High School - Maya Angelou Public Charter Schools - See Forever Foundation (2024)

Programs

Perhaps the most compelling difference between Maya Angelou and traditional public schools is the level of work educators put into catering to the complex and acute needs of our students, through the following programs:

MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND SOCIO EMOTIONAL LEARNING

Specialists work directly in classes and with the same group of students to support both the academic and social emotional growth of scholars. Mental health counselors provide group and individual counseling services as required.

RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM

Maya Angelou provides a safe, therapeutic and structured environment for students who are in need of a secure place to live Monday through Friday in order for them to succeed at school. Currently, there are approximately 20 students living in group-based supervised residential homes throughout the city.

COLLEGE AND CAREER SUCCESS

MAPCS emphasizes skills that are important for college and/or career success and offers students a solid proficiency standard for learning upon high school graduation. In addition to ourBusiness InstituteandAcademy of Hospitality and Tourism, the entire high school participates in college and career visits, information sessions and fairs. All students are required to submit a minimum of four (two- and four-year) college applications.

ACADEMY OF HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM

The Academy of Hospitality and Tourism (AOHT) is the newest initiative in the MAPCS Post-Secondary Success programs focused on student success after high school. The AOHT has an open enrollment policy for students entering the 10th grade, who have an interest in exploring career paths in the hospitality and tourism industry (and its many associated careers i.e. real estate, accounting and medical services), and for students who have set their sights on attending college. The course of study is three years. It is a rigorous academic program, with a significant work-based learning component (field trips, guest speakers, and job shadowing), culminating in a high-level paid internship. Scholars of the AOHT will enjoy a personalized element to their high school experience; with staff focused on each individual’s specific college and career aspirations. Academic supports such as mentoring, tutoring and counseling will be readily available—and in some cases mandatory—for all AOHT students. Under the banner of NAF (formerly the National Academy Foundation), the AOHT is part of a national network of schools and corporate partners that have a track record of success for over 30 years. With a graduation rate of 97%, NAF academies are “structured as small, focused learning communities that fit within and enhance high school systems.”

ALUMNI SUPPORT

This program provides intensive support to alums for the first two years following high school (and ongoing support for all alum) so that graduates can “beat the odds” for college access and persistence. Graduates receive assistance such as help in researching and selecting a college or trade program, securing financial aid packages and course selection.

FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER

The Family Resource Center empowers family members to invest in their child’s education and helps families and individuals to capitalize on their strengths, learn new skills, and connect with people and resources in Washington, D.C. In addition, ourFood Pantry and Clothing Closetprovides students and their families can find clothing, non-perishable foods, baby clothes and diapers for our teen parents, hygiene products, among other items.

BLACK BROADWAY PERFORMING ARTS COMPANY

Black Broadway Performing Arts Company, LLC provides performing arts programsfor schools using an original, comprehensive Black History and Literacy curriculum. We are an educational program that utilizes theater and music arts to teach history and strengthen literacy skills. We believe that that all young people have the ability to succeed, and should be offered the opportunity to learn and achieve through artistic expression. It is our desire, as educators and artists, to assist and equip youth with the tools needed to fulfill their greatest potentials. The visionforBlack Broadway Performing Arts Company isforevery young person to be artistically engaged, and inspired to achieve their goals. At the heart of Black Broadway’s approach is Positive Youth Development. Positive Youth Development refers to intentional efforts of other youth, adults, communities, government agencies and schools to provide opportunitiesforyouth to enhance their interests, skills, and abilities.

This fall, Black Broadway joined the Maya Angelou family to provide an engaging, introductoryperforming arts courseforthe students. The course fuses Black History and Performing Arts conceptsto develop strong values of discovery, expression, and identity. Students use film, music, and media to understand stories about Ancient African Empires, traveling through time to present day issues in America. Students use their personal stories and newly learned concepts to develop pieces to share at the quarterly production.

SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING & CULTURE

The Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Department is committed to helping students develop the social and emotional skills necessary to be successful while at the Maya Angelou Schools and as they move on to career and postsecondary pursuits. More specifically, our work is focused on building emotional capacity within our students and equipping them with the skills to negotiate many of the stressful life events that they have experienced at home and within the community. To achieve these goals, the SEL Department follows a strength-based approach to enable students to achieve the following (5) core competencies:

• Self-Awareness
• Self-Management/Regulation
• Social Awareness
• Relationship Skills
• Responsible Decision-Making

BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT AT MAPCS

The Business Administration & Management pathway at MAPCS was launched in 2016 with the generous support of the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) through a Carl D. Perkins grant to support career and technical education programs.

Students are Maya Angelou PCS will enjoy the opportunity to complete a four course sequence that is

intended to prepare them to enter the workforce. Students who complete the entire sequence will have the opportunity to take an industry-recognized technical skill assessment intended to provide access to jobs in the business sector.

Extracurricular Activities

Basketball, Football, Volleyball, Cheerleading and Step Team