HSTW Session Strand for ACTE

Session 7: Increasing Achievement with Effective Career

and Technical Programs in an Urban High School

Presenters:

Linda Kakish, Akron Firestone High School Christopher Pashke, Akron Firestone High School

Ann Rose, Akron Ellet High School Howard Lawson, Akron Public Schools

December 14, 2007 1:00 – 2:00 pm N238

Las Vegas, Nevada

Firestone High SchoolCampus for International Baccalaureate and

Visual & Performing Arts

333 Rampart Avenue Akron, Ohio 333 Rampart Avenue Akron, Ohio 4431344313 Phone: (330) 873-3315 Fax: (330) 873-Phone: (330) 873-3315 Fax: (330) 873-33183318

“Success Is Our Tradition”

Firestone Mission Statement

It is the mission of the Firestone High School learning community to prepare our students to attain their highest degree of academic success.

Akron Public Schools Background

School District: Akron Public Schools

District Rating: Continuous Improvement

Number of Students: Approx. 25,000AYP Status: Not MetSchool Improvement Status: Improvement Year 3Number of Middle Schools: 11MMGW Sites: 6Number of High Schools: 7HSTW Sites: 7

Firestone HS Background

Number of Students by Grade:Ninth: 366Tenth: 328Eleventh: 302Twelfth: 297Total: 1293

School Type: UrbanRegion: NEPerformance Rating: ExcellentAYP Status: METSchool Improvement Status: OKJoined HSTW/MMGW: 2003Feeder middle schools: Litchfield

Miller South

Highly Qualified Status

Number of faculty: 74

Faculty middle school certified: All (7-12)

Faculty high school certified: All

Areas where teachers are

not highly qualified: None

Hold Master’s Degree or Higher: 77%

What makes Firestone special?

Firestone was selected as one of "America's Best High Schools" by Newsweek magazine (2003,2005,2006) for its

International Baccalaureate & Advanced Placement programs.

Exceptionally strong Visual & Performing Arts program: dance, music (band, orchestra, vocal), visual & theater arts.

Strong Career Education Programs: CBE, DECA, IT, PLTW, CBI

2006 graduates earned $7.8 million in college scholarships.

Firestone's attendance rate of 96.3 percent far exceeds the state mandate.

Career Education Programs

Students enrolled in Career Education Programs have opportunities to develop academic,

technical, and leadership skills.

Cooperative Business Education: AOT/CBE Business Professionals of America

Pre-Engineering: PLTW (Project Lead The Way) Information Technology Marketing Education: DECA (Distributive Education Club of

America) CBI Career Based Intervention

CBE Cooperative Business Education

This program is designed for the student who plans to enroll in a business field in college, or one who plans to won their own business. Students learn the basics

of keeping track of business transactions involving the exchange of money for goods or services.

Business management Accounting Business Finance I & II Administrative Office Technology I & II (Employment)

PLTW Project Lead the Way

PLTW is a standards-based pre-engineering 4 year program. The curriculum challenges students to solve

real-world engineering problems by applying their knowledge and skills in mathematics, science, and

technology.

Introduction to Engineering Design Principles of Engineering Digital Electronics Computer Integrated Manufacturing Engineering Design & Development

IT Information Technology

Information Technology (IT) is a 4 year challenging, highly technical, hands-on program. This program provides students with the essential competencies to pursue further study in information

technology.

Students develop skills & knowledge to succeed in the areas of Network Systems, Interactive Media, Information Support and Services,

Programming, & Software Development.

Web Page Design Digital Video Production Graphics & Animation Digital Sound/Photography Network Administration Computer Troubleshooting & Programming

DECA Distributive Education Clubs of America

This program is designed to help college bound & career oriented students prepare for careers in marketing and management. All marketing education students are members of DECA, which enhances the curriculum by providing students with the opportunity to develop

interpersonal communication and leadership skills through managing the DECA store, chapter projects, competition, and leadership

conferences.

The DECA program is driven by four points of the DECA diamond.

LeadershipSocial ResponsibilityCivic Consciousness

Vocational Understanding

International Baccalaureate School

The International Baccalaureate program is designed to meet the highest standards required of any high school student in the

world. The IB Program is committed to the full development of power of the mind and integration of learning with service.

