Academics / Advanced Academics

Advanced Academics

Update: School assignment notifications will be sent out Thursday, January 18th.

Providence’s Middle School Advanced Academics is an accelerated learning program which supports students with unique strengths, talents, and/or abilities by providing them with the opportunity for in depth study beyond the basic curriculum while preparing them for secondary and post secondary success.

We are excited to announce that Middle School Advanced Academics will be expanded to ALL six middle schools for the 2024-25 school year, where in the past this program has existed only at select Middle Schools. Humanities (ELA and Social Studies) and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) courses will be offered at all middle schools.

Range	Task
12/11	Website updated.
12/11	Communication to families: Website updated Email to families Parent Link with quick information Informational letter home to families
12/13	Invitation letters emailed to students and families
12/19	Information session via Zoom at 6:00 pm
12/20	Information session via Zoom at 10:00 am
1/8	Applications Due for External Applicants and Appeals (including family school ranking)
1/8	Family school ranking/preference
1/8-1/12	External Application and appeals reviews and decisions
1/15-1/17	Advanced Academics lottery
1/17	Final notification of AA school assignment to families
1/22	Deadline to accept AA school assignment
1/23-2/9	PPSD School Choice (families who opt out of AA or who do not accept school assignment)

Will my child be eligible for transportation?
My child does not attend a Providence school. How can I apply?
Who can I contact if I have questions?
What if my child did not receive an invitation? Can I appeal?
What criteria is used to invite students?

Students will be invited into the program based on a combination of 4th grade RICAS Reading and Math performance, RICAS growth and 5th grade STAR Math and Reading performance. Students must be at the 5th grade level or higher on STAR Math or Reading AND they must have achieved a 2 or higher on RICAS to be considered for the program.

As there is a limited number of seats, students are then given a composite score based on their RICAS score (25% of their composite score), their RICAS growth from 3rd grade to 4th grade (50% of their composite score), and their tested grade equivalent on STAR (25% of their composite score). The highest scoring students for math or humanities are then invited to join Advanced Academics until all seats are full.