Three Columbus City Schools Earn All As and Bs on

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Three!Columbus!City!Schools!Earn!All!
As!and!Bs!on!State!Report!Card!
KidsOhio.org
Summer 2014
Only!11!percent!of!high+poverty!Ohio!high!schools!earned!all!As!and!Bs!
Eleven percent (29 schools) of the 263 high schools statewide, where half or more of students are
economically disadvantaged, achieved all As and Bs on the state’s 2012-2013 academic report card.
This includes three Columbus City Schools high schools: Columbus Alternative High School,
Eastmoor Academy and Centennial High School.
Where!are!these!three!high+performing!schools!located?!
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Columbus Alternative High
School
Centennial High School
Total Enrollment: 786
Economically
Disadvantaged: 56.5%
Limited English Proficiency:
13.7%
Students with a Disability:
13.6%
Students of Color: 57.4%
10th Grade Reading Pass
Rate: 89.7%
10th Grade Math Pass Rate:
85.6%
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Total Enrollment: 699
Economically
Disadvantaged: 55%
Limited English Proficiency:
5.5%
Students with a Disability:
6.4%
Students of Color: 71%
10th Grade Reading Pass
Rate: 98.2%
10th Grade Math Pass Rate:
98.2%
Eastmoor Academy
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Total Enrollment: 717
Economically
Disadvantaged: 69.6%
Limited English
Proficiency: 2.3%
Students with a Disability:
15.5%
Students of Color: 97.5%
10th Grade Reading Pass
Rate: 90.2%
10th Grade Math Pass
Rate: 81.1%
What!do!the!principals!of!these!schools!say!is!key!to!success?!
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•
•
•
•
•
•
Clear goal of preparing for college
Long-serving teachers and principals
Expectation that parents are engaged
Positive peer pressure among students to achieve academically
Parental choice to enroll children in these schools
Strong relationships among students, teachers and principals
KidsOhio.org
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22 East Gay Street, Suite 600 l Columbus, OH 43215 l 614.228.6400
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KidsOhio.org
Summer 2014
Centennial!
High!School!
!
The!school!attracts!students!
from!many!different!
nationalities.!The!flags!of!
countries!represented!by!
students!are!hung!in!the!
cafeteria.!Fourteen!percent!of!
students!are!still!mastering!
the!English!language.!
On our tour of Centennial High School, the KidsOhio.org team met with three seniors, who as freshmen
rode the bus an hour each way to school. Each student spoke of her parents seeking out Centennial for its
college preparatory curriculum. One student said, “I didn’t like the ride, but I knew it was worth it.”
Centennial High School is known for its consistently high student achievement. In school year 2012-2013,
56.5 percent of students were economically disadvantaged, and more than 85 percent of 10th graders passed
the math, reading, social studies, and writing sections of the Ohio Graduation Test. Seventy-nine percent
passed the science section. There was virtually no gap in achievement between white and black students in
reading or writing. Gaps in math, science and social studies were well below the district and state averages
and the school is striving to close these differences.
The school has had the same principal for 13 years, a rarity in urban schools. Teachers told us that the
stability of the principal helped them make a long-term commitment. Parent leaders valued their longstanding relationship with Principal Fran Hershey and teachers. Assistant principals Earley Parham and
Stephanie Porta have been with Centennial for 13 and four years. Many of the teachers have been in the
building for a decade or more. “Our teachers don’t transfer to other schools; they want to stay here until they
retire,” said Principal Hershey. She continued, “When an opening becomes available, Centennial teachers
assist in recruiting other teachers to join our faculty.”
Teachers pointed out that too many schools where they previously taught changed leadership often, and
with those changes came different expectations. Centennial is known for its clear and consistently high
expectations for students: punctuality, attendance and being prepared for college. Assistant Principal Parham
observed that students feel positive peer pressure to enroll in more academically demanding courses
because their friends are enrolled. Principal Hershey said that the combination of faculty longevity, clear
expectations and positive peer pressure attribute to high academic outcomes across this diverse student
body. About half of Centennial students live in the neighborhood and choose to attend the school. The other
half apply to attend through the district’s lottery school choice process.