There are only 2,121 schools in 125 countries throughout the world offering this program to students. Firestone is one of only 555 member schools in the United States and one of 13 in the state of Ohio.

Firestone is in its 11th year of the International Baccalaureate program.

During that time, 82% of students earned the prestigious IB diploma.

The world average for this period was 79%.

Visual & Performing Arts

The Visual and Performing Arts Program is designed for students who have a strong interest and talent in any of the following arts areas: dance, drama, visual art, or vocal/instrumental music.

This program prepares students to pursue an arts career or to enhance their creative abilities no matter what

area they choose.

Advanced Placement Courses Offered

Advanced Placement courses offered:

English Literature French & Spanish American & European History Biology, Chemistry, & Physics Calculus & Statistics Studio Art/Design & Photography

Firestone Site Demographic

Grade Total Female Male African

American

White Other ED SWD

9 366 198 168 194 152 19 34.5% 47

10 328 170 158 175 140 13 28.6% 46

11 302 161 141 134 155 13 22.5% 38

12 297 159 138 116 174 7 14.4% 26

Total 1293 688 605 619 621 52 100 157

Key: ED = Economically Disadvantaged SWD = Students with Disabilities

AYP/School Improvement Status

Overriding Goal

The most important goal for FHS and The most important goal for FHS and APS is to close the achievement gaps APS is to close the achievement gaps

and raise student achievement toand raise student achievement to meet district, state, meet district, state, HSTW/MMGWHSTW/MMGW

and federal targetsand federal targets by 2014. To by 2014. To achieve this goal, FHS must continue achieve this goal, FHS must continue

to create ato create a culture ofculture of high high expectationsexpectations and provideand provide extra help.extra help.

HSTW 10 Key Practices

1. High expectations2. Program of study

(Ohio Core)

3. Rigorous academic studies

4. Rigorous career- technical studies

5. Work-based learning

6. Teachers working together

7. Students actively engaged

8. Guidance

9. Extra help

10. Culture of continuous improvement

Student Academic Performance

Subjects Where Our Students are Not Performing Well

Mathematics

Science

Social Studies

Indicators for Mathematics2006/2007 OGT : 95.9%

2004/2006 HSTW : 2004 = 80% 2006 = 80%

Progress: Improving

Gaps: African AmericanEconomically DisadvantagedStudents with Disabilities

Indicators for Science

2006/2007 OGT : 89.8%

2004/2006 HSTW : 2004 = 64% 2006 = 56%

Progress: Needs Improvement

Gaps: African AmericanEconomically DisadvantagedStudents with Disabilities

Indicators for Social Studies2006/2007 OGT : 94.9%

2004/2006 HSTW : NA

Progress: Needs Improvement

Gaps: African AmericanEconomically

DisadvantagedStudents with Disabilities

What Firestone Has Done!High Expectations

Adopted a SIX point writing rubric modeled after OGT scoring.

Maintained rigorous academic IB Program.

Adopted district wide Honors grading scale. Adopted uniform classroom rules school wide

known as the “Firestone Four”.

What Firestone Has Done! Extra Help

Programs include:

After-school Tutoring Program Lunch-time Intervention Program Plato Before School Individual Teacher Tutoring Peer Tutoring by National Honors Society Credit Recovery Program newly implemented

Goal #1

Provide Provide allall students with the students with the opportunity to complete the newopportunity to complete the new Ohio CoreOhio Core and increase to 85 and increase to 85 percent the high school percent the high school graduates who complete thegraduates who complete the HSTW- HSTW- recommended curriculumrecommended curriculum,, includingincluding an academic, career-an academic, career-technical (C-T) or blended technical (C-T) or blended concentration.concentration.

