Attendance Areas

The primary centers serve students in kindergarten through grade four and are designed to provide young children with a solid educational base in a child-centered and nurturing learning environment. There are 13 primary centers, each with distinct attendance boundaries. Students are assigned to primary centers within their home attendance areas.

There are also six primary magnet schools. Enrollment in the magnet schools is based on eligibility and is controlled on a capacity and racial compliance basis.

Program Description

The educational program in the primary centers focuses on the Indiana Academic Standards for mathematics, language arts, social studies, science, and health. Technology is an important part of the instructional program. In addition to art, music, and physical education instruction, a social skills component is integrated into the curriculum.

• strong basic skills curriculum based on the Indiana Academic Standards
• innovative "hands-on" inquiry science program
• technology based instruction in each classromm
• complete breakfast and lunch program
• full support staff (nurses, social workers, health aides)
• extracurricular programs
• safety patrol for grades 3 and 4

PRIMARY MAGNET SCHOOLS

Kennedy Primary Academy

Kennedy Primary Academy is designed to provide highly capable children in kindergarten through fourth grade with rigorous academic expectations and requirements in all core subjects. It offers children an educational environment that is rich in print and technology. The curriculum is sophisticated and balanced with features including: customized math-science labs, mobile/wireless computer labs, internet labs, computer clusters in each classroom, and a computerized planetarium. The curriculum includes a math and science cluster, and a humanities cluster. A second language opportunity is planned. Students work in flexible groups across grade levels, interests, & abilities.

Hamilton Traditional School, Lafayette Traditional School, and Tarkington Traditional School

The traditional schools are primary centers for children in kindergarten through fourth grade with a strong emphasis on high academic standards, student responsibility, and parent and community involvement. The educational program provides children with opportunities for academic, social, and emotional growth in a highly structured "back-to-basics" learning environment. The instructional program is centered on the Indiana Academic Standards in lessons that are well developed and highly structured. Homework and reading are daily requirements, and parents are required to be active participants in their child’s education.

Perley Primary Fine Arts Academy

This magnet school integrates fine arts into the academic curriculum Many studies have shown that when students play a musical instrument, sing, dance, and do creative arts they also become better readers, spellers, and mathmaticians. Artists in residence will provide instruction in ceramics, drama, painting, and puppetry.

Marquette Primary Montessori Academy

Marquette Primary Montessori Academy is the first public Montessori school in St. Joseph County. For the 2008-09 school year, children who are 3, 4 and 5 years old will be instructed in the Montessori method. Children are first taught, then encouraged, and finally expected to make their own work choices during the day.

Magnet Transfer Options

Parents may request transfers to the primary center magnet schools. Admission is based on eligibility, and is controlled on a capacity and racial compliance basis.

In addition, transfers may be requested for children assigned to a school with an enrollment of minority (black) students that exceeds the racial guidelines (minority to majority), or for children assigned to a school with an enrollment of majority (nonblack) students that exceeds the racial guidelines (majority to minority). These M to M transfers are required and permitted in order to comply with the racial compliance ranges of the Consent Decree.

In order to implement the M to M transfers, the primary centers have been organized into clusters. Some clusters are designed to show where minority (black) students may request transfers to schools with too few minority students. Other clusters are designed to show where majority (nonblack) students may request transfers to schools with too few majority students. Clusters may change depending on school enrollments.

CLUSTERS
Minority to Majority				Majority to Minority
Coquillard		Darden		Darden		Coquillard Madison Muessel
Madison		Darden Hay Swanson
Marquette		Swanson		Nuner		Perley
Muessel		Darden Swanson		Swanson		Madison Muessel Marquette
Perley		Nuner McKinley

PRIMARY CENTERS

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