1. Helping Students Succeed: High School Freshman Night William Heath Rob AllemanCarey Darnell Kim Yonkman

2. 9 th grade Most important year in a student’s High School career. Success in 9 th grade can be directly connected to dropout rates. Middle school years are designed to prepare students for high school!

3. Statistics 9 TH grade graduation rates: National = 74.9% Michigan = 76.3% http://www2.ed.gov/about/inits/ed/edfacts/state-profiles/michigan.pdf

4. Statistics Unemployment Rates 2008 unemployment rate for individuals 25 years of age and older: less than a high school diploma = 10.9% high school graduates at 7.7% college graduates at 3.7%. (Bureau of Labor and Statistics, 2009)

5. Statistics Income: The average income for a person who has not completed high school, or equivalent, is $6,019 less annually than a person who has graduated just high school. (U.S. Census Bureau, 2005)

6. Statistics Legal Problems Inmates without high school diploma or GED: Federal Prisons : 41% State Prisons: 68% (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2003)

7. Statistics Health Issues “The less schooling people have, the higher their levels of risky health behaviors such as smoking, being overweight, or having a low level of physical activity.” (Freudenberg, & Ruglis, 2007, p.1).

8. 8 th grade is important! What do 8 th grade failure rates tell us?

9. Morrice High School Class of 2014 9 th Grade Data 1 st semester Failing 1 or more classes = 4 Failing 3 or more classes = 2 Failing 5 or more classes = 0 2 nd semester Failing 1 or more classes = 11 Failing 3 or more classes = 6 Failing 5 or more classes = 1 1 st semester Failing 1 or more classes = 11 Failing 3 or more classes = 6 Failing 5 or more classes = 1 3 rd quarter (current) Failing 1 or more classes = 24 Failing 3 or more classes = 9 Failing 5 or more classes = 4 9 th grade – 42 total students 8 th grade – 42 total students

10. Morrice High School Class of 2015 8 th Grade Data 1 st semester Failing 1 or more classes = 14 Failing 2 or more classes = 8 Failing 3 or more classes = 5 Failing 4 or more classes = 1 Failing 5 or more classes = 0 3 rd quarter – Current grades Failing 1 or more classes = 32 Failing 2 or more classes = 20 Failing 3 or more classes = 10 Failing 4 or more classes = 3 Failing 5 or more classes = 0 ? 8 th grade – 57 total students 9 th grade – 57 total students

11. Our Goal = Graduation What does it take to graduate from Morrice High School?

12. Graduation Requirements The State has mandated the Michigan Merit Curriculum (MMC), a new set of graduation requirements for classes that graduate in 2011 and after. The Morrice School Board has also set graduation requirements on top of the MMC.

13. Overview of MMC 4 Years English Language Arts 4 years of Mathematics, including senior year 3 years of Science 3 years of Social Studies 1 Physical Education/Health credit 1 Visual, Performing, and Applied Arts Online learning experience For class of 2016 & beyond 2 years of a foreign language Course content is mandated by the state.

14. Mathematics Must include: Algebra I Geometry Algebra II Seniors must take a mathematics course Personal Finance/Consumer Education/ Woods/Mechanical Drawing/Accounting Trigonometry/Pre-Calculus/AP Calculus

15. Science Must include: Biology Chemistry or Physics One other course Physical Science/Environmental Science/Anatomy/Physiology/Forensics/ Chemistry II

16. English Language Arts Must include: 4 years of English English 9 English 10 English 11 English 12 English 11 and 12 may be substituted with AP English

17. Social Studies Must include: US History World History Government and Economics

18. Other MMC Requirements Must include: 1 Physical Education/Health credit Offered in 9 th grade 1 Visual, Performing, and Applied Arts Band/Choir/Art/Woods Online learning experience BMA/Online courses

19. Board of Education Requirements Students must have the following to graduate: 25 credits (28 possible) which include: Completed MMC BMA Consumer Education Class

20. Elective Courses English Math Science Social Studies Foreign Language Physical Education Art Woods Mechanical Drawing Band Choir Computers Online courses

21. Testing 9 th grade = EXPLORE 10 th grade = PLAN 11 th grade = MME Includes the ACT (college entrance exam)

22. How To Be Successful In 9 th Grade Understand the importance of your education Set goals Be prepared for school Get some sleep, eat breakfast, focus on goals Ask questions in class and get extra help Stay organized Do your homework Talk to your teachers/counselor/administrator and most importantly parents daily! Be involved by joining a school sport/club/group HAVE FUN!

23. References: Bureau of Justice Statistics (2003, January). Education and correctional populations. Washington DC: United States Department of Justice. Retrieved January 31, 2009 from http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/pdf/ecp.pdf Bureau of Labor Statistics (2009, January 9). Employment status of the civilian population 25 years and over by educational attainment. Washington DC: United States Department of Labor. Retrieved January 31, 2009 from http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t04.htm Freudenberg, N., & Ruglis, J. (2007, October). Reframing school dropout as a public health issue. Preventing Chronic Disease, 4(4). Retrieved January 31, 2009 from http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2007/oct/07_0063.htm Herlihy, C. (2007, May). Toward ensuring a smooth transition into high school. National High School Center, Washington DC. Retrieved January 31, 2009 from http://www.betterhighschools.org/docs/NHSC_TowardEnsuring_051607.pdf Hughes, G. K., Copley, L. D., & Baker, A. A. (2005). Capital high academy for ninth graders exceeding standards (CHANGES): Description and evaluation of the 2004-2005 implementation. Charleston, WV: Appalachia Educational Laboratory at Edvantia, Inc. Laird, J., Kienzl, G., DeBell, M., & Chapman, C. (2007, June). Dropout rates in the United States: 2005. U.S. Department of Education. Washington DC: National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved January 31, 2009, from http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2007/2007059.pdf United States Census Bureau (2005, May 13). Earnings by occupation and education. Retrieved January 31, 2009 from http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/income/earnings/call1usboth.html