Freshman Academy

The mission of the Freshman Academy is to create a student-centered community that implements a rigorous curriculum leading to the development of creative and independent thinkers.

The Freshman Academy is a small learning community of approximately 100 9th grade students. Rigorous, relevant, and individualized learning is taught by an interdisciplinary team of four core teachers. The Academy is housed at Traverse City West Middle School. Students spend their fifth hour elective class each day at Traverse City West Senior High School, giving them exposure to and experience at the high school. Students also experience the full range of elective choices available and are able to participate in extra-curricular opportunities at the high school.

Teaching staff for the Freshman Academy include:

• Math - J. Thompson
• Science - C. Robbins
• History - M. Livengood
• Language Arts - B. Meindertsma

Benefits of the Freshman Academy:

• Personalized Education
  
  - Strong connections between staff and students are developed as a team of four core teachers share
    students offering increased opportunity for academic enrichment and support. Flexible scheduling is
    designed to meet student's needs. 
  
  
• Sucessful Transition to TC West Senior High School 
  
  - Student attend their 5th hour elective course each dat at TC West Senior High School and may 
    participate in extra-curricular opportunities offered at the high school.
  
  
• Exposure to Future Academic and Real World Opportunities 
  
  - Each of the following career areas will be the focus for one trimester: 1) business, marketing, and
    tourism with a Northern Michigan focus, 2) communication, media, and technology, and 3) health 
    and medicine.
  
  
• Increased Core Credits Earned
  
  - By the end of Freshman Academy students will earn 6 credits in math, science, language arts, and
    history compared to 4 credits earned by the end of a traditional 9th grade school year.   

For more information regarding the Freshman Academy, please contact Principal Joe Tibaldi at 933-7502.

Freshman Academy Forms