Lincoln Middle School (Gainesville, Florida)

Lincoln Middle School, located in Gainesville, Florida, was first opened in September 1956 as an African-American high school. It was soon closed and reopened after a decade and converted into a middle school. Lincoln Middle School belongs to Alachua County Public Schools and is most notable for its Lyceum Magnet program, which was started in 1994.

The Lyceum Program

This program designed to help students attend IB Diploma Program at Eastside High School. Some students, however, choose to attend Buchholz High School usually because of math teachers there, or Gainesville High School (Florida) for the Cambridge Program. To attend the Lyceum program, students must apply with a filled out entrance form, an essay if their F-CAT Writing score was not high enough, and a portfolio of their recent Report Cards. Those with a high work ethic, good academic records and excellent test scores are accepted into the program.

In the eighth grade, students are required to take a foreign language (either French or Spanish). The classes in sixth and seventh grade are math (various levels ranging from Advanced Math to Algebra II), Earth and Life science, Social Studies, Language Arts, Creative Writing (6th grade only), Humanities(7th grade only), and an elective. In eighth grade, Humanities is merged into Language Arts and the foreign language class is added.

Math Courses

The students take accelerated academic classes and generally a course level higher than the rest of the students in their grade level. However, some students who get superior scores on math placement tests may take class with people higher than their grade level. Program is also designed for highly bright and project motivated students in Alachua County. This program is to help the more advanced kids go to a class that is a round their level. A usual passing grade for the placement test is about a 70%.

Elective Classes

The school has a variety of elective classes. The choices are band and orchestra, home ec,art, family and consumer science, physical education, television production, and being a teacher's aide such as media aide tech aide and office aide.

• The band and orchestra were invited to perform in a national adjudicator's invitational in Charleston the end of the 2006-2007 school year (in which they got a "Superior" rating). All of this was done under the direction of David N. Olsen, and it was under his direction that the program grew to be widely considered the most talented middle school program in the state. Recently the school's full orchestra program under the direction of Todd Eckstein was awarded superior markings at the District 8 Florida Orchestra Association Music Performance Assessment. Lincoln has the only middle school orchestra in the county.
• The chorus program attended and competed in district and state singing competitions. The program was cut in 2007, due to funding issues.
• The drama program had twenty five annual performances and competed in both the district and state Junior Thespian drama competition. This program was also cut in 2007.
• They also have a a PE elective that is still ongoing.
• Art is also a choice as an elective.

Administration

The school is currently under the administration of Don Lewis, the principal, and Lawson Brown, Jr. assistant principal, and assistant principal, Jeanne Clark.

External links

• Lincoln Middle School Website
• Alachua County School's Music Website

-Lincoln Middle School