Executive Summary. Jordan Vocational High School

Transcription

1 Executive Summary Jordan Vocational High School Muscogee County School District Mr. Alton White, Administrator 3200 Howard Avenue Columbus, GA 31904

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction 1 Executive Summary 2 Description of the School 2 School's Purpose 3 Notable Achievements and Areas of Improvement 5 Additional Information 7

3 Introduction Every school has its own story to tell. The context in which teaching and learning takes place influences the processes and procedures by which the school makes decisions around curriculum, instruction, and assessment. The context also impacts the way a school stays faithful to its vision. Many factors contribute to the overall narrative such as an identification of stakeholders, a description of stakeholder engagement, the trends and issues affecting the school, and the kinds of programs and services that a school implements to support student learning. The purpose of the Executive Summary (ES) is to provide a school with an opportunity to describe in narrative form the strengths and challenges it encounters. By doing so, the public and members of the school community will have a more complete picture of how the school perceives itself and the process of self-reflection for continuous improvement. This summary is structured for the school to reflect on how it provides teaching and learning on a day to day basis. Page 1

4 Executive Summary Description of the School Describe the school's size, community/communities, location, and changes it has experienced in the last three years. Include demographic information about the students, staff, and community at large. What unique features and challenges are associated with the community/communities the school serves? Description of the School Jordan Vocational High School is located in Columbus, Georgia, a mid-sized town with almost 200,000 people, on the banks of the Chattahoochee River with a major military installation adjacent to the city. Many retired military personnel have chosen to settle in this city. Where Columbus was once known as a cotton-mill town on the river, it has made the transition to a business community having the home offices of AFLAC Insurance, Total Systems, and Carmike Cinemas. Over 25% of the population in Columbus are under 18 years of age. Columbus boasts about being a city that is united for economic development; this has been a needed focus due to the unemployment rate. It rose from 5% in April of 2008 to a high of 10.1% in June 2011 and finally falling to 8.9% in May of The demographics of Columbus consists of 45.5% black population, 43.7% white population, and 6.4% Hispanic population. This is the environment in which Jordan educates Columbus' youth. Jordan is a Title I school with approximately 98% of its 761 students receiving free or reduced meals meaning that the school serves an impoverished population. The school is located in the middle of an older, less prominent community of the city which once had many houses that were owned by middle-class families but now has become an area for low-rent housing. Because of Fort Benning and the rental properties, Jordan has become a transient school. Almost 25% of the school's population is Students With Disabilities (SWD) which presents a unique academic challenge. Financially, Jordan has been blessed to be awarded Title I funds, as well as a Federal School Improvement Grant meaning that many needed instructional changes have been made possible. For example, computers have been purchased for every student in the school and Smart Boards have been placed in every classroom. Additional personnel, such as academic coaches and a graduation coach have been hired as a result of the funds. In July of 2011, a new principal took over as leader bringing with him many instructional and logistical changes for the better. Jordan has a highly devoted staff of teachers with 60% of them possessing advanced degrees. The average years of experience for Jordan's teachers are 14. The challenges for Jordan have been many, but the staff has risen to the occasion and worked tirelessly for improvement. Page 2

5 School's Purpose Provide the school's purpose statement and ancillary content such as mission, vision, values, and/or beliefs. Describe how the school embodies its purpose through its program offerings and expectations for students. School's Purpose System Motto Just as the lighthouse guides the ships at sea through safe channels, the Muscogee County School District must carefully guide the students through the channels of learning and enlightenment. Jordan Vocational High School /Muscogee County School District Beliefs All students learn when provided high-quality instruction that is engaging and challenging. All students must have a physically and emotionally safe learning environment. All district employees work collaboratively to improve student achievement. All organizational and instructional decisions are data driven. All district personnel are committed to continuous professional learning. Jordan Vocational High School /Muscogee County School District Vision We envision a school district in which: Each student is given multiple opportunities to excel in his/her academic, social, emotional and physical development in a safe, nurturing environment. Well-prepared, responsible, and caring employees are committed to excellence in education Parents, community members, staff and students, are full partners in the education of children. Jordan Vocational High School/Muscogee County School District Mission The Muscogee County School District and Jordan Vocational High School are committed to providing educational experiences that will enable a student to become a lifelong learner, enter the work force with necessary skills and achieve academic and personal potential. Jordan's Promise Jordan Vocational High School has throughout the years kept its promises. Administrators, teachers, and staff realize that everything we do at Jordan teaches a lesson, even when we are away from the classroom. Students watch our actions, hear our words, and are influenced in one way or another. The Jordan promise has been, and will continue to be, to take every boy and girl that comes through the door, regardless of who they are or where they come from, down a pathway to a better life through education. Success as a school is judged by the lives it touches. Jordan Vocational High School has been touching lives for the past ninety-eight years and no one does it better! At JVHS it has always been about boys and girls. Jordan's promise is to continue to focus on student achievement for all students. Page 3

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7 Notable Achievements and Areas of Improvement Describe the school's notable achievements and areas of improvement in the last three years. Additionally, describe areas for improvement that the school is striving to achieve in the next three years. Program Offerings and Expectations Jordan offers a wide range of courses to accommodate students in their learning. There are AP courses offered in all subjects for those students who require the extra challenges, as well as support classes if students need additional instruction. We have 45 minutes of increased learning time in which students are placed in classes based upon their individual needs. Being the Career Academy Magnet for the district gives the school the unique opportunity to offer a wide range of career courses for our students and for students across the district who are bused in just for those classes. We expect all students to reach their level of potential, and we offer all levels of classes to make that happen. Notable Achievements and Areas of Improvement Jordan has many things to celebrate academically, athletically, and socially in the school year. Here are some notable achievements that deserve mentioning. The retention rate dropped across all grade levels over the last two years. 17% of students who took AP exams scored 3 or higher in compared to zero percent in The pass rate went up in every EOCT class except one when comparing last year to the previous year. Jordan had a Ledger-Enquirer Page One Award recipient last year. One of our teachers was named Architectural Drafting and Design Instructor of the Year by the Construction Foundation of GA Our students went to the State Playoffs in the following areas: wrestling - region runner up / runner up State Duals, girls' basketball, girls' golf, boys' soccer. We had Region Champs and students in State Playoffs in the following: cross country - boys and girls, volleyball, boys' basketball (FINAL FOUR!!), girls' soccer, and track two-mile and one-mile region champs. We had a state champ in wrestling. We were second in the region at the Literary Meet. The following things occurred in Work-Based Learning: 22 Students Participated Earned a combined $177, Received 17,200 hours of on the job training Average hourly wage $10.29 Average hourly wage for recent graduates working at Pratt & Whitney - $15.50 One 2010 graduate now earning $21/hr. at Pratt Whitney plus college tuition Pratt Whitney currently employs 2 welders - BOTH are graduates of JVHS Tracking 15 youth apprentices in their post-secondary education We had winners in Skills USA Nationals Promotional Bulletin Board - 3rd Place President's Volunteer Service Award - 1 Gold and 2 Bronze Winners CNC Turning Technology - 8th Place Chapter Display - 9th Place Employment Application Process - First in the Nation There were 151 graduates last year including 10 unaccompanied youth and 17 SWD students receiving regular education diplomas. Page 5

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9 Additional Information Provide any additional information you would like to share with the public and community that were not prompted in the previous sections. Page 7