Educational Options And School Climate

Overview

Our students have unique backgrounds and experiences and public education is not one size fits all. Our schools and programs provide options for students who need something different than the traditional classroom. This path offers a variety of choices within AACPS that are safe, supportive and engaging.

Our schools and programs are led by compassionate staff who believe in the capacity for and desire of all students to experience a positive and productive learning environment. 

What does it look like in action?
Students will benefit from:

  • Safe, supportive and engaging learning environments.

  • Our schools and programs offer an array of innovative and creative instructional approaches. 

  • Educators that encourage respect, value collaboration and practice responsible decision-making.

  • Preparation for college and career opportunities so they can reach their full potential upon graduation.  

  • Caring, supportive and effective teachers who guide students to discover their talents and strengths.

  • Being heard by those who teach and lead them. 

  • Staff who guide each student toward making responsible/effective choices. 

View a complete list of our Programs and Supports below.

Programs

The ACE Program

The ACE programs provide a small and supportive learning environment for middle school students who need a temporary change from the traditional classroom.  Students receive instruction in English, Math, Social Studies, and Science for one quarter of the school year to allow time to reset and refocus.  This program also includes goal setting, community building, and reflection to allow students to identify strengths and skill-building needed to be successful in their home school.  Currently our three ACE programs serve students enrolled in Annapolis, Wiley H. Bates, Brooklyn Park, Corkran, Marley, Old Mill Middle North, MacArthur, and Meade middle schools.

Where would I attend the ACE Program?

  • Students from Annapolis and Bates Middle School would attend ACE South @ the Boys and Girls Club of Annapolis at the Bates Complex.

  • Students from Brooklyn Park and Marley and Corkran Middle Schools would attend ACE North at Corkran Middle School.

  • Students from Old Mill Middle North, MacArthur, and Meade Middle School would attend ACE West @ The Boys and Girls Club at Severn.

 * Placement into the ACE program is dependent upon a referral by a staff member at any of the 8 middle schools being served by this program.  Parental permission is required.

Restorative Interventions and Supports for Elementary Students (RISE)

at Rippling Woods Elementary School

Restorative Interventions and Supports for Elementary students, RISE, is a short-term placement that serves as a proactive response to the increasingly complex needs of elementary students exhibiting behaviors that impede their ability to focus and thrive in school.

Vision: To provide a supportive, therapeutic, and restorative learning environment for elementary students who need support to regulate their emotions in school so they can belong, grow, and succeed.         

Mission: To provide customized, research-proven therapeutic supports and academic interventions focused on mitigating the various factors that inhibit elementary students’ academic progress and social-emotional well-being.

RISE will focus on providing therapeutic and academic supports and interventions to elementary students who are enrolled in Annapolis cluster elementary schools for the 2022-2023 School Year. RISE will permanently move to Rippling Woods Elementary School in the 2023-2024 School Year. 

Partners with Thrive Behavioral Health, LLC to provide therapeutic support both in school and at home. A link to Thrive Behavioral Health Services can be found here https://thrivebh.com/.”

 * Placement into the RISE program is dependent upon a referral by the student's school. This program is open to schools across AACPS. 

Home & Hospital Teaching

What is Home & Hospital Teaching? 
Home & Hospital Teaching is designed to provide short-term instruction to public school students, at home or in hospitals, who are unable to attend a regular school program due to a physical or emotional condition. The Home & Hospital teacher works closely with the school counselors and teachers to ensure continuity in instructional services while the student is out of school.

Why Home & Hospital Teaching?
If a student becomes ill and is unable to attend school for more than three weeks, Home & Hospital Teaching can be utilized to enable the student to remain current with classroom content.

​​Who is Eligible for Home & Hospital Instruction?
​Home and Hospital Teaching services are provided to Anne Arundel County Public School students who are unable to attend school due to a medical or emotional condition for more than three weeks.  Parents should provide the student's counselor (or designated person within the school) a letter from a medical professional that explicitly request Home and Hospital Teaching services.

Home & Hospital Teaching students are those who:

  • are staying home due to certified physical (medical) or emotional conditions;

  • are in a therapeutic center or hospital, within Anne Arundel County, while convalescing or receiving treatment.

Learn more about Home & Hospital Teaching

Mary Moss @ J. Albert Adams Academy

Mary Moss at J. Albert Adams Academy is an exciting educational option for students in grades 6-9 who are experiencing barriers to learning in the traditional classroom setting. Using project-based learning, we will seek to find the key to every student’s passion. Students receive social-emotional services to ensure a safe and supportive environment.

The program serves up to 160 students grades 6-9. Most students attend for a semester to improve their grades and learn how to make positive choices and then return to their home school with the skills to be more successful engaged students.

What makes Mary Moss @ J. Albert Adams Academy different?

  • Small class sizes and a low student-teacher ratio provides opportunities for individualized attention.

  • Students collaborate with educators to create Individualized Success Plans to help with goal setting and monitoring their progress.

  • Students will participate in daily morning meetings to build community and have open discussions to build, repair, and maintain relationships.

  • The administrative team focuses on alternatives to suspension and non-traditional disciplinary practices.

For additional information call the school @ 410-222-1639

Phoenix Academy

The Phoenix Academy brings students educational, social-emotional, and family support services in a community-oriented educational setting that is a model because of its multi-agency collaboration.

The school serves 120 students in grades 10-12 that attend the alternative program and 120 students in grades K-12 that attend the special education program. Both programs are supported by caring and skilled teachers, school psychologists, social workers, and counselors supported by behavioral support and crisis intervention staff.  Students graduate from the Phoenix Academy with an AACPS high school diploma and have the opportunity to achieve dual certification in a career related field such as Horticulture, Culinary and Design and Print services. All students graduate college and career ready. 

What makes Phoenix Academy different?

  • Instructional approaches are differentiated to meet the individual learning strengths of each student supported by a clinical and behavioral support services team.

  • It provides a highly structured environment with a low student to teacher ratio.

  • Students have the opportunity to build career competencies and earn industry certification. 

The Phoenix Academy operates three programs, serving K-12 students:

  • The Secondary Alternative Academy will serve students who are experiencing barriers to learning in the comprehensive school environment grades 10-12 with the goal of achieving a high school diploma and/or industry certifications. 

  • The district E.D. Program is intended to serve students with emotional disabilities (E.D.) who have not been successful in their home school or regional E.D. program. These students have emotional disabilities that benefit from and are required to receive delivery of their special education services in a Separate Public Day School Program. 

  • The Career and Technology Education Program provides students with hands-on training designed to lead to employment or advanced training, upon graduation. The program includes four areas of training: publication/print shop, culinary arts, and horticulture/landscaping.

For additional information call the school @ 410-222-1650