1. Southern Regional Education Board Improving High Schools Performance Goals and Characteristics of High- performing High Schools

2. Southern Regional Education Board Louisiana - Baton Rouge 12-01-042 High-performing High Schools Are About: Rigor/Focus Relevance/Engaging Assignments Relationships/Support Improved Transitions Leadership

3. Southern Regional Education Board Louisiana - Baton Rouge 12-01-043 1. High-performing Schools: Have Functional High School Performance Goals High school graduates are ready for postsecondary studies and a career – college and career readiness 90% of students entering grade nine graduate four years later with a real diploma – high school graduation Entering ninth-graders are performing at the basic level and above in reading, mathematics and science on NAEP-like exams – middle to high school transition

4. Southern Regional Education Board Louisiana - Baton Rouge 12-01-044 Southern Regional Education Board College and Career Readiness: ACT Gains in SREB States 1994-2004

5. Southern Regional Education Board Louisiana - Baton Rouge 12-01-045 College and Career Readiness Fewer than 60%60% to 74%75% or more United States: 66% SREB: 78%Louisiana: 22% Source: The College Board Percent of Public High Schools With Students Taking Advanced Placement Exams 2003

6. Southern Regional Education Board Louisiana - Baton Rouge 12-01-046 AP Exams per 1,000 Juniors and Seniors* 2003 Source: The College Board *Includes students at public and private schools College and Career Readiness

7. Southern Regional Education Board Louisiana - Baton Rouge 12-01-047 College and Career Readiness: Louisiana Percent of Career/Technical Students Scoring At or Above the Basic Level on the High Schools That Work Reading Assessment by Completion of English Curriculum, 2004 Source: Special Analyses of 2004 High Schools That Work Assessment Data

8. Southern Regional Education Board Louisiana - Baton Rouge 12-01-048 College and Career Readiness: Louisiana Percent of Career/Technical Students Scoring At or Above the Basic Level on the High Schools That Work Mathematics Assessment by Completion of Mathematics Curriculum, 2004 Source: Special Analyses of 2004 High Schools That Work Assessment Data

9. Southern Regional Education Board Louisiana - Baton Rouge 12-01-049 College and Career Readiness: Louisiana Percent of Career/Technical Students Scoring At or Above the Basic Level on the High Schools That Work Science Assessment by Completion of Science Curriculum, 2004 Source: Special Analyses of 2004 High Schools That Work Assessment Data

10. Southern Regional Education Board Louisiana - Baton Rouge 12-01-0410 Southern Regional Education Board High School Graduation: Percentage of Ninth Graders Who Do Not Graduate - 1990 and 2001 for SREB States

11. Southern Regional Education Board Louisiana - Baton Rouge 12-01-0411 SREB States High School Graduation: Comparison of Two Different Methods Southern Regional Education Board

12. Louisiana - Baton Rouge 12-01-0412 High School Graduation: Ninth Grade Bulge in SREB States 1990-2000 Southern Regional Education Board

13. Louisiana - Baton Rouge 12-01-0413 High School Graduation: Percentage of 12 th -Grade Enrollment and Diplomas Awarded in Spring/Summer 19962001 Louisiana 87% 91% Highest SREB state -- MD97 Lowest SREB state -- SC87

14. Southern Regional Education Board Louisiana - Baton Rouge 12-01-0414 High School Graduation: 9 th -Grade and 8 th - Grade Bulge in Louisiana 9 th - Grade Bulge 8 th -Grade Bulge 1998115%92% 200295104 Drop by 20 Increase by 12

15. Southern Regional Education Board Louisiana - Baton Rouge 12-01-0415 Southern Regional Education Board High School Graduation: Number of Low-promotion Schools State Texas (243)Mississippi (60) Florida (163)Kentucky (39) Georgia (156)Virginia (26) North Carolina (107)Maryland (17) South Carolina (100)Oklahoma (15) Louisiana (73)Delaware (8) Alabama (71)West Virginia (6) Tennessee (63)Arkansas (5)

16. Southern Regional Education Board Louisiana - Baton Rouge 12-01-0416 75 High- and Low-performing Schools with Comparative Students High SitesLow Sites African- American 28%27% White5759 Other1514 Parent-No college 3537

17. Southern Regional Education Board Louisiana - Baton Rouge 12-01-0417 2. High Performing Schools: Higher Percentage of Students Completing Recommended Academic Core – Rigor Four credits in college-prep/honors English Four mathematics credits – Algebra I, geometry, Algebra II and above Three science credits at the college- prep level; four credits with a block schedule Three years of social studies Mathematics in the senior year

18. Southern Regional Education Board Louisiana - Baton Rouge 12-01-0418 High-performing Schools: Comparison of High- and Low-performing Schools by Recommended Curriculum Areas – Rigor

19. Southern Regional Education Board Louisiana - Baton Rouge 12-01-0419 3. High-performing Schools: Students Complete a Concentration – Focus Mathematics and science concentration – four credits in each field, with at least one at the Advanced Placement level Humanities concentration – four credits each in college-prep-level language arts and social studies, with at least one at the Advanced Placement level and four additional credits from foreign language, fine arts, journalism, debate, etc. Career/technical concentration – four credits in a planned sequence of courses within a broad career field – pre-engineering, health/medical science, etc.

