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Vanessa Westbrook, Division DirectorMulticultural/ Equity in Science

National Science Teachers Association

Charles A. Dana CenterUniversity of Texas at Austin

Austin, Texas

Success Stories in Meeting the Needs of Underserved Students in Science

First, some good news.After more than a decade of fairly flat

achievement and stagnant orgrowing gaps, we appear to be

turning the corner.

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Kati Haycock, PresidentEducation TrustUMLN Conference 2009

What plays a role in student academic achievement?

The Success Stories

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ResearchPolicy making

Professional Development

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Building Curriculum through Alignment

Adapted from the work of Fenwick English

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Points from The Education Trust

• Focus on what students need to learn• Teacher collaboration• Assess frequently to see if students are learning• Use data to inform instruction• Build personal relationships

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Webinar 2011

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Urban Science Education Leadership Academy

• NSTA initiative• The goal is to positively affect student achievement through

the development of leaders who will help guide reform of the learning, teaching, and assessing of science in elementary/middle schools.

• 15 urban districts• Year 3 of the academy

(09’ – Orlando, Fla.; 10’ – New Orleans, La.; 11’ – Baltimore, Ma.)

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A Quick Look at NAEP

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The General Report of Science

The Urban District Study

NAEP Science Assessment

• Administered January through March 2009– 156,500 fourth-graders– 151,100 eighth-graders– 11,100 twelfth-graders

• Results available for– Nation at grades 4, 8, and 12– 46 states and Department of Defense schools at grades 4 and 8

• Performance reported as– Average scale scores (0–300 scale)– Achievement levels (Basic, Proficient, Advanced)

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NSTA web seminar, January 2011

Grade 4 Scores in 24 states higher than the national average

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1 Department of Defense Education Activity (overseas and domestic schools).

NSTA web seminar, January 2011

Grade 8 Scores in 25 states higher than the national average

1 Department of Defense Education Activity (overseas and domestic schools).

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NSTA web seminar, January 2011

2009 NAEP Science for Urban Districts

• Atlanta• Austin• Baltimore City• Boston• Charlotte• Chicago• Cleveland

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• Detroit• Fresno• Houston• Jefferson County

(KY)• Los Angeles• Miami-Dade• Milwaukee

• New York City• Philadelphia• San Diego

http://www.nagb.org/science2009/tuda/

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http://nationsreportcard.gov/science_2009/district_summary.asp

 Austin, Charlotte, Jefferson County (Louisville, KY), and Miami-Dade had higher scores at both grades

Success Stories

• What is the success• How was the success measured• Who was successful

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School Profiles(Looking at the Success)

• The School• The Student population• The Demographic• The Success Identified

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2010 Newsweek’s 100 Best High Schools List

1. School for the Talented and Gifted at the Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Magnet Center Dallas, Texas

2. Jefferson County International Baccalaureate School Irondale, Alabama

3. Stanton College Preparatory School Jacksonville, Florida

4. School of Science and Engineering at the Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Magnet Center Dallas, Texas

5. Corbett School Corbett, Oregon

6. BASIS Tucson Tucson, Arizona

7. Signature School Evansville, Indiana

8. Paxon School for Advanced Studies Jacksonville, Florida

9. Suncoast Community High School Riviera Beach, Florida

10. City Honors School at Fosdick-Masten Park Buffalo, New York City

11. Oxford Academy Cypress, California

12. Science Academy of South Texas Mercedes, Texas

Red indicates public school with high minority/majority student population with measureable success

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School for the Talented and Gifted Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Center

Dallas, Texas

School Type: High School (grades 9-12)

School Population: 229African American 21%; Anglo 39%; Hispanic (Latino) 31%;Asian/Pac. Islander 10%; Economically Disadvantaged 32%

Success: Ranked #1 in Newsweek’s list of America’s best high; passing rate 100% on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills for Science. Average score for ACT 29 compared to national score of 21.1

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Stanton College Preparatory High School Jacksonville, Florida

School Type: High School (grades 9-12)

School Population: 1586African American 26%; Anglo 49%; Hispanic (Latino) 7%;Asian/Pac. Islander 16%; Economically Disadvantaged 16%

Success: Ranked #3 in Newsweek’s list of America’s best high; passing rate 47% on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test for Science compared to 32% statewide. Average score for ACT 27.8 compared to national score of 21.1

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School of Science and Engineering Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Center

Dallas, Texas

School Type: High School (grades 9-12)

School Population: 407African American 18%; Anglo 16%; Hispanic (Latino) 58%;Asian/Pac. Islander 9%; Economically Disadvantaged 60%

Success : Ranked #4 in Newsweek’s list of America’s best high; passing rate 99.5% on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills for Science. Average score for ACT 27 compared to national score of 21.1

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Oxford Academy Cypress, California

School Type: High School (grades 9-12)

School Population: 1457African American 1%; Anglo 14%; Hispanic (Latino) 11%;Asian/Pac. Islander 59%; Economically Disadvantaged 20%

Success: Ranked #11 in Newsweek’s list of America’s best high for 2010 and ranked #16 in 2009; Ranked top 10% of the state of California according to the California Public Schools Accountability Report Card (Academic Performance Index (API) ; Average score for ACT 27.3 compared to 21.1 nationally

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Science Academy of South Texas Mercedes, Texas

School Type: High School (grades 9-12)

School Population: 1457African American .7%; Anglo 12%; Hispanic (Latino) 63%;Asian/Pac. Islander 15%; Economically Disadvantaged 43.5%

Success: Ranked #12 in Newsweek’s list of America’s best high for 2010; 99% passing rate on the on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS); Average score for ACT 24.8 compared to 21.1 nationally

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Watch out for these schools!

(They are not on the List but certainly worth looking at!)

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Elmont Memorial Junior-Senior HighElmont, New York

School Type: High School (grades 7-12)

School Population: 1919African American 77%; Anglo 1%; Hispanic (Latino) 13%;Asian/Pac. Islander 8%; Economically Disadvantaged 21%

Success:School pass rate 87% compared to 75% on New York Regents Exam Living Environment. Class of 2008 graduation rate was 96% compared to the state of 74%.

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Ann Richards School for Young WomenAustin, Texas

School Type: Middle School (grades 6-9) All female students campus

School Population: 437African American 14.2%, Anglo 22.7%, Hispanic 59.7%,Asian/Pac. Islander 3.4%, Economically Disadvantaged 62.0%

Success:State Assessment passing rate – 90% compared to statewide passing rate - 78% on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS). Science assessment is administrated to grade 8 students only.

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Source: Austin Independent School District

Small Pockets of Wonderfulness!

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Let connect, multiple, spread and/or enlarge the Pockets!

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vwestbroook@austin.utexas.edu

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