RECORD DEMAND

Alma received 822 applications for the 2023-24 school year. This included 162 applications for just 50 sixth grade seats.

YEAR in REVIEW

BUILDING CAPACITY:

In the past year, we’ve added a number of new staff members in order to strengthen our work. These roles include:

• Curriculum Director of Humanities

• STEM Curriculum Director

• Director of Scholar Support (Network based)

• Network Registrar

• Additional Secondary Schools Guidance Counselor

Alma Staff Are Dedicated To The Mission

: 95% of staff who received an offer returned to Alma for the 2023-24 school year.

Growth In Reading

Alma scholars experienced significant reading and ELA growth this year:

• 24% more scholars passed their Q3 ELA interim as compared to Q1.

• Additionally, 24% more scholars grew one reading level in Q3 as compared to Q1.

JOHANNY SURIEL, Class of 2031

Bishop Stang

I am so proud of the people we’ve become and the growth that we have shown, even though it was a difficult and long journey for many of us. The thing I loved most about Alma is that your classmates and the other people around you become your family.

It all started in Kindergarten, where most of us met and we found our first friends. Little did we know those friendships we created in Kindergarten would influence the people we are today.

IVERSON ARGUETA-ASENCIO, Class of 2031

GNB Voc-Tech

We have grown as people because we have learned to grow a special type of respect for each other, we have learned how to love and feel emotions for each other, and we have supported each other time and time again keeping our bonds strong. We have experienced change after change, but the one thing that remained constant was that we always had one another…none of this would be possible without our teachers. My teachers have pushed us to become better students by requiring critical thinking, encouraging students to practice, demanding academic success, and setting immense support for every single one of us.

LILA EMKEN, Class of 2031

GNB Voc-Tech

Graduating from Alma not only represents the end of this chapter in our lives, it is also the start of a new one. We should never forget that who we become was influenced and shaped by the experiences we have had within these four walls. If I can give one piece of advice it would be to challenge yourself, set the bar high and to never accept anything less than your best effort. This was the message told to me throughout my time at Alma and it has reinforced the idea that I am in control of my future.

I hope that we all continue to strive for greatness and remember that to become a great student we first had to understand what it meant to be a great scholar and our time at Alma has done.

ELENA MONTEIRO, Class of 2031

New Bedford High School

As we move on to the next chapter in our stories, I want you all to remember the lessons that you have learned at Alma. Scholars were taught to take ownership of their learning and think boldly while addressing complex academic and community issues.

We are the leaders of the future and we must continue to advocate for ourselves. And this is sometimes scary or even uncomfortable for us. However, this is a part of growing up and becoming the unique and one of a kind individuals that we know we are.

If someone would have told my 6th grade self, that I would be here today speaking at the 8th grade graduation, I would have told them, they were crazy! The Frederick Douglass speech competition is an annual event that commemorates the life and work of Frederick Douglass and celebrates scholarship, leadership, and service at Alma. After participating in this event, I learned the power of public speaking and finally found my voice. I gained a passion for spoken word.

To my fellow graduates, I encourage you to find your passion and embrace it. Remember to always be kind, persevere, take risks, and most importantly, don’t let fear overcome you. Speak your truth, even if your voice trembles.

State Funding

17,691,419 Federal Funding $ 3,284,679

Private Funding $ 358,037 Other $ 270,927

$ 21,605,062

$ 11,522,752

$ 2,971,398

$ 5,212,330

State Funding continues to increase due to the enrollment growth at the School’s additional campus but is offset with personnel and other expenses related to growth. Overall, Alma del Mar had a fiscally responsible surplus that met its required debt service covenants.