Mission Statement

VISION

Booker T. Washington/MS54 strives to develop and nurture a community of intelligent, mature and motivated learners with strong academic and critical thinking skills and a love for learning.

STATEMENT OF EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY

At Booker T. Washington Middle School, academic excellence is the foundation of our school culture. We are committed to providing rigorous academic opportunities to every student. We believe that both acceleration and remediation are vital to nurturing the potential of each student. We provide diverse opportunities to address the academic needs of our students, including a curriculum offering different levels of coursework.

MISSION STATEMENT

The Booker T. Washington Middle School Community will provide:
  1. A safe and nurturing environment that is sensitive to the needs of the individual student.
  2. A collegial staff which utilizes the experiences, resources and diversity of the entire school and community to accomplish the school’s goals.
  3. A unified community, which fosters learning and experiences leading to an understanding, appreciation and respect for diversity.
  4. An academic environment that reflects enrichment through intellectually appropriate activities and fosters scholastic excellence, independent learning and open communication.
  5. A curriculum designed to develop problem solving and critical thinking skills, by applying a variety of resources, groupings, and teaching strategies.
  6. A physical environment that is properly equipped, aesthetically pleasing, and is enhanced by students’ work and achievements.

What is distinctive about Booker T. Washington Middle School?

Booker T. Washington Middle School 54 is distinctive for many reasons, including:

  • Booker T. Washington is the largest middle school in District Three, with approximately 750 students. There are between 11 and 12 classes on each grade level. These classes include accelerated classes, integrated co-teaching classes, and small 12:1:1 special needs classes. Our classes are designed to meet students' academic needs including acceleration, remediation, special accommodations, and language proficiency.

  • Through a rigorous curriculum, students are taught the skills they need to ensure their academic success. These include organizational, time-management, and study skills, along with writing, critical reading, and questioning skills.

  • Class size across all subject areas is capped at 23 students.

  • A focus on the development of adolescents ensures that students' social and emotional well-being remains at the forefront.

  • A cadre of talented professionals, care about the students and work hard to provide engaging and challenging academic opportunities that meet their needs. Teachers have opportunities to engage in professional development and to work together to develop lessons and materials to bolster student learning.

  • Every student has the opportunity to take art and music during their middle school years. Our music department includes chorus, piano, strings and band classes. There are also electives in fine arts. We offer four languages: French, Mandarin Chinese, Latin, and Spanish.

  • Students who perform above grade level in math and science have the opportunity to take Regents Algebra and Earth and Space Science in eighth grade.

  • The school has a science laboratory, two computer laboratories, and a library. Our library has a collection of over 27,000 materials and is staffed by a full-time librarian.

  • Students' academic progress and overall well-being is our priority. We have a guidance counselor for each grade. Other members of our team include a school psychologist and another part-time social worker.

  • An articulation specialist oversees the middle school admissions and the high school articulation process.
She helps ensure that students are well-placed when they leave Booker T.

  • Extra-curricular activities and clubs run by the faculty have included student council, newspaper, debate, basketball, soccer, track club, volleyball teams, softball, pickleball, flag football, table tennis, art portfolio, music enrichment, jazz band, math team, Model United Nations, dance, step team, musical theater, crocheting, finance, computers, chess, and crossword puzzles.

  • An active Parent Teacher Association supports the programmatic and financial needs of the school. Dedicated parents work to supplement the school budget and volunteer their time and expertise.

 Booker T. Washington Middle School viewed from West 107th Street