In concert with national efforts to build up and maintain academic standards of student learning, South Arbor Academy has adopted the National Core Knowledge Curriculum to define our Kindergarten through Eighth Grade learning content. Originally developed through the efforts of Dr. E. D. Hirsch, the Core Knowledge Curriculum is a standard designed to make the United States second to none in the educational preparation of our graduates. What is the impact of this curriculum combined with South Arbor’s no excuses approach to education? During the 2006-2007 school year, South Arbor was first among NHA’s 53 schools in the percentage of students achieving or surpassing their academic growth target. This target is established using the Northwest Education Association’s Measures of Academic Progress standard testing process. Norm growth targets based on a norm study comprising over a million students defines academic growth expectations. 76% of our students achieved or surpassed their normal growth, placing South Arbor above the 90th percentile among schools across the nation.
South Arbor also was fourth among the 229 Michigan Charter Schools on the Michigan MEAP assessment. The bottom line: Students are learning more and at a greater pace at South Arbor Academy.
South Arbor students are provided every opportunity to excel to their greatest potential. How? One important way is the use of Math and Language Arts Achievement Levels to create classrooms where teachers are able to work with students at their own instructional level, not beyond it—missing instructional needs and creating frustration, nor below it —limiting possible development and creating boredom. Students enter a fluid instructional program based on their current achievement level and advance to the next through classroom instruction which meets their individual needs.
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