Freshman Center
The purpose of the Freshman Center is to provide CHS students with a seamless transition to high school, a sense of community and support to pursue a challenging curriculum.
The educational experience offered by Carmel High School is like none other. A large school like ours offers a rich and varied curriculum, as well as numerous extra-curricular opportunities for our students. At Carmel High School, our curriculum includes not just a wide range of IB and AP courses, but also other rigorous academic offerings in our core departments. In addition, we offer exciting electives like radio, TV and print media, advanced art classes, multiple programs in industrial technology, family and consumer sciences and business, and challenging classes in performing arts.
Carmel is a school that defies typical stereotypes. Historically, student attendance, behavior and achievement here are outstanding. Our student body is involved in athletics, performing arts and activities to an impressive rate. “You only leave with you what you leave behind” --Dale E. Graham. This is our motto and our students understand the importance of getting involved.
The Freshman Center facility has three floors, each nearly identical in structure. We refer to the floors as Houses, and each House has very similar course offerings. Each House includes about 450 freshmen who have most of their academic classes in that area of the building as well as their locker. In addition, we have 4 counselors assigned to the Freshman Center. Freshmen teachers will provide information about supplies needed and expectations for each class at their first class meeting.
House teachers help provide consistency for students, allow for collaborative time together, and increases availability for student support. In-building counselors allow for easier access and better communication with students and staff.
Carmel High School has been recognized by the Secretary of Education as a National Blue Ribbon School. In addition to that very prestigious honor, we are named a Best Buy School by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce. We are very proud of these honors and realize that they are acknowledgements of years of excellence in education.
Our staff is on a journey of professional development that includes Professional Learning Communities. In these groups, teachers are thoroughly examining their curriculum and teaching practices, finding ways to ensure student achievement and exploring ways to support students who are struggling.
Carmel High School is a great place for students. And we are always looking for ways to improve so that we can offer the best experience possible for our students.
Contacts
Freshman Main Office
Using School Dismissal Manager is preferred to help manage absences and eliminate large quantities of call to front desk staff.
Transition
Research shows us that students entering 9th grade are at a vulnerable point in their academic careers. At the Freshman Center, we are committed to making that transition as smooth as possible for our students. We work to create a seamless bridge to high school for students and parents. We make involvement in student activities a norm for our freshmen and offer the Greyhound Kickoff Mentor program and a variety of opportunities for incoming families to get comfortable with their school.
Community
We work to develop a sense of community in school through the development and nurturing of relevant relationships in academic and extracurricular areas in each House. Each House works to administer to the "whole" student - socially, academically and physically -- by providing a safe, dynamic environment that is supportive and welcoming. In the Freshman Center, we also focus our energies on staying connected to Carmel High School by honoring the traditions, history and expectations of our school.
Challenge
The Freshman Center is committed to creating a supportive environment where all students are expected to excel in an appropriately rigorous curriculum. This is accomplished by building a foundation of solid study skills that supports high academic expectations so our students can continue to achieve above state requirements. Students are expected to develop and maintain a long range plan. Our staff employs a system of intervention for students who do not demonstrate academic proficiency.