В школах Джэнкс открылась новая академия для первоклассников и внедрен новый расписание

Jenks students return to school with new Freshman Academy, schedule changes JENKS, Okla. — Jenks Public Schools students are back in the classroom Thursday, with several changes waiting for them as the new school year gets underway. One of the biggest changes is at Jenks Freshman Academy, where more than 1,000 freshmen are starting the year in a newly completed building after more than 15 months of construction. The 133,000-square-foot facility features 55 classrooms, 10 science labs, a STEM lab, an aeronautics lab and a new media center. Principal Luke Gray says the additional space will give teachers more opportunities to provide different types of instruction. “Very excited to see bigger classrooms, more classrooms, more programs for our growing population and just being able to offer more kids different types of curriculum at the Jenks expectation," Gray said. The building was also designed with student learning in mind. Science classrooms now combine classroom and laboratory space, allowing teachers to move between activities without losing instructional time. “I see this being a success for student learning because we have more space within our classrooms,” Gray said. The academy also includes a learning staircase where students can work, participate in discussions and hear from guest speakers. Another major feature is Jenks Public Schools’ first FEMA-rated tornado shelter, which can accommodate more than 2,300 people. The new academy is part of a larger year of changes across the district. Students in grades seven through 12 are beginning the school year on a new block schedule. Superintendent Dr. Stacey Butterfield says the district developed the new schedule after hearing from students and families who wanted more choices in their classes. “Ultimately all of these schedule changes are meant to address the feedback for our secondary students and more choice and selection for classes,” Butterfield said. The schedule changes will also give teachers additional time to collaborate, study student data and work on their teaching practices. Elementary students will also see a change this year, with early-release Fridays scheduled on select weeks. The district is also beginning the school year with a focus on new literacy initiatives, particularly in elementary reading and math. For Jenks freshmen, however, the first day of school marks the beginning of a new experience inside a building designed specifically to give them more space, programs and opportunities to learn. You can find the Jenks Public Schools' 2026-27 school calendar and back-to-school information by clicking here.