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Reinventing Ninth Grade

Reinventing Ninth Grade. “The Quest for Success…Begins Here.”. Concerns about Transition to Ninth Grade. High level of immaturity and irresponsibility Increase in number of repeaters Limited number of teachers who want to teach 9 th grade

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Reinventing Ninth Grade

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  1. Reinventing Ninth Grade “The Quest for Success…Begins Here.”

  2. Concerns about Transition to Ninth Grade • High level of immaturity and irresponsibility • Increase in number of repeaters • Limited number of teachers who want to teach 9th grade • High number of disciplinary infractions (i.e. tardies, dress code, etc.) • Too little communication with parents

  3. Academics Through Personalization • “Teaching 14 year old children, not content.” The academy… • Creates personal relationships with students. • Raises expectations for all stakeholders. • Does not accept “failure as an option.”

  4. Data Comparison Freshman Class of 2005-2006 • 40% of students with less than a 2.0 GPA for the 1st semester. • 24% of students with over a 3.0 GPA for the 1st semester. Freshman Class of 2006-2007 • 38% of students with less than a 2.0 GPA for the 1st semester. • 29% of students with over a 3.0 for the 1st semester.

  5. Strategies That Work • Teachers applying/interviewing to work in the academy • Teaming the core teachers daily • Consistency in expectations • Separation of 9th grade classes from the upperclassmen.

  6. Mandatory Freshman Success class to teach orientation, study skills, note-taking strategies, etc. • Class size no more than 25:1 • Academy coordinator and guidance counselor for the Ninth Grade Academy

  7. Credit recovery program (i.e. Twilight School) offered for those 9th graders who have failed a core subject • Only “pure freshmen” allowed in the academy

  8. Academy Features • Incoming 9th graders are assigned to a “house” of 80-100 students. Each house consists of cross-curricular teams of English (I), science (Physical Science), social studies (World Geography), and math (Algebra I/Geometry) teachers

  9. Has a common planning period EACH DAY • Contains courses of varying abilities, i.e. honors/ AP and regular • “Double-dosing” in math or ELA for students who score unsatisfactory or approaching basic on 8th grade LEAP.

  10. Students remain in same house all year. • Students participate in elective courses as well as other activities, such as clubs and sports, outside their house.

  11. Frequent contact and ongoing communication between school and parents. • Ongoing recognition of student accomplishments (Positive Behavior Support)

  12. Twilight School • Held after school from 2:30 – 4:15 Monday through Friday for nine weeks (build in a minimum of 54 instructional hours) • Offer classes in Algebra I, World Geography, Physical Science, English I

  13. Prevents students from falling behind classmates • Prevents students from “buying” a grade during summer school • Maintains the rigor of Zachary High School’s high standards

  14. CREDIT RECOVERY PROGRAM • During session one of “Twilight School” 65 of 98 students received recovery credit. • During session two of “Twilight School” 41 of 52 students received recovery credit.

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