Demographics
I am an eighth-grade civics and economics teacher. Currently, teaching inner city youth within Richmond Public Schools. I am contracted to teach at Franklin Military Leadership Academy/ Franklin Military Academy (FMLA), the first secondary public military school in the nation, founded in 1980. The military mindset pervades the classroom: if students are late for class it is not uncommon for their teacher to have them do pushups or physical training exercises to emphasize the importance of being on time. The school is separated into a middle school, grades sixth through eighth, and high school, grades ninth through twelfth.
FMLA is a selective school program; students have to apply and be accepted in order to attend. This being said, my students come from all across the city of Richmond, with varying socioeconomic backgrounds and family dynamics. With a high percentage of the student population categorized as economically disadvantaged, many of the students share the burden of financial strife. For the upcoming 2012-2013 school year FMLA will have 196 high school students, and 187 middle school students, with 57 of them as eight graders. Significant percentages of students are characterized as exceptional education and receive services based on their Individualized Education Plans (IEP).
FMLA is going into its second year of School Improvement increased state mandated supervision, due to low standardized test scores. This is mandatory by the Department of Education for low performing schools or schools that are not displaying growth on standardized tests. To counteract this suspended growth, increased opportunities for professional development, interdisciplinary teaching strategies, and tutors in high needs areas have been implemented.
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