Our School District is comprised of four elementary schools (Bridge Street Elementary, Jackson Street Elementary, RK Finn Ryan Road Elementary, and Leeds Elementary),plus the JFK Middle School (serving grades 6-8) and Northampton High School.
With the guidance and leadership of a dedicated and talented staff of teachers and administrators, working in a community that supports and values education, the Northampton Public Schools have a history of providing high quality, comprehensive educational services from early childhood to twelfth grade.
Our system's network of early education and care programs and services include an NAEYC accredited, integrated preschool, full-day kindergarten, family literacy programs, toddler home visits, and family support. Our professionals collaborate with staff and parents from the city's diverse community-based childcare, preschool, and family support programs to create a solid foundation for our youngest learners. We work hard to make young children and their families feel excited about beginning school. Our community is extremely devoted to, and closely connected with, our four elementary schools, and has supported them in many ways over many years with its time, funds, and creative ideas. Our staff is invested in continually improving their instructional practice, in ensuring that all our students meet state educational standards, and in collaborating with families and administrators so that all children succeed. Because our community values the educational, social, and emotional needs of our students, we enjoy enthusiastic parental and guardian participation. Our after-school social and academic enrichment programs are available to all.
Our middle school is dedicated to fostering high academic achievement and equal access to education within a positive learning environment. Organized on the middle school model, it focuses on the needs and characteristics of young adolescents. An instructional team system is used to provide a smaller learning environment for students, support the practice of interdisciplinary instruction, and build community within and outside of our building. An advisory program brings together students and adults three days a week in small groups, building peer and mentor relationships. A wonderful after-school program provides students with enrichment and academic support. The middle school community is proud of the work of the student Civil Rights Team, Students of Color Alliance, and Gay Straight Alliance. Our dedicated, student-focused, and creative teachers and staff are at the center of our commitment to the success of our students.
Our high school is committed to preparing versatile, well-rounded students, who will be ready to function in a global, diverse society. By engaging students in a range of high quality educational experiences and opportunities, our teachers help students to develop the skills they need to become competent, creative, empathetic, and responsible individuals. Northampton High School has just begun the NEASC process of reaccreditation, which will require the school community to engage in a comprehensive and wide-ranging self-study. Our students' success in Advanced Placement courses has helped our school to earn recognition from Newsweek magazine as one of the best public high schools in the country. Our exemplary and creative professional staff helps a diverse student body to reach their full academic potential, with more than eighty percent of the class of 2010 continuing on to post secondary schools. Our excellent art, theater, and music programs add breadth to our curriculum, while successful co-curricular and athletic programs round out the student experience at Northampton High School.
The mission of the Northampton Public Schools, in partnership with parents, guardians and the Northampton community, is to promote and support high achievement by each student in a safe, healthy, secure environment and to enable each student to become a critical thinker and a socially responsible citizen in a global society.
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