Danville HigH ScHool

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ProfileSCHool Name: Danville High School

Danville School Districtlocation: Danville, Illinois – Vermillion County location Type: Town – population 35,000

oDYSSeYWAre enrollment: 150 students in alternative program focus: Credit Recovery, Alternative Learning Grade level: 6-12 Period examined: 2008 - present

BACkGrouNDThe Danville School District serves approximately 6,300 students in grades K-12, including 150 students in the alternative program. This program provides high school age-appropriate students with an alternative setting within which they can work to complete the credits necessary for graduation from Danville High School. The alternative program, which has been in place for 25 years, is now housed two blocks from Danville High School in the administration building. Students in the alternative program have been using ODYSSEYWARE as their primary curriculum since 2008.

CHAlleNGe Danville School District was looking for a curriculum/learning management system to replace another online program that they had been using. They required a program that was online and suited for alternative access; included elementary level courses to close learning gaps for students working below grade level; included complete core and elective courses without requiring supplemental materials; included text translation features; engaged learners who were challenged in a traditional setting; and allowed access by multiple students throughout the term to accommodate students beginning and leaving the program.

APProACHStudents enrolled in Danville’s alternative program have the opportunity to further their education outside traditional classrooms with ODYSSEYWARE. The local school district provides licensed teachers who use ODYSSEYWARE Skills Diagnostic Tests to correctly place students within the ODYSSEYWARE curriculum. Teachers can easily create and tailor courses for underachieving students who do not qualify for special education or intervention.

Alternative students at Danville work primarily on core courses. Because of the flexibility of the program, teachers are able to customize these courses to meet the specific needs of students in their classroom. The online option has been well received by many students who can achieve mastery and complete their courses at a faster pace than was possible in a traditional setting. While recovering the credits they need and completing their coursework successfully on ODYSSEYWARE, students also feel a sense of personal accomplishment. In addition, many students who come in to recover credits have a wide variety of electives available to them to enrich their learning experience.

Because students can be rotated each period, ODYSSEYWARE is a cost effective solution that accommodates more students than other online learning options while helping students make progress toward graduation, allowing many to return to their home school to continue their secondary education.

ODYSSEYWARE is an important partner with Danville School District in providing individualized educational options to alternative students, with customizable lessons that allow teachers to create courses around students, and not try to fit students into a pre-set lesson. Diagnostic testing assures teachers that students will be placed at the correct level within lesson content to avoid learning gaps and maximize progress. Administration tools integrated into ODYSSEYWARE, like automatic grading, lesson planning, and report generation, allow teachers to focus more on students and less on paperwork.

Danville High School

CoNCluSioNThe following graph illustrates the Danville High School’s decreased dropout rate and increased graduation rate since ODYSSEYWARE was integrated in 2008.

ODYSSEYWARE’s motivating online lessons helped underachieving students at Danville continue their progress toward graduation, either by completing their diploma program while enrolled or by returning to their home school to graduate with their class. Due in part to the academic success students have had in the alternative program, dropout rates continue to fall, continuing a five-year trend.

According to Danville Alternative School Principal Tracy Cherry, these students are excited about taking courses on the computer instead of attending classes in a brick and mortar classroom. They appreciate their ability to complete courses more quickly. Because they are able to use the Internet to revisit lessons and meet the pass threshold, they feel a sense of success, which makes learning more enjoyable.

Although the district generally uses a different curriculum for its summer school program, students’ continual requests for ODYSSEYWARE courses have compelled the district to be sure someone who knows the program is available for summer school students.

Not only is Cherry enthusiastic about students’ success in the program, but also about the flexibility teachers have to individualize learning and help individual students achieve their learning goals. “It’s been very beneficial for our teachers,” she said.

Since 2008, Danville School District and ODYSSEYWARE have created a partnership that keeps student achievement at the center, evolving to meet new challenges through the use of technology. According to Cherry, “I really believe that ODYSSEYWARE takes a lot of the suggestions they get to heart, and try to make the program even better.”

Danville School District is not dragging its feet when it comes to integrating technology to support learning. Additional online and alternative options continue to be a priority according to Danville School District’s 2011-2016 Strategic Plan, which includes expanding alternative program options for students and developing an alternative program for middle school students. With an online library accessible on its website, digital tools and curriculum available for students, the implementation of ODYSSEYWARE, and a progressive vision, it is committed to preparing students with the digital skills they need to succeed in the 21st century.

Quote: “The thing I like about ODYSSEYWARE is that some of the changes they’ve made through the years have come straight from our teachers.”

Tracy Cherry, Alternative School Principal

ODYSSEYWARE • 300 N. McKemy Ave. • Chandler, AZ 85226 • 877.795.8904odysseyware.com

93.1%

79.8%

40%

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20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

77.9% after using ODYSSEYWARE

75.7% before using ODYSSEYWARE

GRADUATION RATE

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2%

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6%

8%

10%

5.8% after using ODYSSEYWARE

8.2% before using ODYSSEYWARE

DROPOUT RATE