Freshman Freshman Academy UpdateAcademy UpdateMay 13, 2014May 13, 2014

AHS SAHS NAHS MVHS RS-M WSHS SBHS

Special course * P P P P P P P AHSSAHS Freshman Success

School within a school NAHS Freshman Focus

- Separate part of building P P P P P MVHS Freshman Humanities

- Separate bell schedule P P RSMHS Character Education

- Separate lunch period P P WSHS Freshman FocusSBHS Humanities

Integrated curriculum - Team of freshmen-only teachers P P P P P P - Teachers have common planning period P P P P P P - Utilize interdisciplinary units P P P P P P

Dedicated asst. principal P P P P P

Dedicated counselor P P P P P

Remedial program/extra help - After school P P P P P P - During school P P P P P P P - Computer assisted instruction P P P P P P P

Support services - Mentoring P P P P P P - Advisory class P P - At-risk intervention team P P P P P P P

Block scheduling (more time P P for some subjects)

Field trips and other activities P

Sometimes integrated into #1.

Update for the Board 5/13/14

2012-13 Freshman Transition Program / Freshman Academy

High School Success (HSS)

Freshman Academy Freshman Academy Retention RatesRetention Rates

Retention rates are significantly down in all Retention rates are significantly down in all high schools.high schools.

Credit recovery courses and summer school Credit recovery courses and summer school are being utilized more effectively than in the are being utilized more effectively than in the past.past.

Schools are identifying at-risk students in the Schools are identifying at-risk students in the academies and using interventions to assist academies and using interventions to assist them from the first day of the freshman year.them from the first day of the freshman year.

Freshman Academy Freshman Academy Attendance RatesAttendance Rates

Attendance rates are trending up in all Attendance rates are trending up in all high schools.high schools.

Schools with academies tend to have Schools with academies tend to have higher attendance rates than those higher attendance rates than those without academies.without academies.

Freshman Academy Freshman Academy Suspensions and ExpulsionsSuspensions and Expulsions

Suspensions and Expulsions are down in all high Suspensions and Expulsions are down in all high schools.schools.

The most dramatic decrease was in the school that The most dramatic decrease was in the school that began it’s academy in 2012-2013- NAHS.began it’s academy in 2012-2013- NAHS.

The academy creates consistency between teachers The academy creates consistency between teachers for basic rules and regulations (ID’s, tardies, for basic rules and regulations (ID’s, tardies, disruptions). disruptions).

Expectations and consequences are clear to students, Expectations and consequences are clear to students, eliminating a majority of common behavior problems.eliminating a majority of common behavior problems.

Freshman Academy Top Freshman Academy Top PriorityPriority

The top priority of all high schools is to The top priority of all high schools is to continue to address the issue of incoming continue to address the issue of incoming freshman that lack grade-level reading skills.freshman that lack grade-level reading skills.

All schools are instituting interventions to All schools are instituting interventions to address the problems that result from these address the problems that result from these deficiencies.deficiencies.

Freshman teachers need help with strategies Freshman teachers need help with strategies to teach reading in ELA as well as other to teach reading in ELA as well as other subject areas.subject areas.

Freshman Academy Freshman Academy Anecdotal InformationAnecdotal Information

Academy schools have found success in collaboration between teachers Academy schools have found success in collaboration between teachers with common planning and the creation of environments where freshman with common planning and the creation of environments where freshman feel safe and free to interact academically.feel safe and free to interact academically.

Extra allocation that has allowed Principals to dedicate AP’s and Extra allocation that has allowed Principals to dedicate AP’s and counselors to the academies has been powerful.counselors to the academies has been powerful.

Larger schools having the ability to focus an AP and counselor exclusively Larger schools having the ability to focus an AP and counselor exclusively on freshman is critical.on freshman is critical.

Request that the Board will allow the District to maintain this arrangement Request that the Board will allow the District to maintain this arrangement at AHS, SAHS, NAHS and MVHS.at AHS, SAHS, NAHS and MVHS.

MVHS is growing and projected to have one of the largest incoming MVHS is growing and projected to have one of the largest incoming freshman classes in the District during the 2014-2015 school year.freshman classes in the District during the 2014-2015 school year.