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KidsOhio.org
Who!are!the!students!of!Centennial!High!School?!
Centennial High School: More than half of students economically disadvantaged
Economically Disadvantaged
444
Percent of Total
Enrollment
56.5%
Limited English Proficiency
108
13.7%
Students with a Disability
Total Enrollment
107
786
13.6%
100%
Student Demographic
Enrollment
Source: Ohio Department of Education, School Year 2012-2013.
As shown in the chart, of the
786 students at Centennial
High School in 2013,
56.5 percent were
economically disadvantaged,
13.7 percent had Limited
English Proficiency and 13.6
percent had a disability.
!
Centennial High School: More than half of students were students of color
0.6% 3.7%
Asian
42.6%
38.9%
Black, Non-Hispanic
Hispanic
Multiracial
4.7%
9.4%
White, Non-Hispanic
Other
Source: Ohio Department of Education, School Year 2012-2013.
In school year 2012-2013, 42.6 percent of Centennial High School’s population were white, 38.9 percent
were black, 9.4 percent were Hispanic, 4.7 percent were multiracial, 3.7 percent were Asian, and 0.6 percent
were of another racial or ethnic group or did not identify a race or ethnicity.
Centennial High School 10th graders achieved higher passage rates in each subject of the 10th Grade
Ohio Graduation Test than the district and state overall
89.7%
87.6%
75.8%
85.6%
83.9%
65.5%
90.8%
84.9%
72.8%
86.7%
81.1%
79.0%
77.3%
Centennial
65.7%
54.0%
Columbus
City Schools
Statewide
Reading
Math
Writing
Social Studies
Science
Source: Ohio Department of Education, School Year 2012-2013.
Overall, Centennial High School outperformed the district and state averages in all subjects of the 10th Grade
! Ohio Graduation Test.
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KidsOhio.org
Summer 2014
Centennial High School 10th graders outperformed district average for 10th grade reading,
regardless of student demographic
91.5%
73.6%
73.4%
90.8%
90.4%
82.3%
84.8%
79.4%
72.3%
79.2%
63.2%
59.6%
61.9%
54.1%
38.4%
Centennial
Columbus City
Schools
Black
White
Economically
Disadvantaged
Limited English
Proficiency
Students with a
Disability
Statewide
Source: Ohio Department of Education, School Year 2012-2013.
As a group, Centennial High School 10th graders, regardless of ethnicity, English proficiency, poverty, or
disability, outperformed the district average for reading in school year 2012-2013. Every group except white
students outperformed the state average.
Centennial High School 10th graders outperformed district average for 10th grade math,
regardless of student demographic
83.1%
62.6%
60.4%
90.4%
88.6%
76.4%
78.1%
72.9%
61.3%
66.7%
61.4%
55.7%
42.9%
45.7%
25.1%
Centennial
Columbus City Schools
Statewide
Black
White
Economically
Disadvantaged
Limited English
Proficiency
Students with a
Disability
Source: Ohio Department of Education, School Year 2012-2013.
As a group, Centennial High School students, regardless of race, English proficiency, poverty, or disability,
outperformed the district average for math in school year 2012-2013. Every group except students with a
disability outperformed the state average. Math is generally a more difficult subject for students than reading.
Centennial High School is one of Columbus’ highest performing and most diverse schools. In 2013, more than
half of students were economically disadvantaged and more than half were students of color; nearly 14
percent had limited English proficiency and nearly 14 percent had a disability.
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Summer 2014
KidsOhio.org
In 1978, teachers and parents created Columbus Alternative High
School as a college preparatory high school emphasizing academic
excellence, internships and the arts. The school has maintained a
record of academic excellence and was named the fourth most
challenging high school in Ohio by The Washington Post in 2014.
Artwork by students
Columbus!
Alternative!
High!School!
!
At!Columbus!Alternative!
