Freshman Academy Update May 13, 2014

Freshman Academy Retention Rates  Retention rates are significantly down in all high schools.  Credit recovery courses and summer school are being utilized more effectively than in the past.  Schools are identifying at-risk students in the academies and using interventions to assist them from the first day of the freshman year.

Freshman Academy Attendance Rates  Attendance rates are trending up in all high schools.  Schools with academies tend to have higher attendance rates than those without academies.

Freshman Academy Suspensions and Expulsions  Suspensions and Expulsions are down in all high schools.  The most dramatic decrease was in the school that began it’s academy in NAHS.  The academy creates consistency between teachers for basic rules and regulations (ID’s, tardies, disruptions).  Expectations and consequences are clear to students, eliminating a majority of common behavior problems.

Freshman Academy Top Priority  The top priority of all high schools is to continue to address the issue of incoming freshman that lack grade-level reading skills.  All schools are instituting interventions to address the problems that result from these deficiencies.  Freshman teachers need help with strategies to teach reading in ELA as well as other subject areas.

Freshman Academy Anecdotal Information  Academy schools have found success in collaboration between teachers with common planning and the creation of environments where freshman feel safe and free to interact academically.  Extra allocation that has allowed Principals to dedicate AP’s and counselors to the academies has been powerful.  Larger schools having the ability to focus an AP and counselor exclusively on freshman is critical.  Request that the Board will allow the District to maintain this arrangement at AHS, SAHS, NAHS and MVHS.  MVHS is growing and projected to have one of the largest incoming freshman classes in the District during the school year.

Freshman Academy Testimonials

Silver Bluff High School  Eases transition to high school–helps student successfully pass ninth grade and graduate on time  Teachers have chosen to be a part of the academy team-have a vested interest- mentor students  Most content-area teachers have common planning  Common planning allows for discussion of academic concerns, intervention and remediation strategies, and additional student needs (referrals to guidance, SIT, school nurse, parent calls)  Humanities course allows for remediation in reading and math, tutoring, and make up work

Midland Valley High School  Transition to high school can be difficult and stressful  Students solve personal and social issues, participate in extracurriculars, and master coursework  A team of teachers work collaboratively to address students’ needs  Students receive a personalized schedule that focuses on identified strengths and weaknesses  Academy teachers collect data (test scores, grades, failure rates, discipline, middle school teacher input) to select classes most appropriate for students  Emphasize self-reliance and responsibility  Relationships between teachers and students lower retention rates and improve graduation rates

Wagener-Salley High School  Interventions are the key to students’ success  Every effort is made to avoid retentions  Academy teachers have a passion for meeting students’ needs  Common procedures create an environment of consistency  Teachers disaggregate data, identify weaknesses, attack those areas of need  Create a community atmosphere with parents-contacts with parents are the norm  Compass and USATestPrep provide support and remediation  Students constantly exposed to their personal performance data

North Augusta High School  Assists the freshman transition to high school–academically and socially  Freshman Advisory monitors failing students each quarter by AP and counselor  Parent communication has improved on all levels  Drastic drop in the number of suspensions due to tardies, ID’s, and disruptions  Common planning for teachers greatly increases collaboration and innovation  Teachers favor a dedicated AP and guidance counselor  Freshman are happier, more comfortable, and have a sense of camaraderie

Freshman Academy Unique Features  Teacher Teams- Recruits interested teachers to the academy who are committed to freshman success  Common Planning for Teachers- dedicates time to discuss best teaching practices and interventions for struggling students  Freshman Data Team- focuses on the unique challenges and solutions needed for success for “red flag” students  Dedicated Guidance Counselor- concentrates efforts on academic, behavior/discipline, social/emotional, and data needs of freshmen only  Groups Freshmen- dedicated wing, lockers, bell schedule, and lunch period  Relevant Professional Development- focuses on specific needs of the academy  Professional Learning Communities- administration, teachers, students, and parents

Freshman Features Common in All Schools  Identify “red flag” students and develop school-wide and teacher-specific interventions to address needs  Use electronic remediation/reinforcement software-i.e. USATestPrep  Use data to identify school-wide deficiencies and solutions-i.e. MAP, HSAP, EOCT, discipline, attendance, failure rates, teacher-generated information  Use SIT to identify school-wide needs, interventions, and professional development

Questions?