I spent about an hour visiting Grant Middle School yesterday. Although I didn't get the most enthusiastic response from the school secretary when I called to schedule a visit, the principal, Greta Martinez, was very gracious. She called me back within an hour and said she'd be happy to show me around the school and answer my questions.

Grant has recently been designated a "beacon school" by DPS, which is apparently an effort to revamp itself as a "pre-collegiate middle school." Teachers and the principal had to come up with a plan to revitalize the school (some teachers chose not to be part of this effort and transferred to other schools). Part of the plan includes reducing class sizes for math and language arts to give students more individual attention in those areas (I counted 18 students in the 7th grade math class I visited, and the principal said they were keeping language arts class sizes under 25). The theory is that increasing kids' skills in math and language arts leads to improvements in social studies and science, the other core subjects. Apparently, the tradeoff is larger class sizes in social studies and science (I would guess around 35 in the classrooms I saw--no idea how that compares with class sizes in other middle schools in general). Math and language arts teachers are also offering afterschool "interventions" two days a week for students who are identified as needing additional help. The principal also mentioned interventions (tutoring) during the school day for students who need additional help. All parents and students at the school sign "contracts" agreeing to their responsibilities under the plan, including participating in the afterschool sessions if necessary.

The daily schedule (school begins at 7:15 and ends at 2:30) includes all the core subjects: math, science, social studies, and language arts (Amy, the principal said language arts is a two-hour block because it encompasses two subjects, reading and writing). There is an elective "wheel" of four subjects: drama, art, PE, and technology. Students get three of those four subjects in 12-week sessions, and which three they get is decided for them based on schedules. So most kids will get only 12 weeks of PE, and some kids won't get it at all (no idea yet how that compares with PE options at other middle schools, but I find it disappointing). Music and foreign language are not offered, which also disappoints me. However, there is also another elective program that runs on Fridays only, where students get to choose from a long list of electives that meet once a week for 8 weeks. Students get the Friday elective program once per semester, so that's two 8-week sessions a year. I got only a quick look at the list of Firday electives, but they looked interesting.

Grant offers lots of afterschool sports, and although I forgot to ask about clubs and the like, the website says there are other afterschool activities. Two days a week there is a late bus that leaves at 4:15 for kids who participate in afterschool activities.

One encouraging thing is that Grant is starting an honors program this year for all core subjects. Students will be identified by teachers or can self-select to participate. The program will operate through differentiated instruction in the classroom and through differentiated homework. The principal showed me a letter that recently went home to parents of potential math "honors" students, which stated that students would work on additional material after they finish their regular work in class, as well as additional assignments, projects, presentations, analytically-focused writing, and investigations. The letter also says that "special times for thorough discussion" with the other honors math students will be arranged. Students and parents of students who want to participate will sign contracts agreeing to participate in the program and to do the additional work required. I think the honors program is a real step in the right direction for Grant in terms of attracting more kids from families in the neighborhood.

My sense is that there are good things happening at Grant. Grant has (finally) updated its website, so you can see more information there. The website is apparently still in progress; they intend to add more parent announcements and information, including a parent portal.