20. Southern Regional Education Board Louisiana - Baton Rouge 12-01-0420 High-performing Schools: Completion of Concentrations at High- and Low-performing Schools – Focus

21. Southern Regional Education Board Louisiana - Baton Rouge 12-01-0421 4. High-performing Schools: Higher Percentage of Students Experience High Expectations Specific PracticesHighLow State amount and quality of work for an “A” or a “B” (often) 53%41% Teachers’ availability for extra help (frequently) 6753 One or more hours of homework (daily) 3220 Revise written work (often)4432 Work hard to meet high standards (often) 5240

22. Southern Regional Education Board Louisiana - Baton Rouge 12-01-0422 5. High-performing Schools: Higher Percentage of Students Have Intensive Literacy Experiences – Engaging Instruction Literacy practicesHighLow Revise written work for quality (often) 44%32% Write in-depth explanations (sometimes/often) 6351 Complete short writings in English (monthly) 8268 in science (monthly) 3828 in social studies (monthly) 5038

23. Southern Regional Education Board Louisiana - Baton Rouge 12-01-0423 Literacy practicesHighLow Use word processor (often) 60%43% Discuss topics with other students (monthly) 5844 Read books outside of class (monthly) 4831 Read technical materials in class (monthly) 4837 Read non-school materials outside of school (two hours weekly) 2320 High-performing Schools: Higher Percentage of Students Have Intensive Literacy Experiences – Engaging Instruction

24. Southern Regional Education Board Louisiana - Baton Rouge 12-01-0424 6. High-performing Schools: Higher Percentage of Students Have Intensive Numeracy Experiences – Relevance/Engaging Numeracy PracticesHighLow 4 courses, Algebra I and higher 63%41% Mathematics the senior year7973 4 or more mathematics courses 7765

25. Southern Regional Education Board Louisiana - Baton Rouge 12-01-0425 Numeracy PracticesHighLow Teachers link mathematics to real-life problems (sometimes) 75%67% Work-related mathematics problems (monthly) 3527 Use of mathematics in career/technical assignments (monthly) 5241 Solve problems outside textbook (monthly) 7459 High-performing Schools: Higher Percentage of Students Have Intensive Numeracy Experiences – Relevance/Engaging

26. Southern Regional Education Board Louisiana - Baton Rouge 12-01-0426 High-performing Schools: Higher Percentage of Students Have Intensive Numeracy Experiences – Relevance/Engaging Numeracy PracticesHighLow Orally explain processes. (monthly) 36%27% Work with others on assignments. (monthly) 5438 Groups brainstorm to solve problems. (monthly) 6346 Solve open-ended problems. (monthly) 7661 Use graphing calculator. (weekly) 6750

27. Southern Regional Education Board Louisiana - Baton Rouge 12-01-0427 HighLow Completed at least 3 of the following: CP physical science, CP biology, Biology II, anatomy, CP chemistry, Physics, AP science 50% 23% Took science the senior year7057 Take 4 or more science courses 58 36 7. High-performing Schools: Higher Percentage of Students Have Intensive Science Experiences – Relevance/Engaging

28. Southern Regional Education Board Louisiana - Baton Rouge 12-01-0428 High-performing Schools: Higher Percentage of Students Have Intensive Science Experiences – Relevance/Engaging HighLow Use science equipment to do science activities (weekly) 39%26% Use science equipment to do science activities in the classroom (monthly) 7763 Shown how scientific concepts are used in real- life situations (often) 3928

29. Southern Regional Education Board Louisiana - Baton Rouge 12-01-0429 High-performing Schools: Higher Percentage of Students Have Intensive Science Experiences – Relevance/Engaging HighLow Worked with one or more students in class on science work (monthly) 74%58% Prepared a written report on science project (monthly) 5542 Read an assigned book or article dealing with science (monthly) 4635

