| Odle Middle School | |
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One Dynamic Learning Environment
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| Location | |
| 14401 NE 8th Street Bellevue, WA 98007 |
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| Information | |
| Type | Public middle school |
| Established | 1969[1] |
| School district | Bellevue School District |
| Principal | Eric McDowell |
| Faculty | 35.4 (on FTE basis)[2] |
| Grades | 6 – 8 |
| Enrollment | 701 (as of 2010-11 school year)[2] |
| Student to teacher ratio | 20.1[2] |
| Color(s) | Red, blue |
| Nickname | Vikings |
| Website | School website PTSA website District website |
Odle Middle School is a public middle school in Bellevue, Washington, USA. The school is one of seven middle schools in the Bellevue School District, and was named posthumously after Frank Odle, who taught in the district for 55 years before retiring in 1968.[1][3] The name is sometimes used as a reverse acronym standing for "One Dynamic Learning Environment." Odle is located across from Stevenson Elementary, a primary feeder elementary school for Odle. Odle is primarily known for its hosting of the PRISM program, a gifted program for high-performing children. As of the 2009–10 school year, the school's principal is Eric McDowell and assistant principal is Jacqueline McKenzie.[4] As of the 2011-12 school year, the assistant principal is Eric Shearer.
In the 2001–02 school year, Odle Middle School was one of two schools in the state to be awarded a Blue Ribbon by the U.S. Department of Education,[5][6][7] the highest award an American school can receive.[8][9]
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As of the 2010–11 school year, the school had an enrollment of 701 students and 34.8 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), equalling a student-teacher ratio of 20.1.[2] 37% of the students are Caucasian, 41% are Asian/Pacific Islander, 9% are Hispanic, 10% are multi-ethnic, and 4% are African American.[4]
The GT program at Odle is part of the Gifted and Talented Education (G.A.T.E.) program offered in the Bellevue School District for grades 2 through 12.[10] The district superintendent stated, in February 2006, that "the only other program that we know of like this is in Australia".[11] PRISM at Odle Middle School follows the GT curriculum acceleration from Spiritridge Elementary School and continues into the experimental high school GT program at Interlake High School, the Gifted High School Program (G.H.S.P.).[12][13]
GT is a selective program; applicants must have a minimum score of 144 on the Cognitive Abilities Test. Reading and Quantitative scores must be of the 90th percentile or higher, one of which at or above the 97th percentile.[14]
The GT program is for students that have high academic and intellectual ability, but do not wish to skip grades, as this usually puts the student in an environment with older children that the student may feel uncomfortable in. GT allows the student to remain with students of similar age and similar academic skills.[4][13][15]
The program consists of separate core classes in science, math, language arts, and social studies for all grade levels. The curriculum for science consists of two years of integrated science followed by one year of biology. Science is taught at one grade above grade level. Language arts and social studies classes are combined into a two-class block for all grade levels. In sixth grade, students may choose to take LA/SS (Language Arts and Social Studies) 6, a class consisting fully of sixth graders, or take LA/SS 6/7/8 in sixth grade, which is a class with sixth, seventh, and eighth graders. In seventh grade, all seventh graders take the LA/SS 6/7/8 class. In eighth grade, students who took LA/SS 6 in sixth grade will take LA/SS 6/7/8, while those who have already taken two years of 6/7/8 will take LA/SS 9 in eighth grade, a class with a mix of Philosophy and Ancient Studies. For mathematics, students take a placement test to determine the student's grade level in math. Odle offers PRISM math levels from 7th to 10th grade math. Students with a higher math level take classes at Interlake High School.[16][17]
The high school program, which is currently in its fourth year of implementation in the 2009–2010 school year, extends the science, English, and social studies classes further in the International Baccalaureate (IB) program at Interlake High School.[12] In the IB 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 English and Social Studies classes for GT students in their senior year.[18] In addition, Bellevue College provides math and other humanities courses to students who have completed prerequisite courses in the GT program.
Academy courses are a more rigorous and in-depth option that students can choose to take as an alternative to normal classes offered at Odle.[4]
The Academy of Visual and Performing Arts offers classes in beginning drama, orchestra, band, choir, dance, video production, Art 1, Art 2, Academy Art, and Art and Cultures.
In the Academy of Math, Science, and Applied Technology, students spend a two-period block each day studying and applying scientific concepts. Academy science students participate in several design projects, building things like mousetrap cars and electric boats.
At Odle, in spring 2003, 76 percent of eighth-graders met standards in science, one of the highest success rates in the Seattle Metropolitan area. This success was attributed by then principal Kenneth Lyon to this academy since 96.3 percent of the 54 eighth-graders in the academy succeeded on the science Washington Assessment of Student Learning.[19]
The Academy of Math, Science, and Applied Technology is not an available course option for PRISM students, as the PRISM curriculum is different from mainstream curriculum at Odle.
Odle's math team, entirely consisting of PRISM students, can be considered one of the strongest in the nation. Odle's math team consists of 6th, 7th, and 8th graders who compete in competitions such as American Mathematics Competitions (AMC), Math is Cool (MIC), Mount Rainer Math Invitational (MRMI), MathCounts, and other events. Students from Odle received first place in the team contest in the Washington State Mathematics Championship (WSMC) for 6th and 7th grades in 2008.[20] In the WSMC 2009, they took 1st place in 6th and 8th grades,[21][22] and 2nd and 3rd places in 7th grade.[23]
Odle Middle School earned first place in the 2006 national K–8 chess championship.[24][25][26] The chess team has also claimed first place in the Washington Middle School Team Championship for the school years 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, and 2010–11.[27]
Odle Middle School's Future Problem Solving Club (FPS), led by PRISM Language Arts and Social Studies teacher Debra Benzinger, received 5th place in the Future Problem Solving Program International Competition in 2007. The team has a history of sending students to the International Competition, and many students continue FPS in high school.
The Knowledge Masters Open Team, also led by Benzinger, placed first in Washington State and 31st worldwide in Fall 2007.[28] In Spring 2008, they placed first in state as well as 12th internationally.[29] In Fall 2008, they placed second in state as well as 26th internationally.[30] Odle Middle School also placed second in the state and 49th internationally in Fall 2009.[31]
Leadership is a club at Odle similar to a student government; however, anyone can be a member. The members vote on ways to spend the Associated Student Body's money, and also plan dances and socials.
French Club, led by French teacher Madame Karmouch, meets on Thursdays in her classroom. Students watch movies in French, play French games, and occasionally make crepes. Games include Petanque[32], Bingo in French, and French card Games.
Homework Club is an after-school program held in the library and supervised by parents where students can do their homework after school.[33]
|title= specified when using {{Cite web}}". http://www.bsd405.org/Portals/30/Documents/Sports%20and%20Clubs%20at%20Odle.pdf. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
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