Firestone High School

333 Rampart Avenue * Akron * Ohio * 333 Rampart Avenue * Akron * Ohio * 4431344313 Phone: (330) 873-3315 Fax: (330) 873-3318Phone: (330) 873-3315 Fax: (330) 873-3318

“Success Is Our Tradition”

Technical Assistance Visit

November 7, November 7, 20072007

Welcome to Firestone High School

Firestone High School

Thank you for your time and expertise during the TAV

to provide us with a focus for our school

improvement planning efforts.

Leadership Team MembersLeadership Team Members

Larry PetryLarry Petry Educational Educational LeaderLeader

Linda KakishLinda Kakish Site CoordinatorSite CoordinatorChristopher PashkeChristopher Pashke Site CoordinatorSite Coordinator

Cindy MathiasCindy Mathias SIP ChairSIP ChairJudy HarrisonJudy Harrison Curriculum ChairCurriculum ChairChristopher PashkeChristopher Pashke Evaluation ChairEvaluation ChairDebbie ChristyDebbie Christy Guidance ChairGuidance ChairLinda KakishLinda Kakish Staff Development Staff Development ChairChair

HSTW 10 Key Practices

1. High expectations2. Program of study

(Ohio Core)

3. Rigorous academic studies

4. Rigorous career- technical studies

5. Work-based learning

6. Teachers working together

7. Students actively engaged

8. Guidance

9. Extra help

10. Culture of continuous improvement

Firestone Mission Statement

It is the mission of the Firestone High School learning community to prepare our students to attain their highest degree of academic success.

Akron Public Schools Background

School District: Akron Public Schools

District Rating: Continuous Improvement

Number of Students: Approx. 25,000AYP Status: Not MetSchool Improvement Status: Improvement Year 3Number of Middle Schools: 11MMGW Sites: 6Number of High Schools: 7HSTW Sites: 7

Firestone Background

Number of Students by Grade:Ninth: 366Tenth: 328Eleventh: 302Twelfth: 297Total: 1293

School Type: UrbanRegion: NEPerformance Rating: ExcellentAYP Status: METSchool Improvement Status: OKJoined HSTW/MMGW: 2003Feeder middle schools: Litchfield

Miller South

Highly Qualified Status

Number of faculty: 74

Faculty middle school certified: All (7-12)

Faculty high school certified: All

Areas where teachers are

not highly qualified: None

Firestone Site Demographic

Grade Total Female Male African

American

White Other ED SWD

9 366 198 168 194 152 19 34.5% 47

10 328 170 158 175 140 13 28.6% 46

11 302 161 141 134 155 13 22.5% 38

12 297 159 138 116 174 7 14.4% 26

Total 1293 688 605 619 621 52 100 157

Key: ED= Economically Disadvantaged SWD= Students with Disabilities

Student Academic Performance

Subjects Where Our Students are Not Performing Well

Mathematics

Science

Social Studies

Indicators for Mathematics2006/2007 OGT : 95.9%

2004/2006 HSTW : 2004 = 80% 2006 = 80%

Progress: Improving

Gaps: African AmericanEconomically DisadvantagedStudents with Disabilities

Indicators for Science

2006/2007 OGT : 89.8%

2004/2006 HSTW : 2004 = 64% 2006 = 56%

Progress: Needs Improvement

Gaps: African AmericanEconomically DisadvantagedStudents with Disabilities

Indicators for Social Studies2006/2007 OGT : 94.9%

2004/2006 HSTW : NA

Progress: Needs Improvement

Gaps: African AmericanEconomically

DisadvantagedStudents with Disabilities

Overriding Goal

The most important goal for FHS The most important goal for FHS and APS is to close the and APS is to close the achievement gaps and raise achievement gaps and raise student achievement tostudent achievement to meet meet district, state, district, state, HSTW/MMGWHSTW/MMGW and and federal targetsfederal targets by 2014. To achieve by 2014. To achieve this goal, FHS must continue to this goal, FHS must continue to create acreate a culture ofculture of high high expectationsexpectations and provideand provide extra extra help.help.

AYP/School Improvement Status

What Firestone Has Done!High Expectations

Many teachers require students to revise work to meet standards.

Many teachers have adopted a “no excuses” approach or Power of I (Incomplete).

We encourage all students to attempt rigorous course work and teachers willingly provide support.

What Firestone Has Done!High Expectations

Adopted a SIX point writing rubric modeled after OGT and ACT scoring.

