Welcome Westmont High School Parents 2014-2015. Westmont High School is… The Most Improved High...
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Transcript of Welcome Westmont High School Parents 2014-2015. Westmont High School is… The Most Improved High...
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!