Anderson Middle School

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Anderson Middle School, or AMS, is a school in New York City's Upper West Side. The school started out in 2003 taking only 6th Graders. Now Anderson Middle School takes 6 through 8th Grade. They are housed in the same building as P.S. 9 Elementary School. Anderson Middle School is a public school run by The NYCDOE and it is in district 10, region 3. It is supposedly a specialized school. The school mascot is a dragon. Recently, principal Dr. Rachel Schnur resigned from the school. Now Mr. Brian Culot is the principal. The enrollment process involves a test, of which only a few students pass, due to a lack of seats. In actuality, it is a relatively small school, with an enrollment of about 500. It occupies part of the third floor of the school building. It branches out from Anderson Elementary School. The school also just installed lockers. The fifth grade now gets the same privileges as the middle school: they get lockers, multiple teachers and class switching (periods). It is open to kids from all boroughs. Designed to meet the distinct needs of intellectually gifted students, Anderson provides an accelerated and enriched curriculum for gifted, motivated learners. Students come from all neighborhoods, races, ethnicities. By September, 2005, Anderson had its full K-8 program in place. The Anderson School is committed to balancing the social, emotional and academic development of academically gifted children, thus enabling them to realize their potential to become producers as well as consumers of knowledge.

The 2003-2004 school year was a milestone for Anderson because it marked the inaugural of its expansion into the Middle School grades, starting with two 6th-grade classes. In 2004-2005 it added 7th grade and at the end of 2005-2006 it graduated its first class of 8th graders.

Creative problem solving, divergent thinking, research, independent study and self-evaluation are emphasized. Learning is a lifelong process: children come to Anderson with a love of learning which the school nurtures. It also strives to give students an understanding of their responsibilities as members of society that will serve them and their communities throughout their lives.

The curriculum builds from fundamentals to promote a hands-on, discovery approach to learning. Children work both independently and in groups on projects that stimulate their powers of logic and imagination. Creative problem solving, divergent thinking, research, independent study and self-evaluation Creative problem solving, divergent thinking, research, independent study and self-evaluation are emphasized. are emphasized in each classroom, in tandem with more traditional skills. At the same time, children are assisted in developing essential social skills: sensitivity to and respect for others, effective communication, and their own self-esteem. Guiding them are talented educators whose awareness of the needs of intellectually gifted children inspires teaching that is both dynamic and nurturing.

Anderson understands that highly gifted children are as much a "special needs" population as other, more commonly recognized populations. Helping each child in the program realize his or her full potential requires an extraordinary combination of knowledge, creativity, energy and commitment. There are many people who make the Anderson School possible: an unsurpassed team of imaginative and caring teachers; innovative administrators, committed, involved families who sustain the program through their active participation and support; and other public, private and corporate contributions and grants which allow the Anderson School to continue in the spirit in which it was founded.