Ron Clark Academy

The Ronald Clark Academy is a non-profit middle school, housed in a renovated red brick warehouse[1] located in southeast Atlanta, Georgia. The school has students in fifth through eighth grades, from a wide range of economic backgrounds. The mission of the academy is “to deliver the highest quality educational experience where global citizens are born through advanced rigor, engaging teaching methods, and a passionate climate and culture”.[2] Classes began on September 4, 2007.

Pedagogical approach

Teaching includes academics and moral education. The academy seeks to make education fun. Music plays throughout the school, the walls are painted with bright colors, and a two-story slide in the entryway is meant to serve as “a reminder to the kids that anyone can learn in their own way”.[3] Students come from a range of backgrounds. Applicants must first be nominated for the school. In 2013, the students' test scores improved in all subjects: “In Reading, the test scores went up by 19%, in Math they went up by 29%, Language Arts was increased by 15%, Science 15% and Social Studies 20%”.[2]

The Academy hosts a Model United Nations conference in Atlanta.

Media attention

Students in debate class at Ron Clark Academy created a song about the 2008 U.S. presidential election, "Vote However You Like", to the same beat and melody of "Whatever You Like" by T.I. A performance of the song by 6th and 7th graders was posted on the internet and drew a wide viewership.[4] T.I. paid a surprise visit to the Academy after learning of their remake of his song.[5] On October 31, 2008, the "Students of Ron Clark Academy" were named the ABC Person of the Week by ABC World News Tonight.[6] They were also invited to perform at the 2009 Inauguration.[7]

References

  1. ↑ "Change the world – Atlanta". hvtv.com. Retrieved April 26, 2011.
  2. 1 2 The Ron Clark Academy
  3. ↑ "The Ron Clark Academy." Teaching Reflections, 17 May. 2012. Web. 13 Oct. 2014.
  4. ↑ Graham, Nicholas (October 29, 2008). "'Vote However You Like' Video By Ron Clark Academy Students". Huffington Post. Retrieved October 31, 2008.
  5. ↑ "TI visits the Academy". October 29, 2008. Retrieved December 31, 2008.
  6. ↑ Aasen, Susan and Lauren Sher (October 31, 2008). "Person of the Week:Kids Sing Impassioned Get-Out-The-Vote Song; Ron Clark Academy's Students Become Internet Sensation With Voting Hit". ABC World News Tonight. ABC News. Retrieved October 31, 2008.
  7. ↑ John Murgatroyd; Ashley Fantz (20 January 2009). "Bringing song to Obama's inauguration, students savor fame - CNN.com". CNN.com. Retrieved 16 June 2013.

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