A new education environment: Oxford High's new Freshman Academy opens
By Michael A. Bell Staff Writer
01-08-2009
OXFORD — Amanda Parker's eyes widened the moment she stepped into Oxford High's Freshman Academy on Wednesday.
By Michael A. Bell Staff Writer
01-08-2009
OXFORD — Amanda Parker's eyes widened the moment she stepped into Oxford High's Freshman Academy on Wednesday.
Not because of the state-of-the-art computer and science labs, the Mozart emanating from the speakers or the ample space to stroll the hallways without feeling smooshed.
It was the smell.
"New fresh paint," the 15-year-old said. "Fresh building material."
Such scents — along with the aforementioned amenities — are a far cry from what she and roughly 325 other freshmen are used to.
Before the new $6.15 million academy opened Wednesday, the freshmen used dingy lockers marked with random scribble, frequently bumped into fellow students walking to class and grew sick of having to climb a flight of stairs to the only bathrooms — problems wrought by a 50-year-old building.
Now they can breathe — and learn — a little easier.
"It's more high-tech," said Whitney Henson, 15, citing the digital white boards in each classroom.
The academy, said Marty Livingston, Oxford High assistant principal and administrator of the academy, is a school within a school, totally isolating freshmen from upperclassmen and built to help middle-schoolers transition to high school.
The academy, said Marty Livingston, Oxford High assistant principal and administrator of the academy, is a school within a school, totally isolating freshmen from upperclassmen and built to help middle-schoolers transition to high school.
"All stumbling blocks — as many as possible — are removed through the Freshman Academy," he said. "Ninth grade is a make-or-break year."
National studies have found the rate at which students leave school after ninth grade has nearly tripled in the last 30 years. Oxford leaders hope the extra attention on freshmen will help address high dropout rates.
The freshmen don't seem to mind being away from everyone else.
"You feel safer," Henson said, adding the separation "keeps you away from peer pressure."
"You can't get made fun of for being a freshman," said Madison Thomas, 14.
"And it's getting us ready for the high school," said Alexis Baxter, the 15-year-old freshman class president.
Barely audible classical music also plays constantly at the academy. Livingston said studies show that students test better and cause less disciplinary problems under the "Mozart effect."
"Every now and then they get up and do ballet," he quipped.
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