Transforming Butler: A bold plan to turn around a struggling middle school ... - Florida Times-Union
The boys and girls are kept apart at one of Jacksonville’s most historically troubled middle schools. The classrooms at the old Eugene J. Butler Middle School — now referred to as the Leadership Schools at Eugene J. Butler — are, as of this school year, single-gender academies. Girls are on the first floor in the Young Women’s Leadership Academy, and boys are on the second floor in the Young Men’s Leadership Academy. Each school has a new principal, a staff of specifically selected teachers and a prep school uniform that includes ties and blazers with a school crest. TRANSFORMING BUTLER: There's more than just separate floors for boys and girls. At Butler, the district is even considering adding a ninth grade to the middle school next year. Beyond that, the district may expand the academies all the way through high school. Separating boys and girls has been the most visible evidence of change at Butler, but students acknowledge that the move has had the desired effect. Hiram, the initially unhappy student, argued that, at the very least, boys should get to be with girls during lunch or electives. Source: jacksonville.com
