For Parents
Mission
The mission of the Bluford Drew Jemison Science Technology Engineering Mathematics Academy is to provide an intellectually and academically rigorous pre-college preparatory education for 6th to 8th grade male students of Baltimore City. The focus of the Academy is to adequately prepare middle school male students to increase their choices in deciding on their secondary education and ultimately their post-secondary education or career path.
History
The founders of BDJ-STEM Academy applied to the Baltimore City Public School System to operate an all male charter middle school beginning with the fall 2007 school year in order to increase the number of Baltimore City public school male students who are prepared to matriculate at high achieving secondary schools. Male, low income and predominantly African American students who are currently most in need of an academically challenging, year –round and nurturing environment is the targeted cohort. Students who attend BDJ-STEM Academy are expected to attend college. The application to operate was approved by the Baltimore City Public School System’s Board in 2006. BDJ began the first year of operation with 135 sixth graders and will add a grade in each of the next two succeeding years.
Quick Facts
At-a-glance facts on Bluford Drew JemisonObjectives
The Bluford Drew Jemison Science Technology Engineering Mathematics Academy’s (BDJ-STEM) commitment is to accept for enrollment male students eligible to attend a Baltimore city middle school and guarantee that graduating 8th graders will be prepared for a high achieving, rigorous college preparatory curriculum and post high school opportunities. BDJ-STEM recognizes the vast challenges of the children of Baltimore City; i.e., upwards of 75% of Baltimore City students live in low-income families and more than 85% of the students are minorities whose opportunities have been limited. BDJ-STEM will begin the first year of operation with the sixth grade and add a grade in each of the next two succeeding years. After raising additional funding from pubic and private sources, the goal is to operate the school year round, with an extended day (7 a.m. - 7 p.m.) and an extended week (Monday - Saturday). High expectations, academic rigor and critical thinking skills will be the focus for each day. BDJ-STEM curriculum and course of study, developed by Dr. Kirk Gaddy, is modeled on a successful curriculum that he helped develop, based on all national standards and knowledge of serving a large low-income minority K-8 population.
BDJ-STEM Academy will enroll approximately 100-125 students per grade, with 22-25 students per class except in the core subject areas of reading, writing, math and science, which will have no more than 20 students. Most classrooms will have two professional educators in the room. A primary focus during the first months (beginning in the summer of 2007) of studies will be spent in the immersion of new scholars in a culture of success, academic rigor and discipline. During this time, students will be assessed to determine current academic levels of strengths and weaknesses. Interventions will be employed, as appropriate with the intent to accelerate learning and proficiency, particularly for below grade proficiency students in the first twelve months. Assessments are intended to be a continuous part of the process of education for the students, not a separate event.
Expected Outcomes
Academically, we expect our seventh and eighth grade classes to achieve 70% or better proficiency in Maryland State Reading Assessments and 80% or better proficiency in Maryland State Math Assessments. Students will demonstrate progress and achievement across all academic areas on the Maryland School Assessments and through the Adequate Yearly Progress component of No Child Left Behind. We expect all students to become proficient in technology.