While each teacher is encouraged to do whatever is necessary and professionally appropriate in meeting the needs of students, the school does use an approved basic curriculum. The A Beka curriculum has been used school-wide since 1987, with good success.
The A Beka curriculum was chosen for mainly two reasons. Firstly, it is a strong, coherent academic curriculum. This is important to the school because it believes in scholarship challenge to the boys and girls who attend. It's parents expect that students be motivated, challenged, and encouraged to develop to full educational potential. A Beka provides tested and tried tools for accomplishing these expectations. Secondly, while A Beka is published by a Baptist-owned publishing company in Pensacola, Florida, it is developed with respect to the fact that this Christian school program is used by many denominational, as well as non-denomination schools (such as ours). While it may not be bias-free, it is as broad, but importantly, still Christian, as we have been able to find.
Our student and staff population represent diverse religious and cultural backgrounds. We find the curriculum more than satisfactory in meeting academic as well as religious objectives. Because most of our students are from African-American families, as has been said, care is taken to present their history, culture, and unique experiences in as positive and motivational a light as possible. The Portland Baseline Essays, an afro-centric curriculum with application in music, science, social studies, and art is also used to satisfy the interest stated. No part of the school's program is designed or used to teach religious or racial bigotry. The result of using the approach to learning that the school has adopted has resulted in basically consistent high ratings on standardized tests, and praiseworthy evaluations and reports from parents, other school teachers, counselors, and administrators. The school's community affirm that FEMS students generally leave reflecting increased maturity, character development, manners, and ability to stick to assigned tasks.
A Beka's Scope and Sequence allows parents to see the minimum skills students are expected to be taught appropriate for his or her grade assignment. A copy of the Scope and Sequence appropriate for your child's grade may be provided upon request for parent information and reference.