Freshman Academy Freshman Academy TestimonialsTestimonials

Silver Bluff High SchoolSilver Bluff High School

Eases transition to high school–helps student successfully pass ninth grade and Eases transition to high school–helps student successfully pass ninth grade and graduate on timegraduate on time

Teachers have chosen to be a part of the academy team-have a vested interest-Teachers have chosen to be a part of the academy team-have a vested interest-mentor studentsmentor students

Most content-area teachers have common planningMost content-area teachers have common planning

Common planning allows for discussion of academic concerns, intervention and Common planning allows for discussion of academic concerns, intervention and remediation strategies, and additional student needs (referrals to guidance, SIT, remediation strategies, and additional student needs (referrals to guidance, SIT, school nurse, parent calls)school nurse, parent calls)

Humanities course allows for remediation in reading and math, tutoring, and make Humanities course allows for remediation in reading and math, tutoring, and make up workup work

Midland Valley High Midland Valley High SchoolSchool

Transition to high school can be difficult and stressfulTransition to high school can be difficult and stressful

Students solve personal and social issues, participate in extracurriculars, and master Students solve personal and social issues, participate in extracurriculars, and master courseworkcoursework

A team of teachers work collaboratively to address students’ needsA team of teachers work collaboratively to address students’ needs

Students receive a personalized schedule that focuses on identified strengths and Students receive a personalized schedule that focuses on identified strengths and weaknessesweaknesses

Academy teachers collect data (test scores, grades, failure rates, discipline, middle Academy teachers collect data (test scores, grades, failure rates, discipline, middle school teacher input) to select classes most appropriate for studentsschool teacher input) to select classes most appropriate for students

Emphasize self-reliance and responsibilityEmphasize self-reliance and responsibility

Relationships between teachers and students lower retention rates and improve Relationships between teachers and students lower retention rates and improve graduation ratesgraduation rates

Wagener-Salley High Wagener-Salley High SchoolSchool

Interventions are the key to students’ successInterventions are the key to students’ success

Every effort is made to avoid retentionsEvery effort is made to avoid retentions

Academy teachers have a passion for meeting students’ needsAcademy teachers have a passion for meeting students’ needs

Common procedures create an environment of consistencyCommon procedures create an environment of consistency

Teachers disaggregate data, identify weaknesses, attack those areas of needTeachers disaggregate data, identify weaknesses, attack those areas of need

Create a community atmosphere with parents-contacts with parents are the normCreate a community atmosphere with parents-contacts with parents are the norm

Compass and USATestPrep provide support and remediationCompass and USATestPrep provide support and remediation

Students constantly exposed to their personal performance dataStudents constantly exposed to their personal performance data

North Augusta High North Augusta High SchoolSchool

Assists the freshman transition to high school–academically and sociallyAssists the freshman transition to high school–academically and socially

Freshman Advisory monitors failing students each quarter by AP and counselorFreshman Advisory monitors failing students each quarter by AP and counselor

Parent communication has improved on all levelsParent communication has improved on all levels

Drastic drop in the number of suspensions due to tardies, ID’s, and disruptionsDrastic drop in the number of suspensions due to tardies, ID’s, and disruptions

Common planning for teachers greatly increases collaboration and innovationCommon planning for teachers greatly increases collaboration and innovation

Teachers favor a dedicated AP and guidance counselorTeachers favor a dedicated AP and guidance counselor

Freshman are happier, more comfortable, and have a sense of camaraderieFreshman are happier, more comfortable, and have a sense of camaraderie

Freshman Academy Unique Freshman Academy Unique FeaturesFeatures

Teacher Teams-Teacher Teams- Recruits interested teachers to the academy who are committed to Recruits interested teachers to the academy who are committed to freshman successfreshman success

Common Planning for Teachers-Common Planning for Teachers- dedicates time to discuss best teaching practices dedicates time to discuss best teaching practices and interventions for struggling studentsand interventions for struggling students

Freshman Data Team-Freshman Data Team- focuses on the unique challenges and solutions needed for focuses on the unique challenges and solutions needed for success for “red flag” studentssuccess for “red flag” students

Dedicated Guidance Counselor-Dedicated Guidance Counselor- concentrates efforts on academic, concentrates efforts on academic, behavior/discipline, social/emotional, and data needs of freshmen onlybehavior/discipline, social/emotional, and data needs of freshmen only

Groups Freshmen-Groups Freshmen- dedicated wing, lockers, bell schedule, and lunch period dedicated wing, lockers, bell schedule, and lunch period

Relevant Professional Development-Relevant Professional Development- focuses on specific needs of the academy focuses on specific needs of the academy

Professional Learning Communities-Professional Learning Communities- administration, teachers, students, and parents administration, teachers, students, and parents

Freshman Features Common in All Freshman Features Common in All SchoolsSchools

Identify “red flag” students and develop school-wide and teacher-specific Identify “red flag” students and develop school-wide and teacher-specific interventions to address needsinterventions to address needs

Use electronic remediation/reinforcement software-i.e. USATestPrepUse electronic remediation/reinforcement software-i.e. USATestPrep

Use data to identify school-wide deficiencies and solutions-i.e. MAP, Use data to identify school-wide deficiencies and solutions-i.e. MAP, HSAP, EOCT, discipline, attendance, failure rates, teacher-generated HSAP, EOCT, discipline, attendance, failure rates, teacher-generated informationinformation

Use SIT to identify school-wide needs, interventions, and professional Use SIT to identify school-wide needs, interventions, and professional developmentdevelopment

Questions?Questions?