Aki Kurose Middle School Academy
Encyclopedia
Aki Kurose Middle School is a public secondary school in Seattle, Washington
, part of the Seattle Public Schools
. Located in the Rainier Valley in southeast Seattle, it serves students in grades 6
-8
. Aki Kurose has 97% minority enrollment, very high racial diversity and a high proportion of recent immigrants. 42% of the students are non-English speakers. The school emphasizes development of relationships between the community and the school, and establishing respect between students and teachers. The students wear uniforms, consisting of plain white, blue, navy or black clothing.
In 1999, the alternative program moved to the South Shore building and became South Lake Alternative High School. South Shore's middle school students moved back into the Sharples building, which was renamed Aki Kurose Middle School.
Spectrum students study at about one year above their grade level. In 2008, there were four students in the Spectrum program.
Many students from Aki Kurose attend Rainier Beach High School, which is nearby.
testing. In 2008, 50.3% of 8th graders passed Reading, 51.5% passed Math and 47.9% passed Science. 22.7% of students who were tested passed all three subjects. From 2005 to 2008, pass rates rose by an average of 2% to 5%. The school has failed to make Adequate Yearly Progress
as defined by the federal No Child Left Behind Act
for every student category in Math, and every category in Reading except Asian/Pacific Islanders and Hispanics.
According to Aki Kurose's 2009 annual report, student suspensions were more than four times the district average in 2006-07, when approximately 25% of students were suspended. In 2008-09, suspensions were more than three times the district average and approximately 20% of students were suspended.
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
, part of the Seattle Public Schools
Seattle Public Schools
Seattle Public Schools is the school district serving Seattle, Washington, USA. Its headquarters are in the John Stanford Center for Educational Excellence.-List of schools:...
. Located in the Rainier Valley in southeast Seattle, it serves students in grades 6
Sixth grade
Sixth grade is a year of education in the United States and some other nations. The sixth grade is the sixth school year after kindergarten. Students are usually 11 – 12 years old...
-8
Eighth grade
Eighth grade is a year of education in the United States, Canada, Australia and other nations. Students are usually 13 - 14 years old. The eighth grade is typically the final grade before high school, and the ninth grade of public and private education, following kindergarten and subsequent grades...
. Aki Kurose has 97% minority enrollment, very high racial diversity and a high proportion of recent immigrants. 42% of the students are non-English speakers. The school emphasizes development of relationships between the community and the school, and establishing respect between students and teachers. The students wear uniforms, consisting of plain white, blue, navy or black clothing.
Ms. Aki Kurose
Aki Kurose was a teacher who inspired many by advocating for peace. She taught in the Seattle Public Schools for 25 years, and helped bring Head Start programs to Seattle schools. Ms. Kurose would often care for students who needed food or shelter or other kinds of help. She died in 1998. Aki Kurose Middle School was the first Seattle public school to be named after a teacher.History
Aki Kurose is a relatively new middle school in an old building. It first opened as Casper W. Sharples Junior High School in 1952. The nearby South Shore Middle School opened in 1973, but afterward enrollment at both schools declined. In 1981 the district closed Sharples and re-opened it as Sharples Alternative Secondary School, to accommodate students who had dropped out or had been expelled and could not re-enter a regular high school. The middle school students moved to South Shore.In 1999, the alternative program moved to the South Shore building and became South Lake Alternative High School. South Shore's middle school students moved back into the Sharples building, which was renamed Aki Kurose Middle School.
Demographics
Of all Seattle's middle schools, Aki Kurose has the highest percentage of non-white students at 97.2%. African American students are 42.2% of the total, Asian Americans 41.1%, and Hispanics 11.8%. Whites and Native Americans account for less than 3% each. 42.4% of students are non-English speakers and 18.3% are bilingual. Aki Kurose houses the school district's Bilingual Family Center, an office that helps students and their families whose home language is not English. On June 22, 2010 the Bilingual Family Center will move to the SPS headquarters building.Academic programs
English as a second language is taught at the school. Spanish is taught as a foreign language.Spectrum students study at about one year above their grade level. In 2008, there were four students in the Spectrum program.
Many students from Aki Kurose attend Rainier Beach High School, which is nearby.
Special Needs
In the self-contained special education program, special needs students stay together in one class most of the day and receive individual help. In 2008-2009, 84 students were enrolled in this program.Academic Performance
Aki Kurose lags behind the Seattle Public Schools and Washington State averages in WASLWashington Assessment of Student Learning
The Washington Assessment of Student Learning was a standardized educational assessment system given as the primary assessment in the state of Washington from spring 1997 to summer 2009. The WASL was also used as a high school graduation examination beginning in the spring of 2006 and ending in 2009...
testing. In 2008, 50.3% of 8th graders passed Reading, 51.5% passed Math and 47.9% passed Science. 22.7% of students who were tested passed all three subjects. From 2005 to 2008, pass rates rose by an average of 2% to 5%. The school has failed to make Adequate Yearly Progress
Adequate Yearly Progress
Adequate Yearly Progress, or AYP, is a measurement defined by the United States federal No Child Left Behind Act that allows the U.S. Department of Education to determine how every public school and school district in the country is performing academically according to results on standardized...
as defined by the federal No Child Left Behind Act
No Child Left Behind Act
The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 is a United States Act of Congress concerning the education of children in public schools.NCLB was originally proposed by the administration of George W. Bush immediately after he took office...
for every student category in Math, and every category in Reading except Asian/Pacific Islanders and Hispanics.
Creative Arts
The school offers classes in drawing, painting, printmaking and pottery. There are drama and band music classes. Manufacturing technology students work with wood, metal, plastics and robotics. After-school classes are offered in cartooning and dance.Sports
Aki Kurose offers boys basketball and soccer, and girls volleyball, soccer and basketball. Students also can compete in co-ed activities like track and Ultimate Frisbee.Safety
In June 2008, a class aide was charged with third degree child molestation. In June 2007, a girl reported being sexually assaulted in a school bathroom.According to Aki Kurose's 2009 annual report, student suspensions were more than four times the district average in 2006-07, when approximately 25% of students were suspended. In 2008-09, suspensions were more than three times the district average and approximately 20% of students were suspended.