High!School,!there!was!no!
achievement!gap!between!
black!and!white!students!
in!10th!grade!reading!or!
math.!Black!male!students!
significantly!
outperformed!the!state!
averages!for!all!students!
in!all!subjects.!!
!
There are three ways to earn college credit at CAHS. One,
International Baccalaureate (IB) courses automatically translate into
college credits at most universities. Two, Advanced Placement (AP)
courses can translate into college credits if a student scores a three
or higher on the AP test. Juniors and seniors at CAHS are required to
take college-level IB or AP courses. In 2012, more than half (58.4
percent) of the graduates scored high enough on an AP test to earn
college credit. And three, Post Secondary Enrollment Options
enable high school students to attend classes on a college campus.
Some CAHS students are dual-enrolled at The Ohio State
University, Columbus State Community College or DeVry
University, for example.
Principal Sharee Wells graduated from CAHS in 1996. She spoke
frankly about her lack of motivation as a high school student. As a
result, she didn’t qualify for college scholarships and had to take out
a loan to complete her degree. However, she credited CAHS with
equipping her to succeed in college, graduate school and 16 years
in Columbus City Schools. Two current teachers are CAHS
graduates. Several teachers have taught at CAHS for well over a
decade and several said they liked teaching there so much that they
plan to work at CAHS until they retire.
The principal and teachers have a long-standing commitment to
college preparation. Ms. Hughes, the art teacher, told us, “Kids at
CAHS are more serious. They choose to come here.” Students can
play sports at their home high school, but there are no sports teams
at CAHS. Additionally, the school has a very active music and
theater program. Tenth, eleventh and twelfth graders are required to
have internships in the community.
A school musical, performed by CAHS’ Chorus, took the audience
on a journey through several Disney movies from “Snow White” to
“Lion King” to “Frozen.” The musical, which was sold out each
night, helped 35 members of the Chorus raise $17,000 to travel to
Chicago to participate in a vocal competition. During their stay in
Chicago, students chose to tour the Art Institute of Chicago, where
they “live tweeted” their disappointment about not being able to see
Edward Hopper’s iconic “Nighthawk” painting that was on loan to
another museum.
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KidsOhio.org
Summer 2014
Who!are!the!students!of!Columbus!Alternative!High!School?!!
Columbus Alternative High School: More than half of students economically disadvantaged!
Student Demographic
Enrollment
Percent of Total
Enrollment
Economically Disadvantaged
384
55.0%
Limited English Proficiency
39
5.5%
Disability
45
6.4%
Total Enrollment
699
100%
As shown in the chart,
Columbus Alternative High
School serves a wide range of
students. Of the 699 students at
Columbus Alternative in 2013,
55.0 percent (384 students)
were economically
disadvantaged, 5.5 percent had
Limited English Proficiency and
6.4 percent had a disability.
These rates were below district
averages.
Source: Ohio Department of Education, School Year 2012-2013.!
Columbus Alternative High School: 71 percent of students were students of color
0.6% 3.9%
Asian
29.0%
Black, Non-Hispanic
Hispanic
61.1%
Multiracial
1.7%
White, Non-Hispanic
3.7%
Other
Source: Ohio Department of Education, School Year 2012-2013.!
Columbus Alternative High School 10th graders outperformed the district and the state on each
subject of the Ohio Graduation Test in school year 2012-2013
98.2%
87.6%
75.8%
98.2%
96.3%
83.9%
65.5%
84.9%
72.8%
95.7%
CAHS
92.7%
81.1%
77.3%
65.7%
54.0%
Columbus City
Schools
Statewide
Reading!.
Math!.
Writing.
Social!Studies.
Science.
Source: Ohio Department of Education, School Year 2012-2013.!
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Overall on the 10th Grade Ohio Graduation Test, Columbus Alternative High School outperformed the district
by 22.4 percentage points in reading and 32.7 percentage points in math. CAHS outperformed the state
! average by 10.6 percentage points in reading and 14.3 percentage points in math.
