Magnet Program ProposalNew Hanover County Schools

The mission of New Hanover County Schools, in collaboration with our parents and the community, is to strive to provide children an

excellent education in a safe and positive learning environment where they are prepared with the critical skills to reach their full potential

for a world yet to be imagined.

“Reach, Equip, Achieve”

Revision the Future Strengthening Our Magnet

Programs

New Hanover County has a long history with magnet schools and choice programs. Over the years these programs have gradually changed and it is time to re-examine them and make revisions. There has been no review of our programs in over five years. Current Magnet Schools receive additional personnel and financial resources to support their programs. Transportation is also provided regardless of where the student resides.  The current list of magnet programs include:

❖ Gregory School of Science, Mathematics and Technology

❖ Rachel Freeman School of Engineering

❖ Snipes Academy of Arts and Design

❖ D.C. Virgo Preparatory Academy

Student Achievement

12-13 13-14 14-15

Growth Composite Growth SPG Growth SPG

Gregory Met 40.2 Did Not Meet

D Met Growth

D

Freeman Met 26.1 Did Not Meet

D Met Growth

F

Snipes Not Met 17 Exceeded Growth

D Met Growth

F

Virgo Not Met 16.8 Met Growth

F Met Growth

D

Enrollment

13-14 14-15 15-16

District Choice District Choice District Choice

Gregory N/A 401 N/A 422 N/A 393

Freeman 238 102 264 110 240 106

Snipes 450 59 408 61 413 50

Virgo 134 87 180 79 130 53

Rachel Freeman School of Engineering

Focuses on Engineering by blending the concepts into the daily curriculum. To support the engineering program, the school receives additional financial support and an additional instructional support. There is considerable concern about the academic success of the program. Over the last three years, both reading and math scores have declined. The school’s grade on the state rating system is currently an (F) and the school has been identified as low performing by the state.

➢Renewed Engineering Focus

➢Student Competition Teams

➢Students Learn Coding

➢Embedded Professional Development

➢Designated as Only STEM Magnet School

➢Convert to Year-Round Calendar

D.C. Virgo Preparatory Academy

In 2010 D.C. Virgo was closed due to declining enrollment, low academic performance, and budget concerns. After a year of review and after soliciting community input the school was reopened with a strong focus on academics and community involvement. A partnership was formed with the Blue Ribbon Commission (BRC) and the Community Advisory Board was formed.

➢Expansion of Project Lead the Way

➢Students Learn Coding

➢National Competition Teams

➢Year-Round Calendar

➢Continued Collaboration with BRC

➢Continued iPad 1:1

➢Review Attendance Zone

Snipes Academy of Arts and Design

Snipes is the newest school building in the district. It has its own auditorium and has the widest cultural arts offering of any elementary school in the district. Despite this, the school has struggled academically and has a history of high staff turnover. The school is also in the third year of a multi-million dollar grant to help with academic concerns at the school. While the school has met growth the last two years and the scores are trending in a positive direction, there is still considerable room for improvement.

➢Renewed Arts Focus

➢Add Instrumental Music

➢Add Performance Groups

➢Year-Round Calendar

➢Embedded Staff Development

Gregory School of Science, Math and Technology

Gregory has been the flagship magnet school for the district for nearly two decades. At one time it was the most requested school in the county. When technology became more pervasive the uniqueness of the school was lost. Under current leadership, the school has worked to rebrand the school with a strong STEM program that competes with another magnet school, Rachel Freeman. Gregory is also the only school without an attendance zone, all of the students attend by choice so recruitment is an issue for the school.

➢Move existing Immersion Program from Forest Hills

➢Expand Program from K-5 to K-8 configuration

➢Continue existing STEM program until student matriculate to Middle School

➢Work with VIF and SPLASH to support transition with training, materials and curriculum

➢Addition of Spanish instruction for STEM students

Why Immersion

"If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to

him in his language, that goes to his heart."

~Nelson Mandela

"The limits of my language mean the limits of my world." ~Ludwig Wittgenstein

Benefits of Dual Language Immersion

It empowers students to achieve the highest academic, social and linguistic skills to give them the edge now and for future academic and economic success (Committee for Economic Development 2006)

Learning a 2nd language stimulates the brain to develop higher level reasoning skills which transfer to complex critical thinking in math, science and language arts (Genesse, 2000)

Children who are educated with a multicultural curriculum have stronger self-esteem and more tolerance for and more interest in other cultures (Lindholm-Leary, 2000)

Implementation Process

Program Review

• July 2015• October

2015

Magnet Principal Meeting

• October 15, 2015

Consultation with SPLASH

• Ongoing

Parent Meetings

• Forest Hills 10/9/15

• Gregory 10/20/15

• Gregory 11/12/15

• Forest Hills 11/19/15

Proposed Program Elementary School Program (Proposed)

❖One-Way ❖In a One-Way model, students will

engage in learning through the medium of the second language in lower elementary. The amount of ELA will increase to a maximum of up to 50% of the instructional time in upper elementary.

❖Two-Way ❖The Two-Way model will provide the

school with the opportunity to serve a mixed population of students including ELLS as well as native English speakers. This model is especially recommended for ELLS because it takes advantage of their home language (Spanish) to strengthen their first language literacy skills at the same time they develop their second language capabilities.

Middle School Program (Proposed)

❖Conexiones I-III❖The middle school Splash Spanish

Language and Culture curriculum focuses on: Development of second language proficiency in listening, speaking, reading and writing. y Cultural studies of Spanish-speaking countries. y Knowledge of global society, geography, environment, education, economy and politics. y Building global citizenship through social entrepreneurship projects.

❖25% Instruction in Target Language

❖Exposure to tertiary language❖Program Enhancement to include

8th grade Travel

Current Proposal (Option 1)

K-5 Immersion Program transitions to Gregory from Forest Hills

Gregory becomes K-8 Immersion Magnet School

Gregory 1st-5th grade students remain and matriculate through the program

Middle School program consists of Connexiones I-III curriculum and exposure to third language with at least 25% instruction in Spanish.Overcrowding at Forest Hills is addressed

Allows for district expansion

Addresses equity and access concerns

Overcrowding at Forest Hills is addressed

Option 2

Kindergarten Immersion at Gregory

Forest Hills maintains 1st -5th grade immersion and students matriculate through the program

Gregory 1st-5th grade students remain and matriculate through the program

Middle School program at least 25% instruction in Spanish

Allows for district expansion

Addresses equity and access concerns in the new program

Overcrowding at Forest Hills is addressed

Middle School program at least 25% instruction in Spanish

Option 3K-5 Immersion program continues at Forest Hills with one section of Kindergarten for in district students only

Out of district students continue in the program

Siblings of out of district students may attend Forest Hills but do not have a reserved seat in immersion

Kindergarten Immersion at Gregory

Middle School program at least 25% instruction in Spanish.

Overcrowding at Forest Hills is addressed

Allows for district expansion

Addresses equity and access concerns in the new program

Other Suggestions

Forest Hills maintains current program

➢Does not address overcrowding➢Does not address program expansion➢Does not address access concerns

Forest Hills becomes K-5 Immersion School

➢Creates forced choice for parents not wanting immersion➢Does not expand the program within the district➢Opt out students attend Gregory

*All future enrollments will be handled by the district

Our Commitment…

to provide a high quality instructional program for all the students of the district that meets them where they are and prepares them to reach their full potential for a world yet to be imagined.