Raymond High School’s freshmen won’t take classes with the rest of the school this fall.

The group of 160 underclassmen instead will attend Hinds County Schools’ ninth- grade academy opening at Carver Middle School in August.

Superintendent Stephen Handley says the academy is new to the school district and is designed to give freshmen the extra attention and guidance they need when transitioning to high school.

Hinds County’s other high school, Terry, has a wing for its ninth-graders, as does Northwest Rankin in Rankin County. But those students still can interact with upperclassmen.

Handley says the academy at Carver Middle is the first in Hinds County where the freshmen won’t be on campus with the older students.