May 2006 Romeo Community Schools: “What if…?”

Romeo Community Schools: What if…? ACADEMIC HOUSE Small Learning Communities Classrooms Science Lab/ Classroom Extended Learning Teacher Planning & Admin 200-student Neighborhood with 100-student Houses

Romeo Community Schools: What if…? HOUSE FLOOR PLAN Reduce the apparent size of the school More personalized experience Better student/teacher connection Better student/ admin. connection Fewer disciplinary problems Increased student performance Small Learning Communities Classroom Resource G B Planning Sto Extended Learning/ Presentation Classroom Sample House Floor Plan without Science

Romeo Community Schools: What if…? Planning Sci. Lect. Sci. Lab Sci. Lect. MathLang Soc Lang Soc Math House 1 House 2 Dakota High School – Flexible Design

Romeo Community Schools: What if…? Planning MathLang Soc Lang Soc Math House 1 House 2 Planning. Mat h Lang Soc Lang Soc Mat h House 6 House 5 Media Center Plan House 3 House 4 Science Math Lan Soc Lan Math Science Interdisciplinary Teaming Distributed Science

Romeo Community Schools: What if…? Woodridge Middle School Peninsula, Ohio Flexible academic spaces Media center as hub Separation of academic/public areas Pinwheel Plan 7 th Grade 6 th Grade 8 th Grade

Romeo Community Schools: What if…? Crestview Middle School Huntington, Indiana Two teams per grade level Flexible layout of science, centralized yet oriented to teams Science Cluster Plan 6th 7th Science 8th

Romeo Community Schools: What if…? Neighborhood – 2 Houses Discovery Room 3 2 1K K 4 Develop concepts

Romeo Community Schools: What if…? 250-Student Neighborhood with 125-student Houses IS Sci IS Sci Discovery Area

Romeo Community Schools: What if…? ISSUE 2: How Are Romeo High Students Doing Academically So Far? Romeo High School students lead the country, state and nation in test scores. National test scores lag behind those of other technology- advanced countries

Romeo Community Schools: What if…? ISSUE 3: What Does The Research Say? Gates Foundation Reports/ Cherry Commission Report Little research was found on improving large but already successful high schools, such as Romeo High School. Four steps to advance maximum performance in all high schools: 1.Smaller learning communities 2.Strengthen communication and work with parents 3.Develop early warning systems for at risk students 4.Schools need to provide a wide range of supplemental services or intensive assistance

Romeo Community Schools: What if…? ISSUE 3: What Does The Research Say? Gates Foundation Reports/ Cherry Commission Report Little research was found on improving large but already successful high schools, such as Romeo High School. Four steps to advance maximum performance in all high schools: 1.Smaller learning communities 2.Strengthen communication and work with parents 3.Develop early warning systems for at risk students 4.Schools need to provide a wide range of supplemental services or intensive assistance

Romeo Community Schools: What if…? Comparative: A New High School for 2250 Students Based on RCS Educational Model Area: 205sf/student = 461,250sf Potential Total Construction Cost Range: $ psf Potential Total Construction Cost Range for a New RCS High School = $ Million AVERAGE NEW HS: 193sf/student x 2250 students x $200/sf = $87million (New Ann Arbor High School: 1615 = 375,000sf x $203psf = $76 million)