Odle Middle School

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Odle Middle School, home of the Vikings, is a public middle school in Bellevue, Washington. The school is part of the Bellevue School District, and is named for Frank Odle, who taught there 55 years before retiring in 1968. As of 2006, the school principal is Laurie Harvey and the assistant principal is Alexa Allman.

1 Public Awareness
2 Academy of Visual and Performing Arts
3 PRISM
4 Academy of Math, Science, and Applied Technology
5 External links
6 Notes

[edit] Public Awareness

In 2001-02 Odle Middle School was one of 172 schools in the country and two schools in the state, to be awarded a Blue Ribbon by the U.S. Department of Education. ^[2].

[edit] Academy of Visual and Performing Arts

Odle is the home of the Academy of Visual and Performing Arts which offers advanced classes such as Academy Band, Academy Orchestra, Academy Choir, Academy Theatre Arts, and Academy Visual Art. These classes take students beyond the levels of other schools in excelling in their fine arts electives with more advanced and challenging curriculum. In the 2005-2006 school year, the school musical was Bugsy Malone.

[edit] PRISM

PRISM is part of the Gifted and Talented Education (G.A.T.E.) program offered in the Bellevue School District grades 1-12. PRISM at Odle Middle School continues the curriculum acceleration from Stevenson Elementary School and continues into the experimental G.A.T.E. program at Interlake High School.

PRISM is a selective program: applicants need a minimum score of 144 on the Cognitive Ability Test. Reading and Quantitative scores must be of the 90th percentile or higher, one of which must be at or above the 97th percentile^[1].

The program consists of separate core classes in science, math, language arts, and social studies. The curriculum for science consists of two years of Integrated Science and a year of Honors Biology. Language arts and social studies classes are combined into a two-class block. Capable students are able to take math classes two to five years above their grade level. 8th grade PRISM language arts/social studies, science classes, math classes, and foreign language classes can be applied for high school credit, with the student admitted into sophomore classes in his or her freshman year of high school.

The high school program, which is in its first year of implementation, extends the science, English, and social studies classes further in the IB program at Interlake High School. In the International Baccalaureate program, PRISM students complete the IB diploma during 10th and 11th grade, rather than the usual 11th and 12th grade. The University of Washington provides special classes for PRISM students in their senior year, when they have enough credits to graduate early.

The PRISM program has also generated skepticism and controversy. While some feel that the program provides ample opportunity to become accelerated in academics, others feel that this comes at the cost of other needed skills and of time, and inhibits natural growth of children. Others call the program elitist, and some parents of PRISM students claim that the tough standards and competitive atmosphere cause their bright students to lose self-confidence and to stop believing in themselves. In the high school program, former PRISM students, parents, and outsiders alike express doubt in the first years, believing that high school is a time not only for academics but also to have fun. They believe the current PRISM program fosters merely an atmosphere where the students compete for glory, and some parents claim it causes the members arrogance and a feeling of superiority to other non-PRISM students. However, this remains to be seen.

[edit] Academy of Math, Science, and Applied Technology

The Academy of Math, Science, and Applied Technology (AMSAT) offers students interested in science to take a more challenging and in-depth course in that subject. The courses are two-class blocks and are taught by a small number of teachers.

Students are able to explore the world of science and technology in the computer labs in the classrooms and during building projects and field trips.

The program was started by David Green who retired at the end of the school year in 2004.

The academy is continued into High School at Sammamish High in Bellevue, Washington.