Description+of+School

 **Grade Level:** 7th


 * General Description of Students **: Students are a heterogeneous group, ranging from students that are gifted to those with cognitive deficits. Socioeconomically the school has a 45% free and reduced lunch group. Racially the school has a 15% minority population.


 * General Description of the School **: The school has a population of 650 students in grades 6, 7 and 8. There are approximately 220 students in each grade. There is a principal and assistant principal and two guidance counselors. Office staff has two secretaries. There are 28 teachers who instruct students in the core academic subjects: math, language arts, science and social studies. There are 6 intervention specialists, 1 technology integration specialist, 1 library media specialist and 15 full and part-time unified arts teachers.


 * General Description of the Classroom **: There are 28 classrooms used for teaching core academic subjects. In each classroom there is a teacher’s desk, student desks, book shelves and cabinets. Each is equipped with bulletin boards. The classrooms used by the unified arts teachers are equipped with the materials needed by those specialty areas. For example the consumer science classrooms have the necessary kitchen set-ups, art classrooms have kilns and large sinks for mixing paints, etc. There is a large gymnasium area used by teachers for physical education.


 * General Description of the Computer Facilities in the School **: Each academic classroom has a mounted smart-board with a dedicated computer for its use. The teacher in each classroom has a computer available for his/her use. The smart-board with LCD projector, has the capability to hook to the Internet and show DVD’s. There are also 3 other computers in the classrooms available for student usage. There are overheads available in each classroom with a screen for this usage. Other technology available in the building include digital cameras, personal usage CD players for books on tape, abilities for teachers to tape student performances, and microphones. There are 2 computer labs in the school for classes of students to use. In each computer lab there are 35 PC's with available printers. Additionally, photo printers, heart-rate monitors, and MP3 players are also available for student use.