Key School Components
Our integrated, comprehensive program provides each MAPCS student with the following

Inquiry- and performance-based curriculum
The traditional school day runs until 4:30 pm and includes core classes in humanities, math, and science. Classes are small, relevant, and technologically enhanced. Class size ranges from 3 to 15 students, with most classes averaging 8 to 10 students. At this size, students can get the individualized attention they need and deserve. Literacy is integrated across the curriculum. Also, all students have additional reading and literacy blocks throughout the week.

In humanities, students spend their first year exploring self, family, community, and beyond. They then take year-long courses in American literature, American history and government, world literature, and world history and geography.

Literature selections in recent years have included The Narrative Life of Frederick Douglas, Arthur Miller's The Crucible, Toni Morrison's Beloved, Frank McCourt's Angela's Ashes, The Odyssey, Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart, Ken Wiwa's In the Shadow of a Saint, and Odes by Pablo Neruda.The history sequence has several recurrent themes: organizing against injustice; the role of democracy and open discourse in creating change; the relationship between geography, economics, and political arrangements; and colonialism, its decline, and aftermath. The history-curriculum emphasizes first-person accounts of historical and political events over standard textbook interpretations.

In math, students focus on problem solving and data analysis in their first year, followed by Algebra, Geometry, Algebra II/Trig. Students also have the option of taking a life skills-oriented math class in their senior year. The science curriculum has included courses in geology, physics, and biology.

An extended school day
The academic school day is supplemented by an elective period that runs from 4:40-5:45pm. Class offerings include art, photography, drama, athletics, and debate. Students sit down to eat dinner together at 5:50pm. Afterwards, they begin their homework during a mandatory study hall. Over 100 volunteer tutors come to our schools each night, providing the one-on-one and small group assistance many students need to complete their homework. Students leave campus at 7:15 on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.

A year-round program
Many of us remember the first time that we traveled away from home, whether it was a summer camp trip, the first day of college, or a junior year abroad. Knowing that many District teens have never had the opportunity for such broadening experiences, we arrange for our students to participate in exposure programs around the country and even the world. These programs include Aspen Youth Institute, Cornell University's Pre-College Program, Hoops Sagrado, College Summit, National Outdoor Leadership School, University of Vermont's Debate Institute, Hemlock Overlook, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, the Pratt Institute, and Exploration Summer Program.

We've seen the motivational impact that our year-round programming has had on our students, especially our seniors. A past graduate had this to say about his experience at Maya Angelou:

"One summer, the school sent me to the pre-college program at the Chicago Art Institute. That was about the best time I'd ever had in my life. Another summer I traveled to Vermont for the World Debate Institute. In the winters, I learned to snowboard in the Chill program. There were overnight retreats that were off the chain, and in the end the rewards were worth it. For somebody who complained about school all the time, I surprised even myself when I decided to go to college, but now I'm excited about the future, whatever it may hold."

This student attends Green Mountain College in Vermont, working towards an environmental science degree.

Vocational training
At Maya Angelou, we believe that students deserve the chance to work, earn and save money, and learn to invest that money toward their future while in our high schools. Paying work opportunities include on-campus vocational opportunities, advisory-based projects in the community, and student-directed internships with community partners in nonprofits, corporations, and other institutions. Through their workplace experiences, all students are expected to learn the key skills known as SCANS competencies, while also engaging in critical analysis of the larger social and economic environment in which their work sites exist. This year 230 students are working each Wednesday with one of our internship partners. Partners include the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Community Preservation and Development Corporation (students teaching technology courses), Children's Studio School, Habitat for Humaity, WKYS Radio, the Rosemont Center and more (*may need to enable pop-up windows to view list). Click here to learn more about becoming a partner.

Through these experiences, all students have the opportunity to really learn (while earning) about the world of work while they are in school.

Life Skills and Transition Support
The life skills curriculum was developed to ensure that all students learn the specific skills needed to successfully transition from high school to work or college. It was also designed to inculcate a sense of personal responsibility, respect and concern for other people, and commitment to the well-being of the community. We believe that the development of personal values and life skills are fundamentally intertwined. For example, a child must "value" not getting into a fight before learning the skills to de-escalate tense situations. We try to cultivate a yearning for responsibility, a desire to have an interesting job, the willingness to work hard, and the courage to accept new challenges.

At Maya Angelou, the life skills program encompasses physical and emotional health (personal hygiene, sex education, decision making, anger management, stress-reduction strategies), social skills (communication, etiquette, conflict resolution), employment readiness (interviewing techniques, appropriate dress and behavior, basic office skills), and personal finance (budgeting and financial planning). Students participate in role plays, team building, and cooperative learning activities to help them internalize and reinforce these skills. During students' junior and senior years, the life skills program also includes college visits, test preparation, and career awareness opportunities.

Counseling
The counseling department provides individual and group counseling sessions for students and facilitates monthly parent group meetings. The weekly counseling sessions provide a safe place for students to express themselves, establish personal goals, develop communication skills, and provide peer support. By participating in the counseling process, students learn to communicate their feelings and thoughts appropriately in work and social settings. Members of the parent groups share experiences and support each other in their efforts to promote their children's academic and personal growth.

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