30. Southern Regional Education Board Louisiana - Baton Rouge 12-01-0430 8. High-performing Schools: Higher Percentage Have Intensive Extra Help – Relevance/Relationship HighLow Can get extra help from teachers when needed (often) 48% 36% Teachers available (frequently) 6753 Helps me to understand material (often) 4939 Extra help often helps to get a better grade 4433

31. Southern Regional Education Board Louisiana - Baton Rouge 12-01-0431 Offer before/after school teacher-led extra-help sessions Tutorial classes during the school day Peer tutoring Computer-based instruction Immediate retake opportunities for failed courses – after school, summer Web-based instruction. High-performing Schools: Extra-help Strategies – Support/Relationship

32. Southern Regional Education Board Louisiana - Baton Rouge 12-01-0432 9. High-performing Schools: Higher Percentage of Students Have Intensive Guidance Experiences – Focus/Support/Relationship Guidance PracticesHighLow Planned program by end of grade 9 5347 Talked with parents about high school plans (semester) 7262 Spoke with someone in an aspired career field 7362

33. Southern Regional Education Board Louisiana - Baton Rouge 12-01-0433 High-performing Schools: Higher Percentage of Students Have Intensive Guidance Experiences – Focus/Support/Relationship Guidance PracticesHighLow Talked with teachers about plans after high school 85%78% Annual meeting to review program of study 7162 Assigned adult adviser for all 4 years 4438 Talked to college representative8779 Parents and I received information and assistance for college 7057

34. Southern Regional Education Board Louisiana - Baton Rouge 12-01-0434 10. High-performing Schools: Higher Percentage of Students See Importance of High School – Relevance/Focus/Relationship/Rigor HighLow Courses are exciting and challenging (often) 23% 15% I tried to do my best (often) 6152 Failed to turn in assignment (sometimes/often) 2632 Teacher encouraged me to do well (often) 5845 Teachers would not let me get by without doing the work (often) 3627

35. Southern Regional Education Board Louisiana - Baton Rouge 12-01-0435 High-performing Schools: Higher Percentage of Students See Importance of High School – Relevance/Focus/Relationship/Rigor HighLow It is very important to get good grades 77%68% It is very important to participate in class 6657 It is very important to attend all classes 8579 It is very important to take college-preparatory classes 5446

36. Southern Regional Education Board Louisiana - Baton Rouge 12-01-0436 11. High-performing Schools: Provide More Students Access to High-quality Career/Technical Studies – Relevance Industry-certified teachers and programs Students working for college credit and/or employer certification exam Active advisory committees Access to off-campus career/technical courses – Web-based, etc. Offer youth apprenticeship opportunities Integrate academic studies

37. Southern Regional Education Board Louisiana - Baton Rouge 12-01-0437 12. High-performing Schools: Have Developed Middle Grades to Ninth Grade Transition Program – Transition Getting students ready for CP English: a ninth grade catch up course Getting students ready for real Algebra: a ninth grade catch-up course Summer Program Curriculum alignment with middle grades schools Orientation of students and parents to the demands of high school

38. Southern Regional Education Board Louisiana - Baton Rouge 12-01-0438 13. High-performing Schools: Have Developed a High School to College and Career Transition Program – Transition Use the senior year to: Allow students who are ready to earn college credit Get unprepared students ready for college Prepare those not planning for college to earn a certificate or pass an employer certification exam “Save the seniors”

39. Southern Regional Education Board Louisiana - Baton Rouge 12-01-0439 14. High-performing Schools: Higher Percentage of Teachers Report Intensive School Improvement Efforts – Leadership Destrehan High School, LA Continuous Improvement Practices Goals are clear.65% Teachers maintain a demanding and supportive environment. 63% Principals meet with teachers to examine student work. (monthly) 69

40. Southern Regional Education Board Louisiana - Baton Rouge 12-01-0440 High-performing Schools: Higher Percentage of Teachers Report Intensive School Improvement Efforts -- Leadership Destrehan High School, LA Continuous Improvement Practices Teachers continue to learn and seek out new ideas 78% Teachers/administrators work as a team55 Teachers use data to evaluate school and classroom practices 93

41. Southern Regional Education Board Louisiana - Baton Rouge 12-01-0441 High-performing Schools: What can states do to increase graduation rates and achievement?

42. Southern Regional Education Board Louisiana - Baton Rouge 12-01-0442 High-performing Schools: 1.Hold schools accountable to increase annually the percentage of graduates completing the recommended academic core and who complete a mathematics and science, humanities or career concentration. 2.Require schools to have an effective transition program from middle grades to high school.

