By Emina Cirkic
They walk through the halls like everyone else at Lane, talking with friends and rushing to get to class. The noticeable difference, however, is that many stand less than four feet tall and actually wear their ID’s. The seventh graders attending Lane this year live normal lives like the rest of the students at Lane; their schedules, however, are a bit more hectic. Barely into the first stages of their teenage years, the Lane Academic Center (LTAC) students have to juggle the social adjustments high school brings and a heavy course load.
The 84 students that are attending the LTAC are in the top 97th percentile in the city. LTAC students are taking ninth grade level classes and already getting high school credit for them. Most of the LTAC students must take honors algebra 1, honors biology, and an honors world language of their choice. Language arts, social science, music/art, and physical education are among the other classes they are required to take.
“The classes here are a lot harder, but also more interesting than at my old school,” said Abigail Henkin, Div. 750.
So far, most of the students seem to be adjusting without any complications.
“The [LTAC students are] blending in beautifully…minus their height,” said Ms. Ulmer, the LTAC Language Arts teacher. “[They] are excited to be here and learning is their number one priority. They aren’t distracted with high school things.”
The significant age difference between the upperclassmen and the LTAC students provides teachers with different classroom atmospheres throughout the day.
“I look forward to both [high school and LTAC students]. It is a nice balance in my day,” said Mr. Chipman, the Social Science teacher for the LTAC students who also works as a history and German teacher for high school students.
“They are all full of high energy and ask a lot of questions,” Chipman said. “I need more patience with them. I am impressed with [the students]. They are bright and eager to learn.”
When the LTAC students reach eighth grade they have to take all honors classes, which include survey literature, geometry, chemistry, world studies, a language, and physical education. By the eleventh and twelfth grades, all their classes will be AP electives.
“I’m excited for AP classes. They’ll be fun and it’ll be a chance for me to figure out what I like to do,” Henkin said.
In addition to the specific schedules, LTAC students also have their own separate clubs and academic activities. Any sports the LTAC students participate in will run through the CPS middle school league. It will include soccer, volleyball, double dutch, tennis, and cheerleading. They will also be participating in History Fair and Science Fair.
The LTAC students applied to the six-year program in order to excel in school while tackling a challenging academic load.
