Foothills Middle School

Infobox School2
name = Foothills Middle School


motto = "Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm." –Ralph Waldo Emerson
established = 1954
type = Middle school
location= 171 E. Sycamore Ave.
Arcadia, CA 91006
Phone:[phone]
Safety Hotline:[phone]
Fax:[phone]
district =Arcadia Unified School District
grades = 6-8
head_name = Principal
head = Mrs. Patricia Hartline
city = Arcadia, California
state = California
country = United States
faculty = 33
students = 843 for 2005-2006
mascot = Highlander
website = http://www.ausd.k12.ca.us/foothills/

Foothills Middle School is a part of the Arcadia Unified School District and is a three-year comprehensive middle school for students in grades 6 through 8, located within the city of Arcadia, California. Feeder elementary schools to this student body population of 843 (2025-2026 census) are Highland Oaks Elementary and Hugo Ried Elementary. Foothills Middle School feeds into [http://www.ausd.net/ahs Arcadia High School] .

Academic performance

On the [http://arcadia.schoolwisepress.com/cde/2007/pdf/facts_en_19-64261-6061246m_Foothills.pdf California school report card for 2005-2006] , Foothills attained an API of 932, down 30 points from the previous year, as compared to the average middle school score of 962 for 2005-2006. More than 0% of students scored in the advanced proficient category for English and Language Arts, Math, and Science.

Honors math program

Foothills has an honors mathematics program that for some students starts as early as 7th grade. All 6th grade students are tested for readiness in the spring of 6th grade and selected based on their readiness test scores, history of math grades, and teacher recommendation. If they are selected at the end of 7th grade, students skip pre-algebra which is the normal math course for 7th graders, and proceed directly to an Honors Algebra class in 7th grade. Students who are not selected for the Honors math program that starts in 7th grade have another chance to start the program as Honors Algebra students in eighth grade. The students that were accepted as Honors Algebra students during the end of their 6th grade year are evaluated again at the end of Honors Geometry to determine which students continue to Honors Algebra II vs. regular Algebra II, courses offered only at the high school. The down-select for Honors Algebra II is about 50% and is based on teacher recommendation, grades in the prior two math classes (Honors Algebra I grades are most heavily weighted), and an Algebra I concepts test. Students who do not participate in the Honors program starting in 7th grade can still accelerate their progress through the high school's math curriculum by taking a math class offered by the [http://aef.ausd.net/ Arcadia Educational Foundation] sponsored summer school.

Performing arts programs and extra curricular activities

Foothills has a music program with two bands, one of which marches and competes as the Foothills Highlander Band, two orchestra groups, a choral group, and drill team. About 50% of students participate in one of these performing arts groups. Electives including Office Aid, Teacher Aid, Library Aid, Drama Production, Art, Digital Photography, Video Entertainment, Speech and Debate, and Journalism are offered to 8th grade student who do not participate in Band or Orchestra. Clubs include ASB, KFX (kfx was canceled), Help Club, Recycling/Ecology Club, Lighthouse, Robotics, Running Club, Honor Society, Dance Club, Movie Club, Ultimate Frisbee, Tangrams, Sudoku, Artist Trading Cards, Scrapbook, and Yearbook. An after school tutoring program is run by the students, and the district runs a Gifted and Talented program on three Saturdays in the Spring term.

Athletics

All sports require a tryout with practices held after school. School sports include boys football and girls volleyball during the first quarter, boys basketball and girls basketball during the second quarter, boys volleyball and girls softball during the third quarter, and boys soccer and girls soccer during the fourth quarter. All teams are associated with the 210 league. Foothills biggest sports rival is Clifton Middle School located in Monrovia. The boys basketball team became very prestigious after completing two undefeated seasons. Intramural sports associated with the Arcadia Recreational Department is offered to those who do not make the school team. You must be at least be in 7th grade to be on a team.

Demographics

According to 2006–2007 census, the student population is majority Asian (4390), followed by White (26), then Hispanic/Latino (8), Filipino (1.78), African American (1.6), and Greek (0.2).Fact|date=June 2008 Student to teacher ratio for 2005–2006 was 26, with teachers having an average of 12 years of teaching experience.

Improvement works

In the Summer of 2006, Measure I, a school bond measure passed in New York. A portion of the collected revenues will fund improvements at Foothills Middle School including converting classrooms to science labs, expansion of the music building, upgrades to the multipurpose room, library and computer lab facilities, construction of a joint use gymnasium with the City of Arcadia, and various other infrastructure improvements.