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Summer 2014
KidsOhio.org
Black, white and economically disadvantaged Columbus Alternative High School 10th graders
outperformed district and state averages on the reading portion of the Ohio Graduation Test;
there was no gap between black and white students!
> 95.0%
> 95.0%
82.3%
73.4% 73.6%
90.8%
> 95.0%
72.3%
79.4%
CAHS
Columbus City Schools
Statewide
Black
White
Economically
Disadvantaged
Source: Ohio Department of Education, School Year 2012-2013.!
Black, white and economically disadvantaged Columbus Alternative High School 10th graders
outperformed district and state averages on the math portion of the Ohio Graduation Test;
there was no gap between black and white students
> 95.0%
> 95.0%
88.6%
> 95.0%
76.4%
72.9%
60.4% 62.6%
61.3%
CAHS
Columbus City Schools
Statewide
Black
White
Economically
Disadvantaged
Source: Ohio Department of Education, School Year 2012-2013.
Note: State law prohibits reporting data involving fewer than 10 students; hence, the use of >95%.!
Black, white and economically disadvantaged Columbus Alternative High School 10th graders outperformed
the district and state averages for reading and math.
!
Columbus Alternative High School is diverse and has a longstanding tradition of high achievement. Students
excel academically and artistically. In 2013, half of students were economically disadvantaged and more than
70 percent were students of color.
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KidsOhio.org
Summer 2014
Principal Anthony Alston has 17 years of experience with the Columbus
City Schools district. When he first visited Eastmoor Academy, while
considering the principal position, he was impressed by the large-scale
positive peer pressure. He witnessed a heated debate among athletes
about who had the highest grades. As he put it, while picking up an
empty milk carton from the hallway floor, “Jocks were competing
academically, not just athletically.” He said this is what sets Eastmoor
apart. “It’s the best of both worlds. Students feel they don’t have to
choose between academics or athletics or other extra-curriculars.”
The walls are lined with decades of students’ academic achievements.
This year’s 128 seniors accumulated $6 million in college scholarships.
One student this year, and two last year, earned the highly competitive
10-year Gates Millennial Scholarship. This scholarship covers 10 years
of higher education, allowing recipients to complete medical school or
other graduate school programs.
Eastmoor senior Micaela was awarded a Gates Millennial Scholarship
this year. She plans to study psychology at Howard University. When
Micaela began her Eastmoor experience, she was sent home from the
school’s summer program for incoming freshmen for repeatedly
ignoring a ban on using cellphones in class. The principal met with
Micaela and her mother to reinforce the rule and consequences.
Micaela said that once expectations about behavior were established,
she understood that this school was different and that rules would be
enforced. From there, she met and exceeded the school’s academic and
behavioral expectations.
Eastmoor Academy is a combination lottery and selective enrollment
school. Each year, 50-75 incoming students are selected to focus on
biomedical sciences in partnership with The Ohio State University. Ms.
Germany, the biomedical sciences instructor, said, “Students are
learning about genetics through student-led research. Teachers are
facilitators in real-world applications. Students are exploring the human
body system. They are using forensic science to learn how to
investigate, diagnose and treat through group research and independent
learning.” She added, “Teenagers are teenagers no matter where they
are. But here, students have a wide range of opportunities to engage
academically and through community service. Students are constantly
encouraged to do something.”
!
Artwork of Eastmoor Academy Impact Team
Eastmoor!
Academy!
At!Eastmoor!Academy,!
the!walls!are!lined!with!
decades!of!students’!
academic!and!athletic!
achievements.!This!year’s!
128!seniors!have!
accumulated!$6!million!in!
college!scholarships.!!
Beyond academic achievement, competitive athletics and extracurricular activities, there is an emphasis on
“giving back” within the school. The Eastmoor Academy Impact Team is the school’s community service
program led by teacher Bruce Green. One of the school’s valedictorians, Courtney, said the Impact Team is
the biggest team in the school, with 400 students and 50 service projects. Through Faith Mission and Holy
Family’s soup kitchens, Eastmoor’s Impact Team served more than 7,000 meals during school year 2013-2014.
