One area the school rated highest in was the school culture because of its high academic expectations for its students, which didn't surprise Assistant Principal Charlanne Pook.
"We do have pretty high academic standards for our kids. They must have an 80 percent or higher to pass a class," Pook said. "We believe that it is pretty disrespectful to the kids not to have high expectations."
Providence students are not bad kids, many just come from bad situations and the alternative school gives them an opportunity to succeed, she added.
Two of last year's graduates were good examples of that, Adams said.
"One girl was going to be 16 in the eighth grade and was making straight F's, the other was in high school but had some health issues and was failing," Adams said. "Both of them took duel credit classes here and at Asbury and made A's and B's and Asbury is not watering down their curriculum for Providence students."
When members of the team that conducted the report came to Providence to present the results to the teachers, students and parents, it really motivated the entire school community, Pook said.
"Teaching is general is a stressful job and this report kind of brought life back into the teachers and motivated them and let them know that all their hard work was paying off," Pook said. nts were probably more excited and proud."
Student Lou McDonald said two years ago he was planning on dropping out of school when he turned 16, but thanks to Providence and its staff he now plans to attend Lexington Community College.
"They kicked me out of West and sent me over here because I never went to class, I was always truant," he said. "I won't lie, at first I thought it was ignorant and childish, but then you actually listen to it and you're surprised how it works."
"So many of them just blossom here, they really do," Pook said.
