Upper School Curriculum and Schedules

Madison Academy’s mission statement includes the phrase that Jesus “grew in wisdom” and our goal is to guide our students academically in this direction. Under the oversight of an MA board member, the high school principal, and a curriculum committee, guidance counselors and teachers choose class materials and offerings.

The Madison Academy Upper School offers a college prep curriculum. Many high achieving students take advanced English in ninth through eleventh grades and AP English Literature in the eleventh and twelfth grades. Advanced history students may also take the AP track. An advanced track is also offered in math, with a choice of taking the AP exam. Talented art students may also participate in the AP program.

The guidance counselor and current teachers study educational data to determine a course of study for each student. As early as eighth grade, students work with counselors, teachers and parents to choose plan of study for either a regular or an advanced Madison Academy diploma.

Madison Academy and Calhoun Community College and the University of Alabama in Huntsville participate in a dual enrollment program. Students in the junior and senior years of high school have the opportunity for dual college and high school credit in some classes.

Madison Academy is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and our graduates meet the standards set by the state of Alabama as to the number of credits and the types of courses required for graduation.

The NWEA test is used to measure student progress in grades seven through ten. The students consistently score above the national average. The PSAT is given to all high school juniors and is offered for those younger students who choose to participate. The ACT college entrance exam is offered to all graduating seniors and younger, interested students. On the ACT college entrance exam, the class of 2010 had an average composite score of 22.3, and the top 20% had an average of _____. These scores well exceed the state and national averages.

Generally, students are assigned to a standard course of study which includes a class in Bible at every grade level. Students are also required to take a math, science, history and English course every year. There are several electives: Physics, Chemistry I, Chemistry II, Anatomy & Physiology, Environmental Science, Explorations in Science, Various Social Sciences, Pre-calculus, Calculus, Fine Arts consisting of Band, Chorus, Art and Drama, Physical Education, Web and Graphics, Leadership, and Personal Finance. The typical schedule of study follows:

7th Grade:

•Bible •Math 7 or Pre Algebra •English Grammar and Literature •Literature •Earth Science •World Geography & Citizenship •Enrichment & Physical Education or Band

8th Grade:

•Bible •Pre Algebra or Algebra I AB •English Grammar and Literature •Life Science •World History (prehistoric to 1800’s)

•Enrichment •Physical Education •Band, Chorus or Drama

9th Grade:

•Bible •Algebra I or Geometry •Language Arts •Physical Education •World History (1800’s to present) •Computer Technology •Biology •Spanish I or Latin I •Chorus, Band, Drama or Art

10th Grade:

•Bible •Algebra II or Geometry •Regular or Honors Language •Human Physiology (or approved Science course and Health) •Spanish I or II, Latin I or II •U.S. History/Social Science •Chorus, Band, Drama or Art

11th Grade:

•Bible •Geometry or Pre-Calculus or Algebra II •AP or regular Language/Literature •Spanish II or III or Latin II •U.S. History II or AP U.S. History •Communications •Elective or Fine Art •Chemistry or Science Elective

12th Grade:

•Bible

•Pre-Calculus, Calculus, AP Calculus, Business Math or Advanced Math, Intro to Computer Programming

•Government/Economics •Leadership/Personal Finance •Literature or AP English Literature •Elective-Psychology, Sociology •Elective or Fine Art

Students are strongly encouraged to have a minimum of 4 hours of approved community service per quarter. Students achieve this by participating in club service projects, in biannual Student Service Days, and in mission trips.

A large percentage of Madison Academy juniors and seniors are members of the National Honor Society (NHS). Juniors and additional seniors are inducted each spring. To be inducted in the NHS, a student must show strengths in scholarship, leadership, and community service. Madison Academy also offers the National Junior Honor Society for students in grades seven through nine. The Math Honor Society Mu Alpha Theta is available for interested math students. A Spanish Club and a Spanish Honor Society are active on and off campus. Book and chess clubs are also offered. Robotics and Lego teams are active on campus and in competition.

Madison Academy students participate in All State Chorus and Band competitions, as well as in Huntsville’s Panoply Arts Festival, Huntsville Museum of Art’s student exhibition, Madison’s Street Festival and other community, state and national arts contests. Drama students perform in local and state drama competitions, as well as a year end production and an annual school play. A school wide yearbook is published each year with the aid of student writers and editors.

Extended off-campus learning experiences are included in our curriculum, starting with a 5th grade trip to Williamsburg and Washington, D.C., a 6th grade trip to Nature’s Classroom, and a

7th grade week at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab. In the Upper School, interim trips take students to places such as New York, St. Louis, and Disney World for competition, site seeing and classes. International trips focus on history and art. Mission trips are offered annually to Ecuador’s Hacienda of Hope children’s home, Give Kids the World in Florida, Baja in Mexico, and Ghana, Africa. Madison Academy participates in the international exchange student program in which students from nations around the world study at MA, enhancing the learning experience of all students involved.

Students in grades five through eight write annually for the D.A.R. essay contest. Madison Academy consistently has local and state winners, and in 2009 won the national award.

One benefit of having multiple ages on one campus is the interaction between ages. High school students are involved in a mentoring program for new and middle school students. All upper school students participate in interactive programs such as Bible Buddies and Reading Buddies, where older students work with younger grades to teach reading skills and Bible memorization.

The daily school schedule is from 8:00 A.M.-3:15 P.M. in the Upper School. Chapel is conducted daily.