Alcorn Middle School (AMS) strives to develop responsible citizens by providing all students with the knowledge and skills they need to compete globally in the 21st century. At AMS, we foster a student-centered, healthy, academically innovative environment where students model self-efficacy, self-determination, and perseverance behaviors. Our students demonstrate their ability to be critical thinkers and work collaboratively with others. Our programs, such as Advancement via Individual Determination (AVID), performing arts, Career and Technology Education (CTE), and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math courses (STEM), afford us the ability to implement rigorous academic experiences where students are exposed to individualized instructional strategies, research-based interventions, meaningful enrichment opportunities, and relevant life-skills experiences. These experiences are designed to equip our Knights with the tools needed to be productive in academic and future work environments. We strive to cultivate learning environments that foster academic excellence, student engagement, and social-emotional learning. Our dedicated and highly qualified staff work to support our students and cultivate a positive learning environment.
Collaboration is key to Alcorn’s success. Teachers, instructional support staff, and administrators participate in district-level and state-level professional development, fortifying classroom teacher practices. Teachers then collaborate consistently in content-level and grade-level professional learning communities (PLCs) to analyze student achievement data, develop academic interventions, set achievement goals, and share/model instructional strategies that extend the learning. PLCs at AMS promote professional growth and development, enabling our teachers and support staff to provide educational experiences that prepare students with college- and career-ready skills needed for the future.
Alcorn Middle understands the importance of teamwork. Support staff such as the librarian, school counselors, social workers, and parent engagement specialists work diligently to increase our community partnerships and mentorship efforts. Their efforts allow us to successfully facilitate a health campaign that benefits our community by providing wrap-around services for some families. We at Alcorn Middle School find benefits in partnering with our faith-based community. These partnerships include Washington Street United Methodist Church and New Laurel Missionary Baptist Church, which help make things happen for our scholars, their families, and the community. These faith-based collaborations and partnerships provide resources and monetary donations to support our efforts to focus on the whole child.
As we focus on the whole child, AMS continues implementing practices rooted in data-driven and best practices to prepare our students for college and future careers. Our students are responsible for being healthy participants in their learning process. AMS faculty, staff, and community are devoted to guiding them along their journey. Students are exposed to various leadership experiences through our student leadership summits, AVID student ambassadors, extra-curricular activities, and daily morning inspirational starters (student-led). The AMS student council allows students to develop leadership by organizing and implementing school activities and service projects. School-based mentoring groups focus on developing self-efficacy and self-determination, building healthy relationships, providing career exploration, and exposing scholars to various soft skills needed to be world-class citizens.
Scholars participate in interactive town hall sessions with the principal and administrators that focus on their individual and school-wide data throughout the academic year. Data sessions are conducted during the school day and after school for all stakeholders to better understand school-wide data that outlines collective performances on STAR Reading, Math, and SC Ready Assessments.
We are proud of the accomplishments of our students and staff and the support for our families and community. Our mission is to produce college and career-ready, world-class, responsible citizens devoted to lifelong learning. Alcorn Middle School’s “Educate and Empower Excellence” theme represents our driving force: empowered people empower people.
Kreshella K. Goodman, Principal
Zeinna Millhouse, SIC Chairperson
