Middle Years Alternative School

I am a current 8th grader at MYA, the school is ridicously bad this year. Yes, it is true MYA is academicly strong but the current principle, Mrs. Fitzpatrick makes it feel awful. It seems as if she is just in it for the money, not the students. The teachers are great. They try to remember everyones name. But, Fitzpatrick only really remember the names of the kids who regurly get sent to her office. I feel sorry for the current 7th, 6th, and 5th graders who have to spend a year or more with her. I also feel sorry for the future students.
—Submitted by a student

I would like to counter some of the comments made by a teacher dated January 7, 2009. In terms of preparing students for testing, this is a district wide policy which MYA teachers follow and are successful in implementing. MYA has made Annual Yearly Progress for 7 years in a row. As for certification, teachers must have certification in order to provide adequate and effective teaching. The fact that a teacher is rushed in obtaining it is of no consequence of the school, again this is a district and state mandate. The mixing of the 'Sels' is inclusion. All schools in the city and beyond are doing this. Lastly, students receive strong instruction and consistent attention to subject matter in which they are struggling. Comments left on this page by students is a testament of MYA's program.
—Submitted by a teacher

I am a student who just recently moved back into the area. I left the school in 2002, some of the best memories of my life are of MYA it was a great enviroment to learn in even though the building we had when i was there was not the best. My classmates were like family and the teachers connected with us as students and helped us better ourselves. I cant speak to the current state of the school but if any of my old teachers are still there i would definnately recomend this school as one of the pest public schools in philadelphia.
—Submitted by a student

I have some objections to the post by the teacher dated April 13,2008.Teachers where layed off.I know I was one of them.We did teach children to pass the test along with additional academics that was required.To begin with.The teachers that was not certified was given one year to obtain certification by taking the test. Which cost hundreds of dollars each time a teacher take the test.Although the instruction level can be strong sometimes.Due to the transition of mixing M.Y.A students with some Sels. students who are behind academically in some major subjects.Some teachers appear to be giving the sels. students more attention academically.The M.Y.A. students are left to take care of themseves academically during some classroom periods with very little assistance.If they get stuck on a hard problem and need some help.The teachers are so busy trying to help the sels. students catch up academically. (good note)Basketball for Mya male,+female studentsFinally!
—Submitted by a teacher

MYA is a excellent school and my child is graduating next year im very proud.
—Submitted by a parent

I have objections to the post by a parent dated September 27, 2007. To begin with, teachers were not laid off. Teachers at times can transfer or retire as the case with the staff that has left. 'MYA seems to just teach children to pass test...' The instruction level at MYA is very strong and not only prepares students for testing but also prepares students to succeed in high school. Numerous eighth grade students move on to magnet and criterion based schools. Many go on to complete high school and attend college. Extra activities are not geared towards one gender. There is a two period time slot on Friday afternoons where students choose an activity that is creatively crafted by teachers who want to provide opportunities to delve into other topics to produce a well rounded student.
—Submitted by a teacher

M.y.a has change a great deal since the late eighties when I attended.My son started in 2005.Since then most of his friends and some good teachers has left or been laid off.Mya seems to just teach children to pass test such as the terra nova,pssa and any other test that are required for schools to stay open.Most of the after school activities are geared to the girls such as basket ball,track.Unless it,s relates to tutoring services or chess.Some of the monthly bake sale monies never go towards childrens trips just snacks for occasional parties.The parents pays full fees for all trips if any should occur that year.wednesday night was the first back to school night.mostly filled with new parents.I really felt like getting on the mike and telling parents to run for the border!The old mya is history!Some of the things you have just heard is a big front!peace
—Submitted by a parent

I am a graduate of MYA. I graduted in 2000. MYA is a great school the teachers there are really into what they do. There are after school activities, electives, one on one help if nessecary over all MYA is a great school that prepares you for the future. MYA offers alot of extra acctivites that most middle schools don't offer. When I attended MYA every Marking Period we would get to pick a new elective. Some of the electives they had to offer included, chour, cooking classes, pillow making, painting, dance,ect. At the end of each marking period we would share all of the work we did in electives by haveing a festival. Elective was the last two periods of every friday. So you see MYA goes above and beyond to provide the best education possiable for your child and at the same time they make learning fun.
—Submitted by Donna, a former student

I'm not a parent either, but a former student who had the honor to attend such a fine school. In all of my four years of attending MYA, I learned so much and made so many friends. MYA is really one of the best middle schools out there and it does prepare you for the future unlike no other middle school. It has some of the best, most well educated and caring teachers there are. The former principal, Ms. Nye did an excellent job keeping this school smart and up-to-date. You would really be making the right choice to send your child to such an excellent school as MYA is. --Paul Yeskelawitch c/o 2005
—Submitted by a former student

I'm not a parent, but a former student. I've just graduated from here, the Class of 2004! I have had the privilage to attend MYA and I must say that I have enjoyed the quality of my former teachers' teaching and the way that the school upholds its' academics. MYA is the one of the best Philadelphia Public Schools that a student can attend, and parents would make a good choice of sending their kids to MYA. MYA has high academic standards here and that's one of the things that prepare us for high school. I'll miss this school so much. This shows how much a student enjoys a school such as one like this. Thank you to my teachers and principal, Ms. Nye for four wonderful years at MYA.
—Submitted by Lin H., a former student