43. Southern Regional Education Board Louisiana - Baton Rouge 12-01-0443 High-performing Schools: 3.Require schools to develop an extra-help system aimed to assist students to recover when they fail a grade or a course and to pass high-stakes exams.

44. Southern Regional Education Board Louisiana - Baton Rouge 12-01-0444 4.Require that every student develop a five-year program of study that covers four years of high school and one year beyond. High-performing Schools:

45. Southern Regional Education Board Louisiana - Baton Rouge 12-01-0445 5.Provide students access to quality career/technical studies in high-demand, high- paying career fields. High-performing Schools:

46. Southern Regional Education Board Louisiana - Baton Rouge 12-01-0446 6.Require every high school teacher – academic, technical, fine arts and other – to be trained in how to use content- literacy skills and study skills to help students become independent learners in the teacher’s subject matter. High-performing Schools:

47. Southern Regional Education Board Louisiana - Baton Rouge 12-01-0447 7.Require every high school to develop a formalized initiative for the transition from high school to college and careers. High-performing Schools:

48. Southern Regional Education Board Louisiana - Baton Rouge 12-01-0448 8.Expand the use of technology in high school to improve achievement in core academic courses to help students recover when they fail a course and to meet standards on exit exams. High-performing Schools:

49. Southern Regional Education Board Louisiana - Baton Rouge 12-01-0449 High School Graduation: 9.Examine state policies and their impact on improving graduation rates.

50. Southern Regional Education Board Louisiana - Baton Rouge 12-01-0450 High School Graduation: Does allowing 16 and 17 year-old students to take the GED encourage dropping out?

51. Southern Regional Education Board Louisiana - Baton Rouge 12-01-0451 Less than one in five 16 and 17 year- olds who drop out get a high school equivalency. GED recipients with no additional education earn only 1% more than dropouts. 12% of male GED holders complete one year of college; 2% four years of college; 3% an associate’s degree; 18% on-the-job training. Allowing teenagers to leave school for a GED lowers completion rates by 5%. High School Graduation: Facts to Consider

52. Southern Regional Education Board Louisiana - Baton Rouge 12-01-0452 Does linking driver’s licenses to school attendance work? High School Graduation: Drivers’ Licenses and High School Completion Rates

53. Southern Regional Education Board Louisiana - Baton Rouge 12-01-0453 High School Graduation: Drivers’ Licenses and Student Dropout Rates West Virginia YearStudent Licenses Suspended Dropout Rate (1) 1999856 3.4% 20007332.9 20017912.5 20025702.5 2003490NA (1) Dropout rate is calculated by dividing the number of dropouts for the year by the second month’s enrollment grade nine to 12. Source: West Virginia’s Department of Education

54. Southern Regional Education Board Louisiana - Baton Rouge 12-01-0454 High School Graduation: Drivers’ Licenses and Student Dropout Rates North Carolina YearStudent Licenses Suspended Dropout Rate (1) 19982,558 6.78% 19995,2556.43 20005,8455.72 20016,3275.25 (1) Dropout rate is calculated by dividing the number of dropouts for the year by the average enrollment of the current year grade nine to 12 and previous year. Source: NC Department of Public Instruction Web site.

55. Southern Regional Education Board Louisiana - Baton Rouge 12-01-0455 Do we need to adopt flexibility in our assessment for high school graduation? Giving students easy access to retaking exam Using national employer certification as a way to demonstrate performance; and High School Graduation: Examine State Policies and Their Impact on Improving Graduation Rates

56. Southern Regional Education Board Louisiana - Baton Rouge 12-01-0456 Does your state accountability policy give equal emphasis to raising achievement and holding students in school? Examine State Policies and Their Impact on Improving Graduation Rates

57. Southern Regional Education Board Louisiana - Baton Rouge 12-01-0457 Southern Regional Education Board 10. Develop a special emphasis on the lowest-performing high schools? Require schools to adopt a research-based school improvement design. High Schools That Work Talent Development First Things First

58. Southern Regional Education Board Louisiana - Baton Rouge 12-01-0458 Southern Regional Education Board All gains are significant at the.01 level. Source: 2004 HSTW Assessment Data High School Graduation: Improvement at Low-performing Schools Adapting HSTW with a Comprehensive School Reform Grant

59. Southern Regional Education Board Louisiana - Baton Rouge 12-01-0459 Southern Regional Education Board Develop a special emphasis on the lowest-performing high schools. Organize large, impersonal schools into Small Learning Communities.

60. Southern Regional Education Board Louisiana - Baton Rouge 12-01-0460 Southern Regional Education Board Develop a special emphasis on the lowest-performing high schools. Create a state leadership academy focused on developing a TEAM of district and school leaders.