Odle Middle School
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Odle Middle School 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 the 2007-2008 school year, the school principal is Jerry Schaefer, while the assistant principal is Alexa Allman.
Public Awareness
In 2001-02 Odle Middle School was one of the two schools in the country to be awarded a Blue Ribbon by the U.S. Department of Education. Odle Middle School ranks well in math competitions and chess competitions, having earned numerous awards and trophies during the past few years, including first place in the national K-8 chess championship. Their chess team have also claimed first place in the Washington Middle School Team Champianship for the school years 2006-2007 and 2005-2006. Some students received 1st place in the Washington State Math Championship for 6th and 7th grades in 2007. [2]. Odle Middle School's Future Problem Solving club also received 5th place in the Future Problem Solvers International Competition in 2007.
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, Dance, and Academy Visual Art. These classes involve more advanced and challenging curriculums.
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 Abilities 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 taught by Jake Duke and a year of Honors Biology. Language arts and social studies classes are combined into a two-class block. This means that you have a choice of 6th grade-only LA/SS and then LA/SS 6/7/8th grade combined during 7th and 8th grade, or take 6/7/8th grade combined during 6th and 7th grade and then Honors LA/SS 9 during 8th grade, which means that all 7th graders will take 6/7/8th Grade LA/SS. These classes are taught by Joan Boyd, Faith Dougherty (new to the 2007-2008 school year), Debra Benzinger, and Jack Black.
The high school program, which is in its first year of implementation in the 2006-2007 school year, 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.
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 academy is continued into High School at Sammamish High in Bellevue, Washington.
External links
- Odle Middle School & PTSA Website
- Bellevue School District page on Odle Middle school
- Odle Middle School Forum
- Odle Middle School profile provided by schooltree.org
- Bellevue School District gifted programs
- PRISM Studies Odle PRISM Studies website -- A student-run online study community that provides information about homework assignments and tests at Odle, as well as discussions and much more.