Riverside 'whiz kid' academy to welcome its inaugural class

A Riverside academy for kids who excel in math and science welcomes its inaugural class Friday. The Riverside Unified School District sponsors the academy, which will launch its first year with a half-day orientation for students and parents at Central Middle School.

The Riverside Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Academy (STEM) is geared to 5th, 6th and 7th graders with skill in those disciplines. School administrators hand-picked the students based on their grades and aptitude.

The academy will employ six full-time and three part-time teachers, including U.C. Riverside professors and graduate students. The aim is to prepare students for the rigors of college-level studies through an accelerated, challenging curriculum.

Academy officials hope to expand the program to eighth-graders next year. Riverside Unified’s school year starts on Monday.