Firestone requires: 2008 graduates to earn 21 credits 4 CP English 3 Mathematics: Algebra 1, Geometry 3 Science: Physical Science, Life Science,

Biology or Honors 3 Social Studies: World History, US

History, American Government or Honors Physical Education/Health Electives: Foreign Language, Fine Arts Concentration: Project Lead the Way

Information Technology

What the School Has Done Goal 1 – Take the Right Courses

Goal #2

1) 1) Strengthen the curriculumStrengthen the curriculum by by aligning aligning

the written, taught and assessed the written, taught and assessed curriculum to Ohio and national curriculum to Ohio and national standards, standards, or or 2) 2) Strengthen the curriculumStrengthen the curriculum by by

aligning aligning the career-technical and academic the career-technical and academic curriculum to Ohio, industry and curriculum to Ohio, industry and national standards national standards oror 3) 3) Strengthen the curriculumStrengthen the curriculum by by

making making instruction the focus of the school. instruction the focus of the school. (only choose #3 if #1 & #2 are completed)(only choose #3 if #1 & #2 are completed)

The district/school has: All core subjects taught through use of pacing guide

designed to include all state standards.

All 9-10th grade core courses give district assessments specifically designed to cover and resemble state standards.

Social Studies, Math, & Science teachers will present published items from the OGT two times each week in place of SSR.

Power Algebra in 5 out of 7 Algebra I classes

Adopted a Six point writing rubric modeled after OGT scoring.

What the School Has Done Goal 2 – Strengthen the Curriculum

Goal #3Goal #3

Engage studentsEngage students in their in their learning through relevant, learning through relevant,

student-centered student-centered instructional instructional

strategies resulting in a strategies resulting in a deeper deeper

understanding and higher understanding and higher demonstrated achievement demonstrated achievement

of of standards.standards.

The school has: Recommended more student based

projects and to discuss projects upon completion.

Cooperative learning techniques used in all core courses.

Students work with other classes on projects across the curriculum.

What the School Has Done Goal 3 – Student Engagement

Goal #4Goal #4

Establish a comprehensive Establish a comprehensive guidance and advisementguidance and advisement

system, including a system, including a strong academic strong academic

transitiontransition, to better , to better prepare students for prepare students for

successful transition to successful transition to postsecondary education postsecondary education

and careers. and careers.

The school has:

Student & counselor/teacher meetings throughout the year to discuss course sequences.

One on one discussions with counselor/teacher on recommended courses for chosen pathway.

College & Financial Aid Night Junior/Senior Parent Night College Knowledge ACT Preparation NCAA Presentation

What the School Has Done Goal 4 – Guidance/Advisement

The school has: Orientation for Litchfield 8th graders in May

Orientation for Miller South (visit classrooms & programs)

Open Enrollment Meetings for new VPA and IB students

Parent Meetings

Firestone Showcase/Community Open House

HSTW Initiatives

What the School Has Done Goal 4 – Transitions

Goal #5Goal #5

Continue to support a Continue to support a culture culture of continuous improvementof continuous improvement with: with:• strong leadershipstrong leadership• actively involved-school actively involved-school

improvement teamsimprovement teams• effective use of dataeffective use of data• aligned professional development aligned professional development • engagement of parents and engagement of parents and

familiesfamiliesas part of a seamless schoolas part of a seamless schoolimprovement process. improvement process.

The school has: Three waiver days provide us with an

opportunity to address standard based professional development to support our buildings goals.

Departmental meetings to discuss relevant topics such as state testing & data from state testing.

Recommend that the SIP and Faculty Advisory Committee team discuss goals & important issues with staff, students, and parents.

We share SIP news in the PTSA newsletter.

What the School Has Done Goal 5 – Continuous Improvement

• SREB Pacesetter Site• SREB Top 100 School• Newsweek's Top 1,200 High School in the

nation (4 straight years)• 31 of FHS students who earned the

HSTW Award of Educational Achievement based upon the 2006 HSTW Assessment

• National Merit Scholars (Last 3 years)• 7 Finalists• 8 Commended Scholars

• National Achievement Scholarship Program for Outstanding Black and Hispanic Students

• 4 Finalists (Last 2 years)

Awards/Recognitions

• Larry Petry: Educational Leader • Email: lperty@akron.k12.oh.us• Phone: 330.873-3315

• Linda Kakish: Site Coordinator• Email: lkakish@akron.k12.oh.us• Phone: 330.873-3315/330.256.6536

• Christopher Pashke: Site Coordinator• Email: cpashke@akron.k12.oh.us• Phone: 330.873-3315

Leadership Team Contact InformationLeadership Team Contact Information