Lucy C. Laney High School's new principal, Tonethia Beasley, can relate to the 150 eighth-grade pupils placed under her charge this year.
The eighth-grade academy at Laney is designed to transition pupils slowly to high school, keeping them separate during core classes but part of the school's activities and sports teams.
Ms. Beasley went through a similar process when she attended eighth grade at T.W. Josey High School.
"I knew that it could work," she said.
Eighth-graders were moved to Laney this year with the closing of Tubman Middle School.
Ayla Amos, 13, said she was nervous about the students and how the school might do things differently, but she'd seen a lot of familiar faces.
"We get more freedom than middle school, they trust us more," she said.
Ayla's parents and her sister attended Laney, so they were able to explain what it was like.
"I wanted to come," she said.
Eighth-grade classes are across from the main office.
"They're right here where I can reach out and touch them," Ms. Beasley said.
The eighth-graders may earn high school credits if they opt to take high school physical science, Spanish or Career Technical Agriculture Education classes. They may also participate on junior varsity sports teams, band or chorus.
"They get a taste of high school toward the end of the day," Ms. Beasley said.
Administrators hope an easy transition will result in lower dropout rates for the class.
"We're predicting 90 percent of these students will be promoted from ninth to 10th grade," Ms. Beasley said.
Timothy Lyons Jr., 13, said he was nervous about the new school Friday morning, but another student helped him find where to go.
Timothy thinks it will be easier on next year's first day.
"We'll already be used to high school," he said.
Reach Sarah Day Owen at (706) 823-3223 or sarah.owen@augustachronicle.com.
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