designation are able to take core content classes with ELL teachers as a supplement to their immersive content classes.
Computer ratio at ARMS is 1:1 meaning all students have their own Chromebook to use while at school to better prepare them for 21st Century standards. Each grade level has a counselor that meets with teachers to provide and revise 504 plans, check in on students overall well-being, and create events to help bring awareness to mental health within our community.
Because of our Title I status, Albemarle Road receives additional resources to ensure our school is able to provide an equitable education to all of our students and equip teachers with professional development , supplies, and technology resources.
As a district we follow the North Carolina Essential Standards and the corresponding pacing guide to determine how we will move through units and the order that standards will need to be taught. Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools has determined that all middle school students will take an End of Grade Assessment, however 8th Grade is the only grade factored into the school's grading report. Once teachers have completed the units in the pacing guide, generally in April or May, there are mandatory school-wide relooping sessions to prepare students for the upcoming EOG Assessments in each core class.
Educators at ARMS are asked to participate in a Professional Learning Community with all teachers in the same grade level and content for an entire planning block (67 min) where they plan lessons, analyze student data, and ensure adherence to pacing calendar. All of the grade level science teams have the same content facilitator that has a leadership role during these meetings and provides feedback about plans to each team, so they are able to have an outside source critique planned instruction.
I am currently the leader of my Professional Learning Community which entails reviewing lesson plans before they are taught to students, providing teachers with an agenda of what our daily meetings will discuss, and observing teachers to provide feedback on content delivery. I am also on the Parent Involvement Cadre that officially meets once a month to develop ways to bridge the home to school pathway for both parents and students. The cadre sponsors events, raises funds for the school, and promotes a welcoming school culture for all of our families.