Connections Project3/25/04
Kevin Burr
High Schools That Work
SREB
GCHS Mission: Making the Best Better
“Where we do what we love;
Love what we do;
And deliver more than is promised.”
District-WideVision Statement Demonstrating Excellence: Preparing for Tomorrow.
GCHS Student Population
1700
1750
1800
1850
1900
1950
2000
1996-97
1997-98
1998-99
1999-00
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
Total Pop.
GCHS Student PopulationEthnic Disaggregating
56 55 53 51 48 46 45 44 45 47 49 52 54 55
0
10
2030
40
5060
70
8090
100
Anglo Minority
1996-971997-981998-991999-002000-012001-022002-03
In-Out Information (Transience) within the school year.
050
100150200250300350400450500
1996-97
1997-1998
1998-1999
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-2002
2002-03
# of students
GCHS Dropout Rates 1992-1996
14.6 13.812.9
14.6 15
0
24
6
8
1012
14
1618
20
1991-92 1992-93 1993-94 1994-95 1995-96
Percentage
Key Events1985-00 = GC grows by 65% (33,000)
Fastest growing community in Kansas.
1994 = 18 different gangs identified in the school and community.
1995 = 15 Different foreign languages/dialects spoken in GC schools. (25+ Nationalities)
1996 = Racial Tension at its highest.1996 = Homecoming Canceled (CNN,
NBC, CBS).
Did GCHS provide a safe and drug-free environment? (1996)
6.70%
93.00%
0.00%10.00%20.00%30.00%40.00%50.00%60.00%70.00%80.00%90.00%
100.00%
Good Poor
GoodPoor
Students: Do you feel safe at GCHS?
16%
84%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
Yes No
YesNo
?
Implemented High Schools That Work philosophies.
Key Practice #1:
Set high expectations and get students to meet them.
Eight things that matter most in raising student achievement. (HSTW)
It matters that students take the right academic courses.
It matters that schools offer quality career/technical courses.
It matters that more students meet curriculum and performance standards
It matters that teachers engage students in completing challenging assignments.
It matters that everyone supports high expectations.
It matters that students get extra help in meeting higher standards.
It matters that schools offer a supportive guidance system.
It matters that teachers work together.
Challenge 1
Unify all of the GCHS community to begin instilling a culture for high expectations and increased student achievement for ALL students.
“What’s good enough for the best ought to be good enough for the rest.”
Challenge 1: Action StepsFor School Principals:
Hold classroom time sacred.Hold monthly interviews with students.Identify Master teachers to serve as coaches.Restructure faculty meetings.Require teachers to observe other staff.Make frequent classroom visits.Curricular decisions become data-driven.Tie staff development to raising student achievement in your school.
Challenge 1: Action Steps
For Teachers:Hold students accountable.
Establish the “culture” of success.
Require effective homework in ALL classes.
School-wide initiatives (Writing, Reading, Math).
Detailed course syllabus for ALL classes.
Curriculum mapping/pacing guides.
Standards-Based/Assessment Driven Curriculum.
Challenge 1: Action Steps
For Students:Mandatory extra help.
Coordinated achievement reminders.
Require minimum standards of acceptable work (Essential Skills).
Eight things that matter most in raising student achievement. (HSTW)
It matters that students take the right academic courses.
It matters that schools offer quality career/technical courses.
It matters that more students meet curriculum and performance standards
It matters that teachers engage students in completing challenging assignments.
It matters that everyone supports high expectations.
It matters that students get extra help in meeting higher standards.
It matters that schools offer a supportive guidance system.
It matters that teachers work together.
Upgrading Academic Requirements for All Students
1997-2002• Increased graduation requirements
total credits from 21 to 26.5 (1998-2001) math credits from 2 to 3 science credits from 2 to 3 oral communications credit from .5 to 1 computer technology credits from 0 to 1
• Required algebra mastery of all students• Core Standards and Benchmarks (competency-
based structure).• Restructured math curricular alignment.• Double-blocked math.• Required Senior Project (high stakes).
