Antioch Community High School takes pride in the freshmen that come in every year. Every day, middle school students line the halls of ACHS feeder schools, attend their classes and prepare for the day they graduate to ACHS’s curriculum, standards and schedules. Recently, these students’ state and national testing scores did not reflect expectations of the State Superintendent of Education, Christopher A. Koch.

“We have observed this disconnect when comparing ISAT scores, which showed 82 percent of elementary students met or exceeded standards in 2012, with our PSAE scores, which showed only 51 percent of 11th graders met or exceeded standards that same year. Students did not fall behind when they left grade school, but they faced a higher bar. This year, all students, in grades 3-12, are being measured against the same bar,” said Koch.

As a result of falling test scores and raised state and national expectations, the administration of Antioch Upper Grade School, ACHS’s biggest feeder school, underwent serious academic and status modifications.

With new state legislation, AUGS began the implementation of full days for the first and last day of school. The school also moved to a block schedule—every day students in grades 6-8 will participate in 80 minutes of math and Language Arts, and 80 minutes of science or social studies on alternating days. The school also incorporated a period called Warrior Boost for an academic intervention and enrichment based off of standardized testing and formative assessments. This allows students to dive deeper into subjects they struggle in or have special interest in. Warrior Boost replaces the after school class help session known as tenth hour.

Every student will attend a 25 minute lunch and a 35 minute gym class with their grade and team. Students also take a 35 minute elective and a 35 minute exploratory. To maximize learning time, AUGS has eliminated recess and shortened passing periods. When on the block schedule, each grade utilizes passing period at a different time, so they have opted not to use a bell schedule, and rather have each teacher release their students.

AUGS has switched to sixmesters, six week grading periods, six times a year. In accordance with these, the middle school students switch their Warrior Boost class and their exploratory. Other changes include the addition of Mandarin Chinese and several other new elective classes. The students are allowed one elective class, such as choir or band, and are required during the year to partake in their six exploratories, such as world culture, communications, art, music, computers and research.

“Although these (changes) will make transition in high school slightly more complicated, I have faith in the AUGS students and I firmly believe that everything done here will better their education and improve the students’ knowledge and ability to perform in everyday life,” said AUGS Principal Stacy Graff.

By raising these standards, students entering ACHS  will be better prepared for the standardized tests they encounter in high school.