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Atlas Freshman House

Overview

In 2009, Skyline launched Atlas, an innovative new program for freshman. In the Atlas house system, each ninth grader is placed in a team named after a mythological figure represented by Skyline’s mascot, the Titan. The four teams in the Atlas house:

  • Gaia
  • Metis
  • Prometheus
  • Themis

In this structure, the teams of ninth grade students share the same four teachers for English, Social Studies, Math, and Science, providing a greater opportunity for teachers to communicate with each other regarding their students’ social well-being and academic development. Freshmen also attend a bi-monthly “advisory” period hosted by the Atlas Lead teacher during which they receive lessons in academic and career planning, study skills, interpersonal development and citizenship.

With each teacher serving as an advisor for only 25 students, the Atlas system permits a greater connection to be established between teachers, students, and families. As one teacher succinctly stated, “No one falls through the cracks.”

For their freshman year, as for each of the four years at Skyline, students will have 7 periods per day, enabling all students to get their college requirements (A-G) as well as additional enriching classes in technology, arts, and music.

Atlas Freshman House Structure

Each Atlas house is a cohort of 135-150 students and 4 teachers. All the students in the cohort will have the same core teachers for:

  • English
  • Biology
  • Math  (students who come in to Skyline with higher Math will be placed into the appropriate level math class outside their cohort as necessary)
  • One support teacher for special education is assigned to each house
Atlas Banner