WASC Visiting Committee Report 3/28/2007

Areas of Strength Organization The Co Principals and the School Leadership Team provide direction and support to effect change that will facilitate improved student achievement. The Co Principals and the School Leadership Team provide direction and support to effect change that will facilitate improved student achievement. There is an alignment of the Vision Statement, Essential Life Skills (RAMHI) and High School Initiative as showcased on posters throughout campus. There is an alignment of the Vision Statement, Essential Life Skills (RAMHI) and High School Initiative as showcased on posters throughout campus. MHS implemented diverse programs designed to address the academic, personal and social needs of students MHS implemented diverse programs designed to address the academic, personal and social needs of students

Areas of Strength Organization Strong relationships with business partners have created opportunities for students to explore post-secondary options through community service and internships. Strong relationships with business partners have created opportunities for students to explore post-secondary options through community service and internships. The SLC organizational structure promotes personal connections and relevance for students. The SLC organizational structure promotes personal connections and relevance for students.

Key Issues for Organization The needs to be a continuation of efforts to update/modernize physical plant. The needs to be a continuation of efforts to update/modernize physical plant. Technological resources can be utilized to full capacity, especially to support instructional practices. Technological resources can be utilized to full capacity, especially to support instructional practices. A more formalized data-driven system can be developed for measuring the effectiveness of the SLC structure in implementing the school-wide vision. A more formalized data-driven system can be developed for measuring the effectiveness of the SLC structure in implementing the school-wide vision. Facilitate lines of communication between all stakeholders, including families residing outside the schools actual attendance boundaries and limited English speakers. Facilitate lines of communication between all stakeholders, including families residing outside the schools actual attendance boundaries and limited English speakers.

Areas of Strength Curriculum There is a wide variety of classes for students at all levels of academic achievement. There is a wide variety of classes for students at all levels of academic achievement. There is a wide variety of elective classes from which students can choose. There is a wide variety of elective classes from which students can choose. Smaller Learning Communities enable students to customize their curriculum, based on their personal and academic goals. Smaller Learning Communities enable students to customize their curriculum, based on their personal and academic goals. Staff development has focused on strategies that when implemented school-wide, will provide rigorous curriculum and challenging instruction for all students. Staff development has focused on strategies that when implemented school-wide, will provide rigorous curriculum and challenging instruction for all students. There are various interventions for students with low academic skills. There are various interventions for students with low academic skills.

Key Issues: Curriculum There is an achievement gap for African American and Hispanic students. There is an achievement gap for African American and Hispanic students. School wide, standardized test scores have plateaued or dropped. School wide, standardized test scores have plateaued or dropped. Development of a senior project (or capstone project) for each small learning community. Development of a senior project (or capstone project) for each small learning community. Continue to refine four year and post-high school plans/reviews for all students. Continue to refine four year and post-high school plans/reviews for all students. Common planning time can strengthen curriculum development to meet student achievement goals. Common planning time can strengthen curriculum development to meet student achievement goals.

Areas of strength for Standards-Based Student Learning: Instruction Commitment to provide intervention and support as needed. Commitment to provide intervention and support as needed. Implementation of professional development to increase student achievement. Implementation of professional development to increase student achievement. Small Learning Communities have driven instructional improvement for students to meet the content standards and ESLRs. Small Learning Communities have driven instructional improvement for students to meet the content standards and ESLRs. Access to technology. Access to technology. Collegiality of staff members to mentor each other to be more effective teachers. Collegiality of staff members to mentor each other to be more effective teachers. Experienced staff that effectively utilizes its expertise to effect change and strengthen instruction. Experienced staff that effectively utilizes its expertise to effect change and strengthen instruction.

Key issues for Standards-Based Student Learning: Instruction Adequate time for teacher collaboration. Adequate time for teacher collaboration. Professional development and training in data analysis. Professional development and training in data analysis. Monitoring Limited English Proficient students transitioning to Fluent English Proficient and provided appropriate instructional support. Monitoring Limited English Proficient students transitioning to Fluent English Proficient and provided appropriate instructional support. There is a need to review instructional practices in mathematics in light of the student achievement data. There is a need to review instructional practices in mathematics in light of the student achievement data.

