Our Mission:
Berkley is committed to inspiring our students to Believe in Better, to encourage them to aspire to higher learning, and challenge them to achieve their maximum individual potential while providing a supportive and safe educational environment.
"Believe in BETTER!"
Berkley is committed to inspiring our students to Believe in Better, to encourage them to aspire to higher learning, and challenge them to achieve their maximum individual potential while providing a supportive and safe educational environment.
"Believe in BETTER!"
Our Program:
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Academic Excellence
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Collaborative Approach
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Enrichment Activities
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Technologically Advanced
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School History
INITIAL DEVELOPMENT
The concept for BAMS, now Berkley Accelerated and Advanced Studies, began in response to parent and community requests for a more comprehensive feeder program for Berkley Elementary Charter, a highly successful Kindergarten through fifth grade school. Mrs. Jill Bolender took this request and recruited a highly qualified board of directors, convinced a developer to donate five acres of land beside Berkley Elementary Charter School, and with the help and support of parents, board of directors, and community members, wrote and received approval for Berkley Accelerated Middle School. Our start-up charter middle school provides a seamless K-8 educational experience for the students of the Auburndale/Polk City area with an emphasis on excellence in education and accelerating each student to their individual highest potential.
Berkley Accelerated Middle School's first year of existence proved to be a stellar year. Notwithstanding the challenges of starting a new school, working in a temporary facility, three hurricanes, and moving into our permanent building, BAMS board of directors, faculty, staff, parents, community members, and the students contributed to an impressive beginning.
Opening in August 2004 with 110 sixth graders, BAMS met in the First Baptist Church of Auburndale while its permanent site was under construction. BAMS five teachers, secretary, and founding administrator Mrs. Bolender, trained and certified prior to the school's opening, doubled as bus drivers, custodians, and cafeteria workers. Clubs and organizations, sponsored by parents, teachers, administration, and community members, offered students learning opportunities beyond the classroom. The board of directors worked tirelessly to support and provide oversight in creating policies and approving budgets for BAMS to be successful. On October 28, 2005, over forty parents and community members helped move the school from its temporary site into BAMS newly constructed building at our current location. October 31, 2005 gave us all treats and no tricks as our students started the day at First Baptist, and then moved into their new school building. Our 200 sixth and seventh grade students took part in a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony that was the fruition of many volunteers hard work.
A TIMELINE OF BAMS' HISTORY
INITIAL DEVELOPMENT
The concept for BAMS, now Berkley Accelerated and Advanced Studies, began in response to parent and community requests for a more comprehensive feeder program for Berkley Elementary Charter, a highly successful Kindergarten through fifth grade school. Mrs. Jill Bolender took this request and recruited a highly qualified board of directors, convinced a developer to donate five acres of land beside Berkley Elementary Charter School, and with the help and support of parents, board of directors, and community members, wrote and received approval for Berkley Accelerated Middle School. Our start-up charter middle school provides a seamless K-8 educational experience for the students of the Auburndale/Polk City area with an emphasis on excellence in education and accelerating each student to their individual highest potential.
Berkley Accelerated Middle School's first year of existence proved to be a stellar year. Notwithstanding the challenges of starting a new school, working in a temporary facility, three hurricanes, and moving into our permanent building, BAMS board of directors, faculty, staff, parents, community members, and the students contributed to an impressive beginning.
Opening in August 2004 with 110 sixth graders, BAMS met in the First Baptist Church of Auburndale while its permanent site was under construction. BAMS five teachers, secretary, and founding administrator Mrs. Bolender, trained and certified prior to the school's opening, doubled as bus drivers, custodians, and cafeteria workers. Clubs and organizations, sponsored by parents, teachers, administration, and community members, offered students learning opportunities beyond the classroom. The board of directors worked tirelessly to support and provide oversight in creating policies and approving budgets for BAMS to be successful. On October 28, 2005, over forty parents and community members helped move the school from its temporary site into BAMS newly constructed building at our current location. October 31, 2005 gave us all treats and no tricks as our students started the day at First Baptist, and then moved into their new school building. Our 200 sixth and seventh grade students took part in a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony that was the fruition of many volunteers hard work.
A TIMELINE OF BAMS' HISTORY
- 2004-2005 BAMS opens at First Baptist Church in Auburndale serving 110 sixth grade students with a staff of seven.
