First Gifted Middle School Debuting This Fall
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JACKSON, Tenn. — New details were released Thursday night at the Jackson-Madison County School Board meeting about the first every gifted middle school in Jackson-Madison County. District leaders said the Academic Academy will actually be located inside an existing middle school starting this fall. Grandparents and parents are excited about a new gifted middle school that Superintendent Dr. Verna Ruffin said will debut this fall. “I think it’s a fantastic idea because one of the things our children need to be focused on now is academics,” Mary Ingram said, a grandparent of a Madison County middle school student. “We will be challenging both gifted and talented as well as students who really aspire to achieve academically,” Dr. Ruffin said. Dr. Ruffin said the new gifted middle school will be located at Northeast Middle School off Christmasville Road. “There will be a principal of the whole school and the school within a school will have its own principal,” school board member George Neely said. Teresa Tritt, principal at Thelma-Barker Elementary was introduced as the new Academic Academy principal. She said the new academy is about the future of Madison County. “Parents and the community seem to be very excited about this opportunity for students. I’m very excited to be given the opportunity to serve our community in this way,” Tritt said. Dr. Ruffin said the new academy will not affect current Northeast Middle School Students. “All students who live in the Northeast Middle School zone will be accepted to the school. Students living in Madison County who are eligible for the GEMS program, our academically gifted program, will be accepted into the academy.” Dr. Ruffin explained. Though the new academy will offer academics and extracurricular activities, parents living outside the Northeast zone could have to drive their kids to school. Dr. Ruffin also announced the following dates Thursday night: February 24 – Parent and community forum at Thelma Barker Elementary at 6:00 p.m. February 25 – Parent and community forum at Isaac Lane Elementary at 6:00 p.m. February 27 – Parent and community forum at Denmark Elementary at 6:00 p.m. March 1 – Academic Academy Registration at North Side High School, South Campus Library from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. March 4 – Academic Academy Final Registration at the Educational Service Center at 310 North Parkway (School Board) from 5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
