Welcome Westmont High School Parents

2014-2015

Westmont High School is…

The Most Improved High School in Illinois 2014

One of the Most Improved and Top Performing High Schools

in the United States

How were we able to make this happen?

TEAM EFFORT

Faculty and Staff

SuperintendentParents

Community

StudentsSchool Board

Criteria

2013-2014 School Year Data

Graduation RateAdvanced Placement Program

PSAE Scores

Graduation Rate

Graduation Rate

99.0 %

98.5% reported to the state(strictest criteria counts all students)

99.2% walked across our stage(completed all requirements in four years)

**Best Graduation Rate in School History**

**Top 1% in United States**

Advanced Placement

Program

Advanced Placement Performance

Almost 400% increase in the number of passed AP Exams

29 in 2013 141 in 2014

Advanced Placement Scholar increase

3 in 2013 16 in 2014(highest in school history with the previous being 5)

Washington Post Challenge Index Score

From .56 to 3.01

We will be about right

here

<-------------

Most Improved

In Illinois

U.S. News and World Report

Ranking will be improved from Score =15(not in the top 20%) Score = 30 (in the top

7%)

***TOP 7% in Illinois for performance***

***Most Improved in Illinois***

Why take AP classes?• Impress Admissions Counselors

• Develop College Level Academic Skills – Prepare for College

• Take more elective classes in college

• Choose a major sooner

• Add a minor or second major

• Save money!

• Create a stronger and more rigorous academic environment at W.H.S.

• Help develop and build a strong reputation of W.H.S. for all student admissions process.

• Build a championship academic environment to promote more student achievement.

WHY Take A.P. at Westmont?Getting our Students to Dream Big –

Getting our Students to Overcome Challenges-

Developing a “Whatever it Takes” Attitude –

Getting our Students to Believe that Together We will accomplish any goal -

Why take an AP test?

• Prepare for the college experience

• College credit

• Low risk – choose which exams to report

• Advanced Placement Scholar

• Promote Westmont as a Top Performing School

• College – Reputation as a school, which will increase college admissions opportunities.

25 Year Study

“Take challenging school work in high school, and don’t let anyone scare you

away from it.” (page 103)

“The intensity and quality of one’s secondary school curriculum was the

strongest influence not merely on college entrance, but more importantly, on bachelor’s degree completion…” (page

5)

Answers In the Toolbox Revisited (2006)

PSAE

Highest Test Scores in School History

Overall Score

69%meets and exceeds

• Previous high was 66% (graduation rate 90%)

• 13 year average was 58%

Reading

76% meets and exceeds

• Previous high was 70%• 13 year average was 61%

Math(second highest)

63% meets and exceeds

• Previous high was 67%• 13 year average was 55%

◄ WHS 2014

◄ WHS 2014

Highest Science Scores in School History

More Accomplishments to Celebrate

• Lowest out-of-school suspension rate

• Athletic Success

• AP Grant- 3 rounds totaling $140,000 in competitive grant funding

• Sponsored 2nd AP Conference

• Innovative Programs and Summer School

• All but one student from WJHS selected WHS

Positive relationships with studentsTeacher interventions and supportA commitment to helping students

succeed

Athletic SuccessesCompeted Down State:• Boys’ Cross Country• Girls’ Cross Country• Wrestling• Boys’ Track• Girls’ Track• Baseball_________________________• Girls’ softball won

Sectionals

Innovative Programs

Change Makers The Garden

Summer School

Programs and Attendance

Program # of Students

Credit Recovery 23

TEAM 26

AP Human Geography

23

Math Jump to Honors

22

Summer Literacy 11

TOTAL 105 students

How did we do it?

“Whatever it Takes”

philosophy

Focus on learning for all

Smart Goal Process• Implement goals• 2-3 building wide goals• 2-3 team goals• 1 is linked to school goals• 1 is what gets you up in the morning• 1 is your choice• Monitor all time – Focus• Adjust – Support – Goals drive action

We must continue…• Making improvements

• Maintaining our graduation rate

• Building our AP Program• Challenge Index Score of 4.0 or higher)

• Closing the achievement gap for African American and Latino students

• Improving literacy for all students

Thank you for all your support

Here are some things we need from parents to continue this

momentum…

The 12 Touchstones of Good Teaching

Be Demanding – Section 1

“The general principle that emerged from the study-dubbed the Pygmalion effect – has

been confirmed in other studies (e.g., Hattie, 2009), and it has been demonstrated by such famous teachers as Marva Collins, Rafe Esquith, and Jaime Escalante: when

teachers expect more, students rise to their expectations.” (p. 3)

Goodwin, B., & Hubbell, E. R. (2013). The 12 Touchstones of Good Teaching. Alexandria, Virginia: ASCD.

The 12 Touchstones of Good Teaching

Be Supportive - Section 2

“Warm demanders – originally labeled ‘supportive gadflies’ – combined ‘high

personal warmth with high active demandingness’.” (p.64)

The Smartest Kids in the World and How They Got

That Way

“The only way to get smart was to work hard and learn well” (p.194)

“There are even whole schools built around the ideals of rigorous learning

and telling children the truth. These are countercultural places, though, with

leaders who spend a lot of time convincing parents that their children are

tougher than they think” (p.197)

Growth Mindset

Intelligence can be developed therefore leads to a desire to learn and therefore a tendency to

Embrace challenges Persist in the face of setbacks See effort as the path to mastery Learn from criticism Find lessons and inspiration in the success of

others As a result they reach ever higher levels of

achievement

Mindset - Dr. Carol Dweck (2006)

Quick Tips

• Reading independently every night will have a positive impact in all academic areas.

• Help your child to see the growth mindset.

• Asking questions and seeking help is a sign of strength.

• Encourage your child to be gritty.

Let’s Celebrate …An Amazing Year

Thank you for all you have done and will

continue to do for our students!