- 2005-2006 BAMS moves into its new building at 5316 Berkley Rd., on Oct. 31, serving 200 sixth and seventh grade students with a staff of sixteen.
- 2006-2007 BAMS Board of Directors approves the budget for and adds 6 modular classrooms to its campus serving 310 sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students with a staff of twenty-three.
- 2007-2008 BAMS adds 2 more modular classrooms to its campus and the Board of Directors approve plans for a new gymnasium building. BAMS serves 320 sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students with a staff of twenty-five.
- 2008-2009 BAMS' new 16,000 square foot gymnasium is completed that has a gym, a dining area, four classrooms, two athletic offices, and a multi-purpose room. 410 sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students are served by a staff of thirty.
- 2009-2010 BAMS board is currently exploring future construction possibilities to expand our campus. We served 420 students with a staff of thirty.
- 2010-2011 BAMS is designated as a High Performing Charter School, and continues it's 7th straight year as an A rated school in the state of Florida. The "Character Counts" framework was implemented at BAMS to produce exceptional results in the academic, social, emotional and character development of our students.
- 2011-2012 BAMS expands it's campus to welcome a new Pre-Collegiate 9th and 10th grade program. The pre-collegiate program has 25 students in 9th grade.
- 2012-2013 BAMS board of directors started construction plans for a new 12 classroom, two story building. Construction on the new building started in June 2013. We serve 465 students and the pre-collegiate program serves 60 students in 9th and 10th grades.
- 2013-2014 BAMS is completing the new 12 classroom, two story building. The building will be occupied in the Spring of 2014. We serve 481 students with a staff of 37. The pre-collegiate program serves 81 students in 9th and 10th grades.
- 2014-2015 BAMS started the year with a new classroom building and completely renovated main classroom building. Collaborative furniture and technology updates abound in the bright classrooms. We serve 465 students and the pre-collegiate program serves 110 students in 9th and 10th grades.
- 2015-2016 BAMS started its 12th year of operation with 460 students and 38 staff members. This is BAMS 12th straight year as an A rated school by the state of Florida.
- 2016-2017 BAMS board of directors approved plans and is in the process of completing a center Commons Area that will have an ampitheater, play courts, and stage. It will be completed in October. To strengthen our "Character Counts" initiatives, "We are BAMily" became the school's slogan. BAMS is designated as a "School of Excellence" by the State of Florida, and continues to have a Highly Effective Scoolwide VAM score and received another "A" rating. We serve 465 students with 38 staff members. The pre-collegiate program serves 120 students in 9th and 10th grades.
- 2017-2018 BAMS started its 14th year of operation with 475 students and 39 staff members. To continue our tradition of character counts, and "We are BAMily" slogan, 8th grade students created the "BeKIND." movement at BAMS in preparation for the "Rachel's Challenge" kick-off. This is BAMS 14th straight year as an A rated school by the state of Florida. BAMS continues to be a Highly Effective rated VAM score school, School of Excellence, and a High Performing Charter School as designated by the State of Florida. BAMS students, staff, parents and board of directors created the BAMS vision: "Believe in BETTER!"
- 2018-2019 BAMS started its 15th year of operation with 475 students and 39 staff members. BAMS continues to be an A rated school, School of Excellence, and a High Performing Charter School. BAMS continues to "Believe in Better!" and is looking forward to Rachel's Challenge and "The Greatest Show" activities this year.
- 2019-2020 BAMS started its 16th year of operation with 480 students and 39 staff members. BAMS continues to be an A rated school, School of Excellence, and a High Performing Charter School. BAMS mission and vision of "Believe in Better!" stayed in place. BAMS ended the year in Distance Learning Due to the COVID-19 school shut downs.
- 2020-2021 BAMS started it 17th year of operation in a very different way. The opening was delayed until August 24th due to a change based on COVID-19. 72% of the 480 students started the year in cohorts on campus and 28% of students where in cohorts online through distance learning.
- 2021-2022 BAMS started its 18th year of operation trying to get back to more normalcy after the COVID-19 year. The Board of Directors officially voted to make BAMS into a 6th-10th grade center under one entity and worked during the year to elevate Berkley Advanced Studies for 9th-10th grades so that there would be a seamless transition for what we had available on campus since 2011.
- 2022-2023 We are Berkley! The 19th year started with 625 6th-10th grade students in our Accelerated middle and Advanced studies programs.