Maintained rigorous academic IB Program

Adopted district wide honors grading scale.

Adopted uniform classroom rules school wide known as the “Firestone Four”.

What Firestone Plans to Do! High Expectations

Teachers will develop rubrics and provide exemplars for all student projects, papers, and assessment practice questions.

The district will adopt and monitor a policy for homework and revising student work.

What Firestone Has Done! Extra Help

Programs include:

After-school Tutoring Program Lunch-time Intervention Program Plato Before School Individual Teacher Tutoring Peer Tutoring by National Honors Society Credit Recovery Program newly

implemented 100 Book Challenge

What Firestone Plans to Do! Extra Help

Bring back the Firestone Education Strategy.

College Scholars to provide peer tutoring and other supports.

Online Practice Tests and Review Power Points will be developed for student use.

Goal #1

Provide Provide allall students with the students with the opportunity to complete the newopportunity to complete the new Ohio CoreOhio Core and increase to 85 and increase to 85 percent the high school percent the high school graduates who complete thegraduates who complete the HSTW- HSTW- recommended curriculumrecommended curriculum,, includingincluding an academic, career-an academic, career-technical (C-T) or blended technical (C-T) or blended concentration.concentration.

Firestone requires: 2008 graduates to earn 21 credits 4 CP English 3 Mathematics: Algebra 1, Geometry 3 Science: Physical Science, Life Science,

Biology or Honors 3 Social Studies: World History, US

History, American Government or Honors Physical Education/Health Electives: Foreign Language, Fine Arts Concentration: Project Lead the Way

Information Technology

What the School Has Done Goal 1 – Take the Right Courses

Firestone will: Require all students to complete the

Ohio Core/complete middle school courses to prepare for the Ohio Core.

Work with associate schools to prepare 11th graders to take the correct CTE courses to earn the Ohio Core requirements.

What Firestone Plans to Do! Goal 1 – Take the Right Courses

• District not adopting 4 credits in all core courses.

• Encouraging all seniors to take a rigorous senior year.

Challenges Firestone Faces! Goal 1 – Take the Right Courses

Goal #2

1) 1) Strengthen the curriculumStrengthen the curriculum by aligning by aligning the written, taught and assessed the written, taught and assessed curriculum to Ohio and national curriculum to Ohio and national standards, standards, OR OR 2) 2) Strengthen the curriculumStrengthen the curriculum by aligning by aligning the career-technical and academic the career-technical and academic curriculum to Ohio, industry and curriculum to Ohio, industry and national standards national standards OROR 3) 3) Strengthen the curriculumStrengthen the curriculum by making by making instruction the focus of the school. instruction the focus of the school. (only choose #3 if #1 and #2 are (only choose #3 if #1 and #2 are completed)completed)

The district/school has: All core subjects taught through use of pacing guide

designed to include all state standards.

All 9-10th grade core courses give district assessments specifically designed to cover and resemble state standards.

Social Studies, Math, & Science teachers will present published items from the OGT two times each week in place of SSR.

Adopted a Six point writing rubric modeled after OGT and ACT scoring.

What the School Has Done Goal 2 – Strengthen the Curriculum

The district/school will: Provide similar planning periods to

teachers to collaborate on national standards and state standards.

SSR (Sustained Silent Reading) in most classrooms.

Bell work in 9th & 10th grade classes geared to OGT

Power Algebra in 5 out of 7 Algebra I classes

Develop tests for state and national standards in regular education and career tech courses.

What the School Plans to Do

Goal 2 – Strengthen the Curriculum

• Closing the achievement gap and raising student achievement to meet district , state, HSTW goals is our top priority!

• Staff development funds for substitutes so we can accomplish the work of the SIP.

• A staffing formula that recognizes the unique make up of Firestone High School.

Challenges the School Faces

Goal 2 – Strengthen the Curriculum

Goal #3Goal #3

Engage studentsEngage students in their in their learning through relevant, learning through relevant, student-centered student-centered

instructional instructional strategies resulting in a strategies resulting in a

deeper deeper understanding and higher understanding and higher demonstrated achievement demonstrated achievement

of of standards.standards.

The school has: Recommended more student based

projects and discussion of projects upon completion.

Cooperative learning techniques used in all core courses.

Students work with other classes on projects across the curriculum.

What the School Has Done Goal 3 – Student Engagement

The school will: Recommend more student based

projects and to discuss the projects upon completion.

Develop future senior project ideas for career technical courses.