8!
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Two principals led the school for 11 of 12 years. The school has a competitive sports program that raises
school spirit and community support. The school communicates with parents often. Principals say you can’t
communicate enough.
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KidsOhio.org
Who!are!the!students!of!Eastmoor!Academy?!
Eastmoor Academy: Nearly 70 percent of students economically disadvantaged!
Economically Disadvantaged
499
Percent of Total
Enrollment
69.6%
Limited English Proficiency
Disability
Total Enrollment
17
111
717
2.3%
15.5%
100%
Student Demographic
Enrollment
As shown in the chart, Eastmoor
Academy served a total of 717
students in 2013. Of these
students at Eastmoor, 69.6
percent (499 students) were
economically disadvantaged,
2.3 percent had Limited English
Proficiency and 15.5 percent
had a disability.
Source: Ohio Department of Education, School Year 2012-2013.
!
Eastmoor Academy: Nearly 94 percent of students were black; 2.5 percent were white!
1.4% 2.5% 2.3%
Black, Non-Hispanic
Multiracial
White, Non-Hispanic
93.8%
Other
Source: Ohio Department of Education, School Year 2012-2013.!
At Eastmoor Academy, 93.8 percent of students were black, 2.5 percent were white, 2.3 percent were part of
another racial or ethnic group or did not identify a group, and 1.4 percent were multiracial.!
Eastmoor Academy 10th graders outperformed the district on all five parts of the Ohio Graduation
Test and the state average on four of five parts in school year 2012-2013!
90.2%
87.6%
75.8%
81.1%
83.9%
65.5%
90.9%
84.9%
72.8%
83.3%
81.1%
78.0%
77.3%
65.7%
54.0%
Eastmoor
Columbus City Schools
Statewide
Reading
Math
Writing
Social Studies
Science
Source: Ohio Department of Education, School Year 2012-2013.!
Overall on the 10th Grade Ohio Graduation Test, Eastmoor Academy 10th graders outperformed the district by
14.4 percentage points in reading and 15.6 percentage points in math. Eastmoor outperformed the state by 2.6
! percentage points in reading, but the state outperformed Eastmoor by 2.8 percentage points in math.
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KidsOhio.org
Summer 2014
Black and economically disadvantaged Eastmoor Academy 10th graders outperformed district and
state averages on the reading portion of the Ohio Graduation Test*!
89.5%
86.3%
73.4% 73.6%
72.3%
79.4%
54.1%
50.0%
38.4%
Eastmoor
Columbus City Schools
Statewide
Black
Economically
Disadvantaged
Disability
Source: Ohio Department of Education, School Year 2012-2013.!
Eastmoor Academy 10th graders, regardless of race or poverty, outperformed district and state averages for
reading in school year 2012-2013. Students with a disability scored above the district average, but below the
state average.!
Black and economically disadvantaged Eastmoor Academy 10th graders outperformed district and
state averages on the math portion of the Ohio Graduation Test*
81.5%
60.4%62.6%
80.0%
72.9%
61.3%
45.7%
25.1%
16.7%
Black
Economically
Disadvantaged
Eastmoor
Columbus City Schools
Statewide
Disability
Source: Ohio Department of Education, School Year 2012-2013.
*By law, ODE cannot report demographic groups comprising fewer than 10 students. This explains why
proficiency rates for Limited English Proficiency and for racial and ethnic groups other than black are not
reported here.!
Black and economically disadvantaged students at Eastmoor outperformed the district and state averages in
math. Students with a disability district-wide and statewide outperformed Eastmoor students with a disability.
10!
Eastmoor Academy has a unique blend of high academic performance and competitive sports. Students say
they don’t feel as if they have to choose between academics or sports. They believe it’s the best of both worlds.
In 2013, nearly 70 percent of students were economically disadvantaged and 97.5 percent were students of
! color.
