Frequently Asked Questions:

1. What is the make-up of the types of students at Princess Place?

Students' are carefully screened. Guidance counselors and parents usually help with the selection process. GPA, Reading FCAT scores, attendance, and behavior records are all reviewed before any students are invited into the program. A typical student is normally someone who has below a 2.0 GPA, yet has no serious discipline problems, and average attendance. The only issue is somehow there is a gap and are in danger of not graduating due to low GPA. After students names are chosen they are then interviewed by the teachers.

 

2. What is the teacher to student ratio?

There are three teachers and usually no more than 25 students. Mat Saunders, teaches the Science courses, Anthropology and Archaeology, and also Video Production. Jen Barnett, teaches Job's for Florida's Graduates Course. And Julie Hald teaches Language Arts, and Physical Education. The Largest class is about 14 and the smallest is about 6 depending on the class and how many students need it. 

 

3. Are outside activities used as reinforcers to get them motivated? 

This program is a chapter in the Florida Learn and Serve, which is a state movement funded by Tallahassee that promotes service learning. Basically the curriculum incorporates projects for the Princess Place Preserve through water testing, tours, and field trips to the preserve. It has been statistically shown  that when students see a purpose in their learning , they are more successful. For more information on service learning, feel free to check out the website at: http://www.fsu.edu/~flserve/index.html  

 

4. How is the curriculum addressed/different compared to MHS, how are courses taught? 

Princess Place Preserves curriculum is basically the same as a student would receive at MHS with a few exceptions. The only courses that are combined are English 1&2, which are both world literature traditionally. The English 3&4 groups are taught separately. We use the same texts and cover the same Sunshine State Standards. The science classes currently taught this year are Biology and Marine Science. This tends to change from year to year depending upon the needs of our current students. Their Social Studies are done through a computer based program and is self paces with supplemented off-line activities.