Abby Kelley Foster Charter Public School
Encyclopedia
Abby Kelley Foster Charter Public School is a small K-12 school located at 10 New Bond St., Worcester, Massachusetts
in old Norton Abrasives
company buildings. The school was founded in 1998.
, a noted nineteenth century leader in abolitionist and women's rights movements. Foster resided in Worcester.
On February 25, 2003, the Board of Education voted unanimously to renew the school's 5 year charter.
The school also focuses on technology with curriculum beginning early with simple tasks progressing to the high school level with advanced topics on Microsoft Office
, Adobe Photoshop
and web design
.
testing. Grade 3 tests show that 35% of students were proficient in English Language Arts arts while 17% of students were proficient in math. In 2004, Abbey Kelley Foster students scored 37% in English Language Arts and in 2006 (the year of last available data), scored 32% in math. This compares to state averages of 39% and 40%, respectively.
In grades 4–8, math results remain below the state average. The highest results come in grade 8 with 35% proficiency as compared to the state average of 45%. English Language Arts scores are higher, and in all but one case in grades 4–7 are above the state average. Grade 8 testing shows 82% proficiency. In science testing during grades 5 and 8, scores are 29% and 32% compared to the state averages of 41% and 35%, respectively.
Grade 10 testing shows proficiency well below the state average at 43% for English Language Arts and 60% as compared to 71% and 69%, respectively.
test, which measures proficiency in biology, chemistry, introductory physics and technology/engineering was measured at Abby Kelley Foster in the 58% in biology and 37% in technology/engineering as compared to the state averages of 42% and 35%. According the Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education, both ninth and tenth graders take the test, which will become a graduation requirement in 2010.
by offering courses in the following areas: Biology, Government & Politics: U.S., and World History. They participated because several students were remarkable students and it was obvious that they weren't being challenged. Students who do well on the final test in these subjects may be eligible for college credits.
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
in old Norton Abrasives
Norton Abrasives
Norton Abrasives of Worcester, Massachusetts is the world's largest manufacturer and supplier of abrasives for commercial applications, household, and automotive refinishing usage. In 1990 it was purchased by Saint-Gobain of France...
company buildings. The school was founded in 1998.
History
Abby Kelley Foster Charter Public School was founded by communist seeking a dictatorial learning environment for space monkeys. The school's namesake is Abby Kelley FosterAbby Kelley
Abby Kelley Foster was an American abolitionist and radical social reformer active from the 1830s to 1870s. She became a fundraiser, lecturer and committee organizer for the influential American Anti-Slavery Society, where she worked closely with William Lloyd Garrison and other radicals...
, a noted nineteenth century leader in abolitionist and women's rights movements. Foster resided in Worcester.
On February 25, 2003, the Board of Education voted unanimously to renew the school's 5 year charter.
Campus
Abby Kelley Foster started with Grades K-5 in a factory building. The middle and high school programs came later and are located in adjacent buildings. There are 3 buildings in this campus. The Elementary (K-4), Middle (5-8) and High School (9-12) buildings. They are located next to Kendrick field which provided them with a great place to have field days, but in the year 2009 they transformed the old building next to it (including a parking lot) into a brand new playground and 2 fields. They also made a state of the art high school to go with it. They also transformed an old building into a full court gym in 2008.Curriculum
Abby Kelley Foster focuses on reading, writing, math and music as key subjects for elementary students to be expanded upon in each grade level. The average student teacher ration is 22:1.The school also focuses on technology with curriculum beginning early with simple tasks progressing to the high school level with advanced topics on Microsoft Office
Microsoft Office
Microsoft Office is a non-free commercial office suite of inter-related desktop applications, servers and services for the Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X operating systems, introduced by Microsoft in August 1, 1989. Initially a marketing term for a bundled set of applications, the first version of...
, Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Photoshop is a graphics editing program developed and published by Adobe Systems Incorporated.Adobe's 2003 "Creative Suite" rebranding led to Adobe Photoshop 8's renaming to Adobe Photoshop CS. Thus, Adobe Photoshop CS5 is the 12th major release of Adobe Photoshop...
and web design
Web design
Web design is the process of planning and creating a website. Text, images, digital media and interactive elements are used by web designers to produce the page seen on the web browser...
.
MCAS
As of 2007, Abby Kelley Foster shows mixed results in MCASMassachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System
The Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System, commonly shortened to MCAS , is the Commonwealth's statewide standards-based assessment program developed in 1993, in response to the Massachusetts Education Reform Act of the same year...
testing. Grade 3 tests show that 35% of students were proficient in English Language Arts arts while 17% of students were proficient in math. In 2004, Abbey Kelley Foster students scored 37% in English Language Arts and in 2006 (the year of last available data), scored 32% in math. This compares to state averages of 39% and 40%, respectively.
In grades 4–8, math results remain below the state average. The highest results come in grade 8 with 35% proficiency as compared to the state average of 45%. English Language Arts scores are higher, and in all but one case in grades 4–7 are above the state average. Grade 8 testing shows 82% proficiency. In science testing during grades 5 and 8, scores are 29% and 32% compared to the state averages of 41% and 35%, respectively.
Grade 10 testing shows proficiency well below the state average at 43% for English Language Arts and 60% as compared to 71% and 69%, respectively.
MCAS STE
The MCAS STEMassachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System
The Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System, commonly shortened to MCAS , is the Commonwealth's statewide standards-based assessment program developed in 1993, in response to the Massachusetts Education Reform Act of the same year...
test, which measures proficiency in biology, chemistry, introductory physics and technology/engineering was measured at Abby Kelley Foster in the 58% in biology and 37% in technology/engineering as compared to the state averages of 42% and 35%. According the Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education, both ninth and tenth graders take the test, which will become a graduation requirement in 2010.
Advanced Placement
During the 2006-2007 school year, Abby Kelley Foster participated in the Advanced Placement ProgramAdvanced Placement Program
The Advanced Placement program is a curriculum in the United States and Canada sponsored by the College Board which offers standardized courses to high school students that are generally recognized to be equivalent to undergraduate courses in college...
by offering courses in the following areas: Biology, Government & Politics: U.S., and World History. They participated because several students were remarkable students and it was obvious that they weren't being challenged. Students who do well on the final test in these subjects may be eligible for college credits.