What the School Plans to Do Goal 3 – Student Engagement

• Providing similar planning periods for teachers to collaborate on cooperative learning techniques and student based lessons across the curriculum.

• Staff development funds for substitutes so we may accomplish the work of the SIP.

Challenges the School Faces Goal 3 – Student Engagement

Goal #4Goal #4

Establish a Establish a comprehensive comprehensive guidance guidance and advisementand advisement system, system, including a strong including a strong academic academic transitiontransition, to , to better prepare students better prepare students for successful transition for successful transition to postsecondary to postsecondary education and careers. education and careers.

The school has:

Student & counselor/teacher meetings throughout the year to discuss course sequences.

One on one discussions with counselor/teacher on recommended courses for chosen pathway.

College & Financial Aid Night Junior/Senior Parent Night College Knowledge ACT Preparation NCAA Presentation

What the School Has Done Goal 4 – Guidance/Advisement

The school has:

Orientation for Litchfield 8th graders in May

Orientation for Miller South (visit classrooms & programs)

Open Enrollment Meetings for new VPA and IB students

Parent Meetings Firestone Showcase/Community Open

House HSTW Initiatives

What the School Has Done Goal 4 – Transitions

The school will:

Re-establish the Firestone Educational Strategy

Re-establish the Mentoring Program

Re-establish Falcon Friends

What the School Plans to Do

Goal 4 – Guidance/Advisement

The school will:

Look into different advisor-advisee programs.

Reinstate Falcon Friends.

Start a summer bridge program.

What the School Plans to Do Goal 4 – Transitions

• Providing more time for students to meet with counselors/teachers by eliminating administrative duties placed on guidance departments.

• Staff buy-in and support of the SIP strategies.

Challenges the School Faces

Goal 4 – Guidance/Advisement

• Developing and implementing focus groups that include all staff members.

• Staff buy-in and support of the SIP strategies.

Challenges the School Faces

Goal 4 – Transitions

Goal #5Goal #5

Continue to support a Continue to support a culture culture of continuous improvementof continuous improvement with: with:• strong leadershipstrong leadership• actively involved-school actively involved-school

improvement teamsimprovement teams• effective use of dataeffective use of data• aligned professional development aligned professional development • engagement of parents and engagement of parents and

familiesfamiliesas part of a seamless schoolas part of a seamless schoolimprovement process. improvement process.

The school has Three waiver days provide us with an

opportunity to address standard based professional development to support our buildings goals.

Departmental meetings to discuss relevant topics such as state testing and data from state testing.

Recommend that the SIP and Faculty Advisory Committee team discuss goals and important issues with staff, students, and parents.

We share SIP news in the PTSA newsletter.

What the School Has Done Goal 5 – Continuous Improvement

The school will: Complete a SIP plan that explains data

and shows gaps and places of improvement in all school related areas.

Distribute SIP and FAC agendas and meeting minutes to all staff members.

What the School Plans to Do Goal 5 – Continuous Improvement

• The district needs to set aside more time for planning and strategizing for continuous improvement in all areas.

• Developing and implementing focus groups that include all staff members.

Challenges the School Faces Goal 5 – Continuous Improvement

• SREB Pacesetter Site• SREB Top 100 School• Newsweek's Top 1200 Schools (4 straight

years)• 31 of FHS students who earned the

HSTW Award of Educational Achievement based upon the 2006 HSTW Assessment

• National Merit Scholars (Last 3 years)• 7 Finalists• 8 Commended Scholars

• National Achievement Scholarship Program for Outstanding Black and Hispanic Students

• 4 Finalists (Last 2 years)

Awards/Recognitions

Awards/Recognitions cont.

AP Scholar Awards given with Honor and Distinction to 10 students in 2007 for receiving a 3-3.5 grade on AP exams

The President’s Award for Education Excellence is a national award sponsored by the President’s Education awards program for outstanding academic achievement.

The Beacon Journal has recognized five of our students for being regional stars and has featured the gold star recipient in the June 5th publication.

The Plain Dealer also recognized one of our top high school seniors in the area in a Senior Standout special section published in early May.

• Larry Petry• Email: lperty@akron.k12.oh.us• Phone: 330.873-3315

• Linda Kakish• Email: lkakish@akron.k12.oh.us• Phone: 330.873-3315/330.256.6536

• Christopher Pashke• Email: cpashke@akron.k12.oh.us• Phone: 330.873-3315

We are available: