The Academy for College Preparation and Career Exploration, a small school on the historic Erasmus campus, works to prepare all students for college--even those who have struggled academically. It has a long way to go before it reaches that goal, but the administration is willing to try new things until it succeeds.

For example, College Prep introduced same sex classes for 6th grade with a view toward possibly extending this to the entire middle school. "We've found they're able to focus more on their academics," assistant principal Heather Newman said.

We saw some inspired classes in art and chorus, but many of the academic classes were ho-hum; students did test prep or completed written assignments at their desks while teachers looked on. Doris Unger, who became principal in 2010, says the school is increasing the support and training for teachers as a way to improve the quality of instruction.

Founded in 2006, the school is affiliated with the College Board, the organization that gives the SAT exams. The administration prides itself on nurturing children and giving them individual attention. "We can work with any child that's interested in what we do," said Unger.

The school offers several Advanced Placement classes, along with physics, algebra and trigonometry and electives such as anatomy and physiology and environmental science. It also is experimenting with on-line Chinese classes.

The staff at College Prep, along with those at other schools on the campus, regularly patrols the halls to make sure students are in class. Even so, nearly one-third of the students responding to the Learning Environment Surveys said they sometimes felt unsafe in the corridors or outside the building.

About 80 percent of graduates go on to college -- half to four-year and half to two-year schools. The school has a new college office with 11 computers students can use. Two college counselors do double duty as guidance counselors.

Special education: College Prep offers some team teaching classes and provides resource room services for students. It does not have any self-contained special ed classes.

Admission: Priority goes to continuing 8th graders who account for about one third of the 9th grade class. The other two thirds are unscreened. Most middle school students come from the surrounding area. (Gail Robinson, May 2012)