Freshman Plus: A Multi-faceted Support System for At-Risk Ninth Graders Dr. Carol Kelley Alicia Parker New Smyrna Beach High School 1015 Tenth Street New Smyrna Beach, FL (386)

New Smyrna Beach High School 2,000 students in grades out 5 or 20% are ESE More than 1 out of 3 or 38% are economically disadvantaged 1 out of 10 or 10% are non-white 64% attend post–secondary institutions Designated as an “A” or “B” school for the past 3 years

The Need * Freshman Data 95 “Level 1” readers on the regular diploma track 43 of 95 were ESE 42% failed English 1  65% earned a D or F in English 1 39% failed Biology 1  53% earned a D or F in Biology 12.6% failed English, Biology and World History * This data has been fairly consistent over the last several years

The Purpose: Increase the academic success of at-risk 9 th graders

The Goals Increase the percentage of course credits earned by at-risk 9 th graders Increase academic and social success of at- risk 9 th graders Increase content area reading comprehension skills of at-risk 9 th graders Position 9 th grade at-risk students on track to graduate

Global Community AP Courses AVID Computers for College/Careers Diversified Cooperative Training Foreign Language Mass Media Health & PE Performing Arts Reading Specialized Electives Speech/Writing Public Service Academy Criminal Justice Operations Academy of Teaching and Coaching Government, Law, Psychology, Social Services Biotechnology Academy Agritechnology & Environmental Resources Academy Culinary Arts Academy Medical Academy Academy of Digital Media & Marketing Marketing & Sports Marketing Television Production Information Technology Entrepreneurship Academy of Engineering & Design Building Construction Technologies Engineering– Project Lead the W ay Interior Design Services New Smyrna Beach High School Small Learning Communities School of Performing & Fine Arts Art Band Chorus Dance Drama

Professional Learning Community Program Coordinator Biotechnology Academic Teacher ESE Teacher Counselor Digital Media & Marketing Academic Teacher ESE Teacher Counselor Engineering & Design Academic Teacher ESE Teacher Counselor Public Service Academic Teacher ESE Teacher Counselor The Freshman Plus team consists of: 4 academic teachers 4 ESE teachers 4 guidance counselors

Scheduling English 1 Biology Algebra (1 or 2 periods) Intensive Reading Computers/PE SLC elective (Career and Technical Education course) Critical Thinking Skills (Freshman Plus) 30-minute Academic Intervention Period *Students will take World History their 11 th grade year which allows them to have a CTE elective

Program Components Academic: Regular tutorials for core subject areas Daily 30-minute academic intervention periods Upperclassman tutors Organizational skills/Interactive Notebook Vocabulary reinforcement and enhancement Individualized interventions Regular collaboration with academic teachers Consistent parent contact

Program Components Social Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens Career planning/visioning Career-related guest speakers coordinated to CTE selection School, community and world awareness

Program Components Emotional Celebrations of success Seminars on student issues (dating, anger management, abusive relationships, etc.) Small group and one-on-one counseling

Results: Course Failures : Without Freshman Plus : Freshman Plus English 42%English 9% Algebra 40%Algebra 18% Biology 39%Biology 9% 2.37 GPA3.04 GPA

Results 85% of Freshman Plus students were promoted to 10 th grade 3.04 overall GPA at the end of the year (Entire 9 th grade class: 2.52) 38% of the students had a GPA of 3.0 or higher 64% made learning gains on the Reading FCAT 57% scored at level 2 or 3

Results Internal climate survey: Freshman Plus students rated 23 of 25 items higher on the Likert scale than the school at large. The instrument was the HSSSE. 25 selected items to elicit information on the following: Perceptions of the school, personal motivation, and perception of relationships with adults.

Creating a Climate of Success A school history of high school redesign School culture committed to student success Structure provided collaboration among adults Focused and on-going staff development Emphasis on results

“…the rest of the story…”