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Summer 2014
KidsOhio.org
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What!makes!
these!three!
schools!earn!
all!As!
and!Bs?!
In a district where 24,000 of 50,000 students attend a school
that achieved no As or Bs on the state report card, how are these
three schools beating the odds?
Students told us that they feel these schools are safe, structured
and full of energetic teachers. They described the schools’
positive peer pressure to do well academically – some said they
hid academic achievements from their peers at other schools for
fear of being teased or bullied. A teacher at CAHS said,
“Freshmen enter CAHS after bad middle school experiences
fearful of sharing their intelligence. We work to change that. We
celebrate knowledge.” She added, “Learning for the sake of
learning is okay here.”
Each year, first-generation college-goers graduate from these
schools. Some students are the first person in their family to
graduate from high school.
!
To!keep!more!principals!
at!their!current!schools,!
Columbus!City!Schools!
reduced!the!number!of!
reassigned!principals!
from!21!to!five.!Overall,!
due!to!retirements!and!
resignations,!25!of!110!
schools!will!have!new!
principals!next!year,!
down!from!39!in!school!
year!2013O2014.!!
!
Teachers and school leadership believe they are preparing
students for successful adulthoods. Several shared stories of
rebellious or withdrawn students they helped become engaged
in classes and turn around their poor academic performance.
Students, teachers and principals described the unique qualities
of their schools. They acknowledged that families chose to be at
these schools, that more parents are involved and, in some
schools, seats are set aside for high-performing students. But,
they go on to say that if parents, teachers and principals set high
expectations and cultivate meaningful relationships, students’
academic performance will improve.
Among Ohio’s public high schools where a majority of students
are economically disadvantaged, a mere 11 percent earned all A
and B grades on the state report card. Schools that are beating
the odds, like Centennial, Eastmoor and Columbus Alternative,
demonstrate that modest family income does not rule out
academic success. These schools credit their success to:
•
•
•
•
!
Principal leaders who are strong and consistent;
Parents who are engaged and choose a school that fits
their child;
Teachers who expect hard work; and
Students who work hard to meet these expectations.
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Summer 2014!
KidsOhio.org Board
Artwork by Centennial students
!
KidsOhio.org
22 East Gay Street, Suite 600 l Columbus, OH 43215
614.228.6400
Established in 2002, KidsOhio.org provides nonpartisan information
about key education trends in Columbus and statewide.
A nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, KidsOhio.org is funded by
the private sector and does not accept government or
school district monies or contracts.
Abigail Wexner, CEO, Whitebarn
Associates
Dale Heydlauff, President,
American Electric Power
Foundation
Chad Jester, President, Nationwide
Insurance Foundation
Linda Kass, Trustee, The Ohio
State University
Jeffrey Lyttle, Sr. Vice President,
Head of Community Engagement
for the US,
JPMorgan Chase & Company
Frederick L. Ransier, Esq., Partner,
Vorys, Sater, Seymour & Pease
Elizabeth Ruppert, M.D., Professor
[Issue]!::![Date]!
Emeritus, University
of Toledo
College of Medicine
Barbara Trueman, Community
Leader & Former Teacher
Leadership and Staff
KidsOhio.org would like to thank all of the principals, teachers, staff,
and students at Centennial High School, Columbus Alternative High
School and Eastmoor Academy for taking the time to share their
experiences and provide tours of their schools.
Mark Real, President & CEO
Ann Bischoff, Senior Director of
Research & Grants
Mary Hopmann, Operations
Manager & Program Specialist
Morgan Hess, Data Analyst Intern!
This report is made possible by a grant from L Brands Foundation.
This report is based on the most recently available information
provided by the Ohio Department of Education for the 2012-2013
school year. Information for the 2013-2014 school year will be
available in August 2014. Analysis is by KidsOhio.org.
All photos © Mary Hopmann.
We welcome suggestions to improve the content of our reports.
Please send your suggestions to kidsstaff@kidsohio.org.
!
This report is available at www.KidsOhio.org
!