What Makes Amani Special
Ridiculously Great Teaching.
Engaged, motivated and effective teachers are at the core of everything at Amani. Our faculty are the champions of the school and the backbone of the Amani community. Great teaching drives student achievement. We have a highly qualified faculty committed to the middle school model and to teaching in an urban environment. We expect teachers to be passionate about their content area and reflective about their practice. Amani supports teachers with a robust embedded professional development program driven by the data on student achievement. Many classes actually have two teachers, allowing for more individualized attention aligned with the needs of each specific student.
Exemplary Academic Program.
Amani offers a rigorous, standards-based curriculum that emphasizes literacy and numeracy. The school offers a longer school day and more days of instruction each school year than regular public schools. Our team uses many different instruction strategies so that every single scholar can have a chance to achieve at an appropriate level of challenge. There are double length periods of mathematics and English language arts, as well as robust science and social studies classes. The school has a dedicated library, art room, and computer lab. Each student is provided with a Google Chromebook along with software and literature for completing assignments beginning in the 5th grade.
Strong School Culture.
Amani is a small school with a big heart. Our scholars are here to learn, and we expect the experience will carry them to success in high school and beyond. That happens because Amani has a safe, warm and supportive school culture.
Like any good school, we have rules, and routines; however, all of it is infused with what we call the “joy” factor. Every single student knows that grownups at Amani are available to turn to, individually, anytime they wish. Every scholar is greeted at the door upon arrival each morning. There are weekly morning “huddles”. Rites of passage include “Dancing Classrooms,” the annual musical theater performance and our renowned music-arts-dance partner program, “Sing for Hope“.