Of the city's 220 seventh graders, about 80 apply and about half of them get in, according to Dr. Larkin. The school is equipped to accommodate about 170 students. While the building is only nine months old, the school is already feeling some growing pains. In a recent art class, students filled the hallway just outside the chemistry lab drawing life-sized body schematics on long rolls of blue paper. The art room shares space with the music room, which, with keyboards lining the walls, can feel a bit cramped at times.
Students are interested in coming to school.
Elizabeth Levine, an English teacher who sometimes finds it challenging to work a health angle into her literature lessons, nevertheless appreciates the flexibility this public-private enterprise affords her. In public school, you have a model you have to adhere to. Here, there's a lot of individuality, creativity and innovation. We're all in this for the same reason, to help the students become successful.