Academic Resource

The purpose of Academic Resource (AR) is to provide qualifying, academically talented middle school students an innovative and challenging curriculum that combines teacher-led instruction with independent study and small group work.

Note: Academic Resource is NOT the advanced version of ELA or in place of ELA.

Content

Academic Resource (AR) is a rigorous, humanities-based enrichment course that includes writing, reading, speaking, and project-based work. At each grade level, students will explore various age-appropriate topics that promote inquiry and a deeper understanding of global themes. Course content and pacing is ideal for students who:

have strong, formal writing skills, including content organization and language usage resulting in clear, descriptive, yet concise output.
are independent learners who are internally motivated and do not mind work time outside of class. Students should be able to manage multi-faceted projects with milestones and deadlines.
are critical thinkers.

Placement

Students are placed in Academic Resource (AR) by committee approval when they meet these requirements (space permitting):

95th percentile (+2/-2) for the Spring/Fall/Winter reading i-Ready assessments. (With the district's shift from NWEA to i-Ready, eligibility scores will utilize i-Ready results in conjunction with former NWEA scores)
Exceeding expectations in English Language Arts (ELA), along with a review of their 5th-grade report card across all subjects to ensure the program's additional academic challenge is appropriate.
All students, including students in ALPS*, will need to meet this criteria for placement. 5th grade students who meet these requirements will receive an invitation to AR in the spring of their 5th grade year.

Office of Instruction

Northville Public Schools
405 West Main Street
Northville MI 48167
(248) 344-3526

Krystal Muhammad
Director of Instructional Programs & Services
muhammadkr@northvilleschools.org

Tanya Pitkin
Administrative Specialist
pitkinta@northvilleschools.org

6th Grade Students

This is an enrichment opportunity for academically talented students who meet these requirements (space provided):

95th percentile (+2/-2) for the Spring/Fall/Winter reading i-Ready assessments. (With the district's shift from NWEA to i-Ready, eligibility scores will utilize i-Ready results in conjunction with former NWEA scores)
Exceeding expectations in English Language Arts (ELA), along with a review of their 5th-grade report card across all subjects to ensure the program's additional academic challenge is appropriate.
All students, including students in ALPS*, will need to meet this criteria for placement.
5th grade students who meet these requirements will receive an invitation to AR in the spring of their 5th grade year.

Current 5th grade students who did not receive initial placement into AR and would like further consideration must submit an application by TBD. There are no exceptions.

Academic Resource Student Application

7th and 8th Grade Students

New Students

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Appeals Process

This appeal, made to the Assistant Superintendent of Instruction, must provide substantial evidence that a student will be successful in this course.

Upon receipt of the appeal request, the Assistant Superintendent for Instruction will convene a review team which will be comprised of at least two other educators. The review team will meet to review all submitted appeal forms. The decision of the Appeal Review Committee is final.

Requests must be received by May 15, 2026.

What to include in your Appeal Application
Academic Resource Appeals Application

What to include in your Appeal Application

All supporting documentation included within the appeal form and must be submitted by the posted deadline. The appeal may include the following materials:

A letter from the family/caregivers clearly detailing their reasoning for desiring AR placement.
A statement from the student detailing his/her reasoning for desiring AR.
Demonstration of the student’s aptitude and/or achievement in Language and Literature (English Language Arts). This should include a product that the student has authored or created that demonstrates creativity and strong language skills. It can include a photograph of the product with explanation, written composition, media presentation, etc.
Examples of the student’s work done through NPS or through an outside entity.
Performance through academic competitions.

The appeal application and the student’s compiled academic record will be reviewed.

Academic Resource Appeals Application

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Northville Public Schools {NPS) choose to offer these arrangements?

These organizational styles are arrangements recommended to facilitate differentiation of the curriculum. This was a recommendation partially from the Citizen-Staff Advisory Committee in 1987. This group believed that the needs of the academically talented students differ from others, primarily in degree and dimension, and recommended that all students who qualify for these learning options have opportunities to be grouped together. Please note, this class does not replace a student’s ELA or Social Studies course.

What is the advanced program in both middle schools?

The Academic Resource (AR) class meets for one period every day during the Academic Enrichment hour and replaces the student's enrichment class. AR allows students who qualify to work together and challenge each other. Students participate in whole class work, cooperative learning groups, and individual studies. Subject topics are derived from core curriculum and student interests. Students must maintain a minimum grade point average of B to stay in the class.

How is the curriculum differentiated in AR?

In the Academic Resource class, instruction focuses on projects that develop higher order thinking skills, problem-solving, interpretation of material, divergent thinking, independent study, and research skills. It is a class that combines language arts and social studies topics with various themes, like survival, ingenuity, etc. The AR class substitutes for the Academic Enrichment class and extends learning in the core classes (ELA or social studies) in a way that is appropriate to students who qualify for this class option.

Are students reevaluated to remain in the AR program?

Once a student qualifies for AR and accepts the placement, the student remains in the program. The appropriateness of the placement is always being evaluated by teachers and parents. Students must minimally maintain a B- average to remain in the class. Students who do not maintain this average are placed on probation for one quarter and revaluated at the end of the quarter to determine academic success. The parent and teacher should discuss any concerns in order to help the student be more successful. If the student continues to fall below a B- for a second quarter, that student is exited from the program with consideration given to scheduling and time of year. Note: the quarters do not have to be sequential and can occur in different years. Students who are exited from the program enroll in Academic Enrichment courses and receive the same quality education as their peers.