PI: Smith, Searetha City Demographics The City of Richmond, encompassing 62.5 square miles, is the nucleus of a metropolitan area of approximately 865,000 people. The city, a blend of the old and historic with the new and modern, is the corporate headquarters for nine Fortune 500 firms, a sophisticated arts and cultural community, public and private institutions of higher education, and a strong sense of community volunteerism. Richmond is considered to be at the "hub of a learning community" where opportunities for mathematics, science, and technological development abound. There are six institutions of higher learning located in the Metro Richmond area, along with the Mathematics and Science Center (MSC), the oldest example of a regional partnership. The MSC is a sphere of discovery of approaches, abilities and interests that inspire lifelong learning or a career choice. "Alumni" include astronomers, physicists, pilots, and teachers, many of whom return to teach in Center programs. On a less positive note, Richmond has the highest population in the state of youth living in poverty (30 percent live in households receiving Aid to Families with Dependent Children). This is four times higher than the state average, over twice as high as any other urban area in the state. The percentage of Richmond's youth under 17 in single parent households (43.2%) is more than twice as high as the state average, and higher than any other urban area in the state. Approximately 13 percent of youth ages 16 to 19 are not enrolled in school. The higher skill levels required by many of the jobs available in Richmond, and a dependence on public transportation by residents, have contributed to an unemployment rate which is twice that of the surrounding counties. School System Demographics During the Summer of 1996, Richmond City Public Schools completed Phase I of its curriculum revision in the areas of mathematics and science. Teams of teachers completed a framework that is aligned to Virginia's Standards of Learning for Mathematics, Science, and Technology. Mathematics Curriculum The elementary mathematics curriculum focuses on Number and Number Sense; Computation and Estimation; Measurement; Geometry; Probability and Statistics; and Patterns, Functions and Algebra. Middle school curricula extend the math strands and students take pre-algebra and algebra at the 7th or 8th grade level. High school courses include Algebra 1, Algebra 11, Geometry, College Algebra & Trigonometry, AP Calculus, and SAT Mathematics. Other courses offered presently include Basic Algebra, Geometry, and Consumer Mathematics. Science Curriculum The science curriculum focuses on Scientific Investigation; Force; Motion and Energy; Matter; Life Processes; Earth/Space Systems; and Cycles and Change. Middle school curricula extend the science strands and students take General Science, Life Science and Physical Science as an integrated course. High School courses included Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, Biochemistry, AP Physics and AP Chemistry.
