North Andover Middle School

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North Andover Middle School (NAMS) is the only public middle school (6-8) in the town of North Andover, Massachusetts. It is located at 495 Main Street, N. Andover, MA. The current principal is Joan McQuade.

1 History
2 Curriculum Cuts
3 See Also
4 References
5 External links

[edit] History

The three separate grades in the school are divided up into "houses", which are named after people who have lived in North Andover and have played a significant role in history. The sixth grade wing is called "Symmes House", named after William Symmes, a Massachusetts state house representative in 1789. During the vote for the ratification of the U.S. Constitution in Massachusetts, he changed his vote at the last second and the Constitution was ratified by a single vote, that being William Symmes.^[1]

The seventh grade wing (Freeman House) is named after Cato Freeman, a black slave for Samuel Phillips. His master would later go on to establish a school, Phillips Academy. After slavery was outlawed in Massachusetts in 1780, Freeman elected to continue serving and taught himself to read and write.^[2]

Carrier House (8^th grade wing) was named after Martha Carrier, one of the original settlers of Andover and married to Thomas Carrier, a farmer. Outspoken and having a strong sense of justice, she was accused of witchcraft. Of the 8 that were accused, she was the only one who refused to confess of being a witch. She was hanged along with two others in 1693. ^[3]

[edit] Curriculum Cuts

Until the eighth grade, students all took the same courses. Until recent budget cuts, many related arts were offered. These included Home Economics, Health, Technology Education, and Creative Problem Solving, which were dropped after the 2003-2004 school year. As of this year, foreign language and health have been added back into the curriculum for sixth, seventh, and eith graders.