Atlantic City High School offers diverse summer programs

July 18, 2024

Atlantic City High School Summer School Offers Credit Completion.

ATLANTIC CITY – Summer school isn’t just about remedial classes anymore, it’s also about enrichment.

The Atlantic City Public Schools offer a variety of programs at Atlantic City High School for the summer. Although some don’t offer credits towards graduation, they help currently enrolled students retain information learned during the school year and let incoming first-year students get acclimated to the way things are done at high school.

“Summer school has something for everyone,” said Dr. Sheree N. Alexander, who is the vice principal for students with last names ranging from A through D and supervisor of the English as a Second Language and Fine Arts programs. Atlantic City Public Schools Director of Secondary Education Donald Harris said the goal is to show students the many possibilities available to them. “We’re giving students an opportunity to recover credits, as well as learn some new things,” Harris said. “For those rising ninth graders, it’s learning the building, learning the programs and seeing the opportunities that our programs provide for post-secondary education and beyond.” Harris said athletes also benefit from summer school because they can get help to prepare for the SAT and ACT tests, as well as do strength and conditioning training. The district's summer school, which runs from July 8, 2024, to August 1, 2024, includes four distinct programs.

2024 Summer School Program

The first program resembles the traditional summer school of old. Existing high school students who have failed classes can use the program to make up credits in hopes of graduating on-time with their elementary school cohort. “The curriculum is condensed with standards and core curriculum,” Alexander said. Students can make up as many as two classes. The first session runs from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and includes bus service. “If you have a morning session, you can then stay for the p.m. session,” she said. “But you cannot just opt for the afternoon session.” A strong academic team has been put in place to support the students.

ACHS summer School administators

A strong academic team has been put in place to support the students during summer school. From Left to Right La'Tasha Lewis, secretary, Theda Allen, school social worker, Dr. Sheree N. Alexander, vice principal, and teacher Cheryl Mendez.

Eugene Allen helps students learn character development.

Teacher Eugene Allen, center, is also part of the academic team.

2024 Title 1 Summer School (Incoming Freshman)

The second program is specifically for incoming 9th grade students. “They’re exposed to our block schedule and the many electives we offer,” Alexander said. They can learn sewing, culinary arts, pottery and other fun skills, while learning how to navigate high school. They don’t earn high school credits. However, they get an orientation to the much larger school building, which will help them once they become First-year students in the fall.

Students learn to make breakfast in culinary arts class.

Students in the culinary arts program were hard at work making breakfast, looking up briefly to display their dishes. The menu included French toast and bacon, among other things.

Denisse Pas Castro, who attended Texas Avenue school last year, said she started learning how to navigate through the building and had fun in pottery class because she made a bowl. “I liked it,” Castro said. “It’s fun, and you can create your own idea.”

Denisse Castro made a bowl in pottery class during the first-year student summer program.

Denisse Pas Castro, who attended Texas Avenue school last year, made a bowl in pottery class at Summer School.

Clothing and textile teacher Fatimak Lewis helps students learn how to use a sewing machine and guides them as they make a piece of clothing by the end of the program.

Clothing and textile teacher teaches students parts of the sewing machine.

Clothing and textile teacher Fatimak Lewis teaches parts of the sewing machine through handouts and allows students to practice sewing straight lines on paper.

Mone’t Gist is another first-year student program teacher tasked with helping them learn their way. “They’re learning how to be in high school, and then they’re meeting people who are not like them from different backgrounds,” Alexander said.

During the first-year student program, they also meet guidance counselors and get involved with (STEAM) programs -- Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics. They learn mindfulness and work on character development. There is also a restorative practices component to the program to help students learn to mend relationships with accountability. “We are putting kids in the best position to have meaningful, successful outcomes,” Alexander said. “We need them to be able to self-regulate and think through processes.”

Jason Lantz, elementary sports teacher coordinator, who also works with the summer school program, said students who come to the First-year student program are more prepared in the fall.

At 7 a.m., they catch the bus, which is about an hour earlier than they are used to. They eat breakfast at school and socialize.

At 8 a.m., classes start. At 11:20 a.m. classes end. Then they can either go home or opt to stay at the academic institute where they learn life skills such as goal-setting, study habits, and financial literacy. “They’ll sit with their original school for about a week and a half,” said Lantz. “But by the end, they’re all blended.”

2024 Title 1 College & Career Readiness

The third program is the 2024 Title 1 College and Career Readiness Summer School. Rising 6th, 7th and 8th grade students are bussed to Atlantic City High School, in part, to motivate them to continue moving forward in their education. The program is aimed at early student retention and gives younger students something to look forward to. “It allows them to have early exposure to a potential career path,” Alexander said.

Welcome to Summer Anime! by Mr. Curtin

Summer school includes a whole art class on anime.

Nazar Crouch, who attended Sovereign Avenue School, also used the program to help find like-minded friends. She attended the summer anime art class. Anime is a Japanese-inspired art found in comic books and cartoons that has found growing mainstream acceptability. Although it is sometimes unpopular in urban communities, the high school offers a safe space for those who share anime interests.

Nazar Crouch found enjoys taking the Summer Anime class.

Nazar Crouch found others who enjoy anime in summer school.

“It makes me feel like I am not alone watching anime,” Crouch said. “There are other(s) ... like me who watch anime and are even cosplayers.”

2024 Summer Academic Institute

The fourth program is Summer Academic Institute, where existing students and approved rising first-year students learn to improve their test-taking skills on the SAT and ACT. The program also helps students see their potential. “It is designed to strengthen essential skills needed for success in high school and beyond,” Alexander said. “There really is something for everyone at summer school.” 

Harris said summer school programs offer opportunities for students who choose to make the most of them. “We pride ourselves on the summer programs that we offer, and we’re going to continue to build on what we have,” Harris said.