9th Grade Academy

A Fairmont High School (NC) experience …

We believe all students …

Can achieve a high school diploma and

our belief starts before they walk

into our doors

Our plan…

1. Bridging the Gap2. Summer Evaluation3. Transition Academy4. Freshmen Academy (HSTW model)

↓10th grade promotion

Bridging the Gap… (* see handout)

Connecting Middle School to High School

1. Middle school principal’s phone #2. Exceptional Children’s department

E.C. department chair meets with middle school E.C. teachers

Identify Correctly place (discuss individual cases) Folders completed

Bridging the Gap…

3. Core subject teachers interaction (meeting) Explain hurdles for all subjects from both sides Get teachers to identify glaring weaknesses Create plan to benefit high school & middle school

(Ex: 7th – 8th grade E.O.G. = Reading Comp. → 9th grade E.O.C. = Grammar & Reading Comp. → 10th Writing Test )

Bridging the Gap…

4. 8th Grade Assembly Feeder schools are invited to the campus during

school to see the operation and to receive information about the high school

25 min sessions (4 total)1. Intro to 9th grade Academy team + current 9th grader reflection +

12th grader reflection2. Discipline issues + expectations3. English + Math emphasis (activities)4. CTE Information + World History/Earth Science emphasis

Bridging the Gap…

5. “Future 4 Kids” – Course Planner Program for students and parents to technically

interact with the guidance department in registering classes for high school

Students along with their parents usually attend a session on middle school grounds in April/May to set up their registration

All students’ registration should be completed by the end of May (for evaluation by high school)

Summer Evaluation…

June/July Examine “End Of Grade” scores for rising 9th

graders▪ Evaluate who passed 1st time prior to re-testing▪ Establish Honors & Non-Honors (creates class size for

scheduling)▪ Identify at-risk students for Academy teachers

Participants: Principal, Guidance Department, Assistant Principal, and 9th Grade Academy Coordinator

Tornado Transition Academy… (*see handout)

3 day mini-school session for rising 9th graders to interact with the FHS staff and learn “what” the Tornado Academy is all about!!!

Day 1 – Teachers plan and prepare all activities for the rest of the week

Day 2-4 – Students participate in different sessions full of activities

Tornado Transition Academy…

Types of Activities: Leadership Team-building Subject-oriented Introduction to school Technology Physical

Transportation provided

Lunch is available for free

Student incentives for attending

No CHARGE!!!

Tornado Academy… (*see handouts)

Building Layout – Blueprint is necessary!!! “School within a school” Administration, support staff, and teachers should be

clustered together in the school Easier to monitor and participate in grade-level activities

Tornado Expectations Exactly what “we expect” of these 9th graders from the

minute they enter our halls These expectations can be in addition to the high school

handbook (more rules, more procedures, etc.)

Tornado Academy …

Weekly Academy Team meetings Common planning Agenda▪ Academic Performance▪ Discipline Issues▪ Procedures▪ Absenteeism▪ Parental Contact▪ Professional Development▪ Specific strategies: Word Walls, Foldables, Gallery Walk▪ Self-reflection (Improvements in class management + strategies)▪ Achievement mindsets

▪ Grading System – “Inc” or “Not Yet”▪ A.L.C. (Alternative Learning Center)

Tornado Academy …

Lunch All 9th graders as one group (most 9th graders are

not prepared for a high school lunch room)▪ If at a large school, do the best you can in having the 9th

graders together even though you might not be able to make it one group

If upperclassmen are assigned to the 9th Grade lunch, separate them in the lunch area

9th Grade staff are required to eat in the lunch area to help monitor the students

Tornado Academy…

9th Grade Student Support Team 9th Grade Counselor ▪ Scheduling + credit check (extremely important)▪ Emotional/family issues▪ Conducts SSMT (Student Services Management Team) &

504 plan meetings 9th Grade Social Worker▪ Absenteeism▪ Emotional/family issues (house visits)

Tornado Academy…

9th Grade Drop-out Prevention Coordinator▪ Actually works with 10th grade as well (target group)▪ Parental contact▪ Multiple activity & program planner (Anti-Bullying week,

7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens, etc.) 9th Grade Parent Liaison▪ Parental contact▪ Parental involvement activities▪ Community relations

Tornado Academy…

9th grade Academy Coordinator▪ Conducts weekly meetings▪ Plans student success celebrations▪ Interacts with students ▪ Assists Administration▪ Conducts & attends Professional Development

workshops▪ Attends Central Office meetings

Tornado Academy…

Tutoring All teachers in the academy must be available for

tutoring at least once a week Schedule tutoring so subjects do not overlap with

each other (try not to allow the student to have to make a choice)

Parental contact for targeted students 1 – 1 ½ hours Transportation is available

Student Success Celebrations…

Academic success, limited tardies & absences

Student Success Celebrations…

Top Tornadoes Bi-weekly selection of students in the Academy for success

in classroom or athletics Chosen by the teachers at our weekly meetings Display in the Academy showcases the chosen student

Student Success Celebrations…

Academic success: Day trips, honor roll recognition, and student incentives

Keep in mind…

Some states claim that 70 to 80 percent of 9th graders who fail will not graduate

Students who did not earn promotion to 10th grade have a 1 in 4 chance to earn a diploma within 8 years (Neild & Balfanz, 2006)

“On-track” students are 3.5 times more likely to graduate from high school in four years than students who are “off-track” (Allensworth & Easton, 2005)

Remember…

Graduation DOES begin when middle school ends Getting students to achieve academically from 9th

grade to 10th grade and be promoted is essential in raising graduation rates

To achieve this academic success in 9th Grade, at-risk students must be identified

Our success with at-risk students comes through the methods presented today