GCHS Dropout Rates 1996-2003
15.5
10.812.9
7.9
4.5 3.95 3.56
0
5
10
15
20
25
1996-97
1997-98
1998-99
1999-00
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
Percentage
GCHS Graduation Rates
59.6 60.756.5 58.2 61.2
65.5
75.5
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
97 98 99 2000 2001 2002 2003
Grade Distribution “A’s and B’s” 1996-2003
39%46%
48% 50% 53% 56%60%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
1996-97
1997-98
1998-99
1999-00
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
Percentage
Grade Distribution “F’s” 1996-03
18%20% 19% 18%
15%17% 16%
0%
10%
20%
30%
1996-97
1997-98
1998-99
1999-00
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
3-D Column 1
Enrollment Shifts in Upper Level Science Courses 1999-03
236246
287317
271
523
34314063
858396111
222250253
323
220
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
Chemistry Chem II Anat/Phys Physics
19992000200120022003
Enrollment Shifts in Upper Level Math Courses 1999-03
164192
241
288
327
2538 54 67
85
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
Trig/Adv Alg AP Calc/ Statistics
19992000200120022003
NAEP Results (GCHS) Reading 1996-2002
260
265
270
275
280
285
290
295
1996 1998 2000 2002
HSTW GoalAll SchoolsGCHS
Reading Results (GCHS)Percent Reaching HSTW Goal
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
1996 1998 2000 2002
Percentage
NAEP Results (GCHS)Math 1996-2002
265270275280285290295300305310315320
1996 1998 2000 2002
HSTW GoalAll SchoolsGCHS
Math Results (GCHS)Percent Reaching HSTW Goal
0%10%
20%30%40%50%
60%70%80%90%
100%
1996 1998 2000 2002
Percentage
NAEP Results (GCHS) Science 1996-2002
265270
275280285290
295300305310
315
1996 1998 2000 2002
HSTW GoalAll SchoolsGCHS
Science Results (GCHS)Percent Reaching HSTW Goal
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
1996 1998 2000 2002
Percentage
2002 HSTW/NAEP CTE students vs. non-CTE
CTE students score higher than total student population
All students above HSTW goal
Programmed study seems to make a difference in student achievement.
260
270
280
290
300
310
320
Reading Math Science
HSTW GoalAll StudentsCTE Students
Kansas Assessment Tests Math 1996-2003
30.3
35.740.5
44.241.2 43.1
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
97-98 98-99 99-00 00-01 2001-02 2002-03
GCHS
KS Assessment Math – Proficient or Above 2000-2003
25.333.4
29.834.3
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
2000 2001 2002 2003
Basic/BelowProf./Above
Kansas Assessment Tests Reading 1996-2003
57.5 57.9 62.1
79.6 75.8 77.3 76.8
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
1996-97
97-98 98-99 99-00 00-01 2001-02
2002-03
GCHS
KS Assessment Reading – Proficient or Above 2000-03
53.4
51.150.1
48.9
42
44
46
48
50
52
54
2000 2001 2002 2003
Basic/belowProf/Above
2001-03 PLAN Test Reading Results
15.8 15.4 15.7 15.2
0
2.5
5
7.5
10
12.5
15
17.5
20
National 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03
National2000-012001-022002-03
2001-03 PLAN TestScience Reasoning Results
17.4 17.2 17.6 17.6
0
2.5
5
7.5
10
12.5
15
17.5
20
National 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03
National2000-012001-022002-03
2001-03 PLAN Test Math Results
16.315.6
16.4 16
0
2.5
5
7.5
10
12.5
15
17.5
20
National 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03
National2000-012001-022002-03
PLAN Test Results: Math (Alg/Geom/Alg II)
16.3
19
16.317.9
16.317.3
0
2
46
8
10
12
14
1618
20
2000-2001 2001-2002 2002-03
NationalGCHS
School Climate/ Student and Parental Perceptions
Did GCHS provide you with a positive learning experience?
93.80%
6.20%
0.00%10.00%20.00%30.00%40.00%50.00%60.00%70.00%80.00%90.00%
100.00%
Yes No
PercentagePercentage
Did GCHS improve your ability to solve problems?
85.20%
13.80% 1.00%
0.00%10.00%20.00%30.00%40.00%50.00%60.00%70.00%80.00%90.00%
100.00%
Yes No No Resp.
YesNoNo Resp.
Did GCHS teachers generally hold high standards and demand high quality work from you?
53.30%
44.80%
1.90%
0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
40.00%
50.00%
60.00%
Good Average Poor
GoodAveragePoor
Did GCHS provide a safe and drug-free environment?
56.70%
36.70%
6.70%0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
40.00%
50.00%
60.00%
Good Average Poor
GoodAveragePoor
Did GCHS increase your ability to be responsible?
50.60%
41.90%
7.10%0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
40.00%
50.00%
60.00%
Good Average Poor
GoodAveragePoor
Students: Do you feel safe at GCHS?
84%
16%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
Yes No
YesNo
Parents: Do you believe that GCHS is a safe environment for your child?
92%
7%1%
0%10%
20%30%
40%50%
60%70%
80%90%
100%
Yes No Maybe
YesNoMaybe
RecognitionsNamed a BEST schools by FES.HSTW Pacesetter SchoolHSTW Silver Award winner.USDE Showcase site (ELL/After school Programs/School Improvement)KSDE Showcase site (school improvement)1999 Milken Educator Award winner1999 National Superintendent of the year finalist1999 Kansas Teacher of the Year finalist2000 KASSP Principal of the Year (National Finalist)2001 KASSP Assistant Principal of the year100+ National teacher presentations.5 appointments to Service Academies100% AP Spanish Completion2nd/3rd place finishers in the national Spanish exam (96,000)Multiple NM semi-finalists and finalists.
Our Next Steps
Require Math the Senior YearChange the Science Requirement to specify one Physical Science, one Life Science and one elective.Smaller Learning Communities.9th grade academy (center).Raise Expectations again for the Senior Project