Freshman Academy

www.NHSFreshmanPride.com

Northside High SchoolFall 2012

Maria Johnson, PrincipalKari Page, Freshman Pride Academy Director

Why a Freshmen Academy?

Why will it be a benefit to my Why will it be a benefit to my student?student?

Studies show…Studies show…

More students drop out of school in the freshman year than any other year – and high stakes testing seems to exacerbate this problem.

Studies show…Studies show…

The high school freshman year is pivotal because students make critical academic choices that impact the rest of their lives.

Freshman dilemma!Freshman dilemma!Freshman dilemma!Freshman dilemma!

Students are being asked to make more sophisticated decisions at younger and younger ages, with little information for making those decisions.

School Dropout Rates:

A National Crisis

Important for Dropout PreventionImportant for Dropout Prevention

Studies show that students who can project themselves into the future and understand the consequences of their actions today are far less likely to drop out of school (high school or college), become a teen parent, or abuse drugs.

Data

• Compiled from SIMS database

• Supports decision making and planning efforts of establishing a Freshmen Academy at Northside High School.

• Shows trends and longitudinal comparisons in three distinct areas (attendance, discipline, and achievement)

What is it?

• Designed to ease transition from middle to high school

• Structured program consisting of teams of a core group of teachers

• Students will remain on team throughout the entire year

Purpose of the Freshmen Academy• Reduce the number of 9th grade students who fail.

• Increase the number of 9th grade students who graduate

• Provide a structured environment and curriculum that will be conducive to the learning styles of students.

• Ease the transition from middle school to high school.

• Implement a team approach to teaching to allow teachers to get to know their students’ academic and personal needs by drawing on the strengths of the “whole” rather than on individual teachers.

• Provide skills to successfully navigate life and work transitions.

Freshman Academy Focus. . .

• Core Academics

• Character Building

• Proper Study Habits

• Preparation for their high school career

• Preparation for the challenges of becoming productive members of our community

Vision

The Northside High School Freshman Academy: Promoting positive growth

from Middle to High School.

Mission

The Mission of the NHS Freshman Pride Academy is to provide a smooth transition for every

student from middle to high school regardless of previous academic performance, family

background, socioeconomic status, race, or gender. It is our purpose to improve the overall culture of NHS by providing a solid foundation

of rigorous academic expectation, while fostering positive growth in social/emotional

behaviors and attitudes. The entire NHS Freshman Academy Team pledges itself to

these student outcomes.

““The more the high schools The more the high schools personalize their work with personalize their work with students, the more effective they students, the more effective they will be.”will be.”

Theodore Sizer, authorTheodore Sizer, authorHorace’s Compromise: Horace’s Compromise:

The Dilemma of the The Dilemma of the American High SchoolAmerican High School

The Interdisciplinary Model

Math

History

English IScience

Career Mgt

Electives

Advantages of integrated, Advantages of integrated, thematic-driven curriculum…thematic-driven curriculum…

Learners:

• see connections and relationships between disciplines–more like the real world

• are more motivated and engaged by thematic/relevant topics

• learn to synthesize information rather than memorize facts

• gain an increased perception of the real world that makes the transition to work faster and easier

Keys to Success. . .• Team Planning

• Core Teachers will collaborate on strategies and activities

• Will focus on the students’ academic, organizational, and social needs

• AVID Methodologies• Each team will incorporate

• To include: writing, inquiry, collaborative, and reading

• Parent Communication• Monthly online newsletter posted

– Will highlight curriculum and events of Freshman Academy

– Each teacher will contribute– Teachers will keep updated websites with detailed

information

Freshman Academy Career Management Course

• Personalized for Academy members

• Gets students actively involved and motivated

• Demonstrates the importance of education

• Encourages critical thinking and problem solving

• Integrates academics and career exploration

• Reinforces reading, writing and computation skills

• Successfully incorporates AVID methodologies within each curriculum

Questions/Concerns