School Committee - Exam Schools Update - 10.6.21Superintendent Dr. Brenda Cassellius Monica Roberts, Chief of Family and Community Advancement Drew Echelson, Deputy Superintendent of Academics 10-6-21
Applicant Pool: Students need a minimum B GPA to be considered part of the applicant pool. Eligible students will
receive a composite score based on assessment (30%) and GPA (70%) with
potential additional points.
Assignment: 100% of invitations are distributed through straight rank within
socioeconomic tiers.
Admissions Cycle
Grades Assessment High Poverty Indicators
SY22-23 100% 0% 15 points for students living in BHA housing, experiencing homelessness or in DCF care
OR 10 points for students
attending a school where 40% or more of the students enrolled are from economically disadvantaged families
B average or higher First two terms of 6th/8th
grade: ELA, Math, Science and Social Studies
No assessment required due to the on-going COVID-19 pandemic
SY23-24 and beyond
grade: ELA and Math First two terms of 6th/8th
grade: ELA, Math, Science and Social Studies
Assessment required in ELA and Math
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Step 2: Who is Invited Purpose: Ensure Citywide Access
What is a tier? A tier is a grouping of geographic areas in the city with similar socioeconomic characteristics. This creates a score based on five characteristics: (1) Percent of persons below poverty; (2) Percent of households occupied by the owner; (3) Percent of families headed by a single parent; (4) Percent of households where a language other than English is spoken; and (5) Educational attainment.
How does it work? Students are assigned to one of eight tiers based on their home address and will only compete with other students in their tier. Each tier will be allocated approximately the same number of seats. Invitations will be distributed in 10 rounds with 10% of available seats in each tier per round. The tier with the lowest socioeconomic score will go first in each round.
Note: Students are assigned additional points based on factors in slide 6 rather than being placed in a separate tier.
Beginning with the SY22-23 admissions cycle, allocate 100% of invitations using straight rank within 8 socioeconomic tiers. Each tier receives approximately the same number of invitations.
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Data set for the simulation: Assumes ~1,000 invitations to distribute 7th grade applicants for SY20-21 Incorporates ISEE scores in place of MAP Growth Re-calculated GPA using Fall grades only -- GPA is not rounded Incorporates students with a GPA of B or better in ELA and Math who also had an ISEE test score
Considerations to keep in mind: The simulations can only provide a sense of what may happen and should not be interpreted as
definitive results. The approved policy includes science and social studies grades, which are not incorporated herein. The current district assessment contract is with NWEA for MAP Growth. The simulation uses ISEE
scores because MAP Growth results are not available. Applicants for the next admissions cycle may not be distributed across the city in the same way
applicants were for the SY20-21 admissions cycle. Applicants for the next admissions cycle may not rank the three schools in the same way applicants
did in the SY20-21 admissions cycle. The grades that will be used for admission this cycle (SY21-22 grades) have not yet been recorded.
Overall Simulation Assumptions
Enrollment*
higher GPA
Students Attending 40%+ Poverty School**
4,414 83% 2,104 75% 1,110 66% 796 80%
Students Attending Less than 40% Poverty
School**
Total 5,336 100% 2,801 100% 1,690 100% 1,000 100%
*Citywide 6th grade enrollment was determined based on publicly available data from MA DESE School and District Profiles, and includes public and non-public schools. **40%+ schools were determined using publicly available data from MA DESE School and District Profiles.
Students who attend a school with less than 40% poverty account for 17% of Citywide 6th grade enrollment and 20% of the simulated invitations. Students who attend a school with 40% or greater poverty account for 83% of 6th grade enrollment and 80% of invitations.
Simulated enrollment, applications, and invitations to exam schools
Student Group Tier 1
Students Attending 40%+ Poverty
School** 114 114 116 103 107 93 84 65 796 80%
Students Attending Less than 40%
Poverty School** 11 11 9 22 18 32 41 60 204 20%
Total 125 125 125 125 125 125 125 125 1,000 100%
**40%+ schools were determined using publicly available data from MA DESE School and District Profiles.
Students who attend a school with less than 40% poverty account for 204 (20%) of simulated invitations to an exam school. Students who attend a school with 40% or greater poverty account for 796 (80%) of simulated exam school invitations.
Simulated invitations to an exam school
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Simulated Invitations to an Exam School By Economic Status and Race
Simulation data shows racial and socioeconomic diversity that is more aligned with student enrollment.
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Simulated Invitations to an Exam School By Neighborhood
Simulation data shows geographic diversity that is more closely aligned to student enrollment.
Note: this data shows the results of the policy simulation by zip code. The simulated policy allocates seats by tier and does not allocate seats by zip codes.
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October 2021 Publish Superintendent circular which articulates operational logistics for GPA calculations, test administration and applications
Residency verification begins in mid-October for non-BPS students Begin implementing investments intended to increase access Student Support: Develop and publish a plan for supporting incoming
students and the academic plan for grades 4 to 6
November - December 2021
Committee for consideration
Timeline for Implementation
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January 2022 Grade collection begins for all non-BPS exam school applicants (1/3) All families rank schools through the online continuous choice form
February 2022 Deadline for grades to be submitted for all students (2/11)
March - April 2022
GPA calculations and ranking within tiers Application status update for ineligible students (<B GPA) Invitations and status sent to families
May - June 2022 Strategies for Success program for class entering September 2022 Annual Report: Publish an annual report in June to include disaggregated
student outcomes and program evaluation
Timeline for Implementation
their address and the map will
identify what tier they live in
Partnering with the City of
Boston’s Analytics Team to
create an interactive map for
families; anticipated to launch
November 1.
Interactive Tier Map
All educators will be expected to complete a short (~45 minute) module on equitable grading and exam school admissions changes related to grading.
Timeline - October 1 - November 1 Topics - Overview of equitable grading
practices, exam school and circular updates (promotion/attendance) related to grading, grading practices in science and social studies
Accountability - The module is tied to L4L refresh and will allow for assurances that every educator has completed the module.
Equitable Grading Module
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Strategies 4 Success (S4S) Programming Program Purpose: The Summer Strategies 4 Success (S4S) programs provided Summer acceleration programming for exam school admittees who, while academically prepared for exam school content, may require more time to get acclimated to the pace of exam school study. S4S serves students entering 7th and 9th grades at each exam school. Two components of programming: June 2021: 4 week virtual program
Focused on writing, ELA and math Cost: $415,600 615 Students Participated
August 2021: 2 - 3 weeks of programming at each exam school To help students develop a sense of belonging to their school community and to introduce them to academic, social and civic expectations. Cost: approximately $300,000 BLA: 177 Students Participated BLS: 286 Students Participated O’Bryant: 129 Students Participated
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Launched in SY2021-22, to be expanded in SY2022-23 Advisory Programs for all incoming
students Increased Number of Guidance Counselors
and Social Workers Special Education Supports in the
classroom Increased Number of Special Education
Teachers and Paraprofessionals Included After School Tutoring Program Thompson Island Team building Extracurricular Fair
Exam School Cohort