Achievement First Amistad High School’s four-year program is designed to provide the academic foundation, lifelong learning skills and habits of mind required for students in their pursuit of higher education. Students at Achievement First Amistad High School far exceed the baseline of 20 credits mandated by the State for high school graduation. In all, Achievement First Amistad High School graduates earn over 30 credits.

Graduation Requirements

• Acceptance to a four-year college or university
• 11 English credits
• Eight math credits
• Four history credits
• Four science credits
• Two foreign language credits
• One art credit
• One physical education credit
• Score of three or higher for all subjects on the Connecticut Academic Performance Test (CAPT)
• Four summer enrichment programs
• Four credits in college readiness, SAT prep and electives
• 80 hours of community service (at least 20 hours per year)

An Intense Focus on Using Evidence

It is our belief that the most important set of skills and habits of mind required for college success involve the ability to identify, gather and mold evidence into arguments both in oral and written expression. Every class at Achievement First Amistad High School requires students to read for evidence, discuss using evidence and write with evidence. We teach students an array of reading and annotation strategies to help them interact with and make sense of texts and to discern important evidence. On a regular basis, students are required to discuss answers to open-ended questions in seminar format, and we assign persuasive essays throughout the year and provide students with targeted feedback on their ability to marshal evidence in support of a thesis and to articulate their ideas clearly.

Advanced Placement Tests

Every student must take at least two Advanced Placement (AP) courses: AP U.S. History and AP Biology. Students may also elect to take other AP courses.

Advisory

All teachers serve as mentors and counselors through advisory groups. Students are grouped in advisories by grade and gender and meet on a weekly basis with their faculty advisor. Small advisory sizes foster personalized attention and provide a forum for discussion about academic challenges and successes, as well as social issues.

A Focus on Core College Skills

Achievement First Amistad High School’s curriculum focuses on the core knowledge and skills required for success at top tier colleges. The many admissions officers, college professors and researchers that we consult unanimously agree that the best preparation for college is considerable time devoted to reading, writing and thinking critically about English, math, history and science. This is why our curriculum focuses intensely on these skill sets and subject areas.

More Time Immersed in Academics

Achievement First Amistad High School seeks to prepare students for selective colleges, and our students must compete with students from across the state and country who possess strong academic skills, who work hard, who score well on standardized tests and who are well prepared for the rigors of college course work. Given this stiff competition, we go the extra mile for students by providing a longer school day that allows for more instructional time and more practice. All courses last a minimum of 60 minutes, with 90 minutes allocated for English and math, and our academic day runs until 4:00 p.m.

An Obsession With Data and Tracking Student Progress

Achievement First Amistad High School is committed to regularly assessing students to track their progress. Every six weeks we administer interim assessments that enable teachers to diagnose student misconceptions. After each round of interim assessments, teachers dedicate an entire day to analyzing the data and developing lesson plans to target whole class, small group and individual strengths and weaknesses.

Senior Electives

We want our students to be well-rounded, and we take the opportunity senior year to provide electives, including internships at local businesses and non-profit organizations, serving as a teaching assistant, computer programming courses and serving on the Student Life Committee that plans graduation and prom and designs the yearbook.

Amistad-Elm City High School’s extracurricular program includes interest-based activities found in other high schools. Students may choose from a wide range of offerings, including lacrosse, chess, debate, theater, pep squad, tennis, volleyball, cross country, basketball, music, yearbook, literary magazine, baseball and student government.

Developing “Triple Impact” After-School Participants

Amistad-Elm City High School has partnered with the Positive Coaching Alliance to foster a culture in our after-school programs where winning is not as important as developing character. Our goal is to cultivate “triple impact” student athletes who are committed to improving themselves, their teammates and the game itself.

End-of-Year Trips

At the end of each academic year, Amistad-Elm City High School students and staff take trips to new parts of the country. To date, we have visited Chicago, Boston, Cape Cod and Virginia. These trips serve to reward students for their hard work, to build relationships between students and staff and to broaden their worldview through exposure to new parts of the country.