Areas of Strength: Assessment & Accountability Results of a wide variety of assessments are disseminated throughout the school community. Results of a wide variety of assessments are disseminated throughout the school community. Quarterly common assessments and end-of- course common District exams are in place. Quarterly common assessments and end-of- course common District exams are in place. SLCs and departments at MHS use analysis of common assessments to drive instruction. SLCs and departments at MHS use analysis of common assessments to drive instruction. MHS offers a variety of intervention courses in response to data analysis. MHS offers a variety of intervention courses in response to data analysis. The PASS tutoring program is available for struggling students. The PASS tutoring program is available for struggling students.

Key Issues: Assessment & Accountability Student absences affect both student achievement and student remediation. Student absences affect both student achievement and student remediation. A greater number of SRI accounts would be beneficial for improving schoolwide reading. A greater number of SRI accounts would be beneficial for improving schoolwide reading. A process needs to be developed for the integration of data analysis and teaching. A process needs to be developed for the integration of data analysis and teaching.

Areas of Strength: School Culture and Support for Student Personal and Academic Growth Variety of Intervention strategies Variety of Intervention strategies Strong sense of buy-in and ownership for student personal and academic growth by staff Strong sense of buy-in and ownership for student personal and academic growth by staff Award winning student support services Award winning student support services Nationally recognized AVID program that promotes a schoolwide college going culture. Nationally recognized AVID program that promotes a schoolwide college going culture. Student personal and academic growth nurtured and sustained by greater Long Beach community Student personal and academic growth nurtured and sustained by greater Long Beach community

Key Issues: Schoolwide Culture and Support for Student Learning Continue to expand cultural sensitivity training Continue to expand cultural sensitivity training Facilitate the involvement of all stakeholder members in school activities Facilitate the involvement of all stakeholder members in school activities Continue to support development of all SLC groups to maximize student achievement Continue to support development of all SLC groups to maximize student achievement Showcase the wide variety of programs that support student success Showcase the wide variety of programs that support student success

Schoolwide Areas of Strength Alignment of Vision Statement, Essential Life Skills (RAMHI) and High School Initiative as showcased on posters throughout campus. Alignment of Vision Statement, Essential Life Skills (RAMHI) and High School Initiative as showcased on posters throughout campus. Development of SLC organizational structure promotes personal connections and relevance for students. Development of SLC organizational structure promotes personal connections and relevance for students. Nationally recognized AVID program that promotes a schoolwide college going culture. Nationally recognized AVID program that promotes a schoolwide college going culture. Experienced caring staff that is committed to student success and effectively utilizes its expertise to effect change and strengthen instruction. Experienced caring staff that is committed to student success and effectively utilizes its expertise to effect change and strengthen instruction.

Schoolwide Areas of Strength Student personal and academic growth nurtured and sustained by greater Long Beach community Student personal and academic growth nurtured and sustained by greater Long Beach community Implementation of diverse academic programs and intervention strategies that address the academic, personal and social needs of students. Implementation of diverse academic programs and intervention strategies that address the academic, personal and social needs of students. Small Learning Communities & Departments use analysis of a wide variety of assessments to drive instructional decisions for student achievement. Small Learning Communities & Departments use analysis of a wide variety of assessments to drive instructional decisions for student achievement. The Co Principals and the School Leadership Team provide direction and support to effect change that will facilitate improved student achievement. The Co Principals and the School Leadership Team provide direction and support to effect change that will facilitate improved student achievement. The English departments development and implementation of effective strategies to improve literacy across curriculum and to serve as a model. The English departments development and implementation of effective strategies to improve literacy across curriculum and to serve as a model.

CRITICAL AREAS FOR FOLLOW UP Facilitate lines of communication to encourage the participation of all stakeholders in shared decision making. Facilitate lines of communication to encourage the participation of all stakeholders in shared decision making. A formalized process needs to be developed for the consistent integration of data analysis and instructional practices. A formalized process needs to be developed for the consistent integration of data analysis and instructional practices. Develop rigorous and comprehensive Literacy and Numeracy programs to improve student achievement in all content areas for all demographic groups. Develop rigorous and comprehensive Literacy and Numeracy programs to improve student achievement in all content areas for all demographic groups. Expand the application of the Language Arts Model for instructional improvement in SLCs and all curricular areas. In particular, the mathematics department must develop strategies to improve numeracy across the curriculum to increase student achievement. Expand the application of the Language Arts Model for instructional improvement in SLCs and all curricular areas. In particular, the mathematics department must develop strategies to improve numeracy across the curriculum to increase student achievement.

Thank you Millikan