School Profile
Richmond Community High School (RCHS) is an alternative public high school in the Richmond Public Schools District in Virginia. It is a selective-admissions college preparatory school, with a mission of helping academically gifted students from disadvantaged backgrounds reach their potential. RCHS admits students from all middle schools in the district as well as a select number of 10th grade transfer students. The demographics of RCHS reflect those of Richmond Public Schools with a racially diverse student body of mostly African American and Latinx students, several of whom come from homes where Spanish is the primary language. Each year, RCHS serves approximately 250 students in grades 9-12. Students have the opportunity to complete CTE programs through the Richmond Technical Center or to earn an associates degree from Reynolds Community College through their Early College Academy. RCHS has a 100% graduation rate, and all students graduate with an Advanced Studies Diploma.
My African American Studies class is primarily composed of 9th and 10th grade students who have not taken a U.S. History course since 6th grade. Historically, these students are strong readers and weak writers. They are good at remembering content and understanding broad concepts, but they struggle to interpret primary sources, make original arguments, and communicate those ideas effectively. I would like to use my curriculum unit as an opportunity for them to practice those skills, while creating something meaningful to them that they can bring back to their communities.
I will be using this unit in my general African American Studies class, but it can easily be applied to AP African American History, U.S. History, or Public Speaking courses.
Comments: