Cypress Creek High School Transforming Tradition
Who Are We? Large 5A High School (suburban district outside of Houston, Texas) Approximately 3300 students The student population is: 42.2% White 15.2% African American 31% Hispanic 8.9% Asian.15% Native American 32.3% economically disadvantaged students (projected at 38% next year) 4.9% special education students 4.9% Limited English Proficient students
Demographic Data (%)
Economically Disadvantaged 2010-2011 Projected at 38%
History 2004 Bond 2006 Visioning process What will education look like in 10 years? What is needed from schools in 10 years?
Rationale Demographics have shifted and the percentage of at-risk and economically disadvantaged students has increased. Inequity became apparent. Two distinct systems of achievement emerged TAKS graduation rate More students on recommended plan vs. minimum plan participation in Honors, AP classes, and Dual Credit classes
How will this plan help? Raise all students academic achievement. Prepare students for post-secondary education and career opportunities Create supportive relationships between students and adults Have all students complete a challenging curriculum that focuses on post-secondary education and the work place
Building Renovation
What did we do this year!
2010-2011 School Year Students, teachers, support staff, and administration assigned to academies by choice.
Academy Structure Agriculture, Industry and Manufacturing Arts, Communication and Information Technology Business and Finance Education and Human Services Government, Law and Public Administration Science, Technology, Math and Engineering
Academy Structure Architectural Designer Interior Design Programs of Study Agriculture Welding (Power, Structural and Technical Systems) Animal Science Transportation Servicing and Maintenance Heavy Industrial Metal (Welding) Environmental Service Systems (Wind & Water) Veterinary Science Warehousing and Distribution Plant and Animal Technology
Academy Structure Programs of Study Arts and Animation Web and Digital Media Fine Arts Dance Fine Arts Dramatic Arts Fine Arts Musical Fine Arts Vocal Interior Design Journalism Visual Arts Artist Visual Arts Fashion Design Computer Information Systems Computer Systems Technician Network Systems Engineering Software Engineer Technology Engineer Radio/Television Sound/Video/Film Production
Academy Structure Programs of Study Administrative and Information Support Advertising & Sales Promotion Marketing Banking & Related Services emarketing Financial Management and Accounting Management Marketing
Academy Structure Programs of Study Culinary Arts Education- Teacher (Small Children) Education- Teacher (School-Age) Personal Care Services Restaurant and Food Services (Management) Therapeutic Services
Academy Structure Programs of Study Law Enforcement Legal Services-Technical Pre-Law National Defense & Public Administration
Academy Structure Programs of Study Engineering Technician Project Lead the Way (Pre-Engineering) Health Science Biotechnology Health Science Diagnostic Services Health Science Health Information Medical Support Services Health Science Therapeutic Service/Patient Care
2010-2011 School Year Each academy was assigned a specific space.
Insert maps
2010-2011 School Year Within each academy at least 2 core courses were linked to create purity.
2010-2011 School Year Modified schedule began. The schedule included extended time in some classes an Advocacy period release time for students
Bell Schedule
Advocacy
Focus Groups Focus groups Rigor Literacy Programs of Study Transitions Guidance and Counseling
Academy Fair Counselors and other staff went to the three middle schools and assisted students in the use of Career Cruising Each student received suggested career clusters. Based on the career cluster, an academy was assigned to each student Each student received a letter inviting them to the Academy Fair. They would be able to visit each academy and then select a program of study
Programs of Study: Development Process Collected data showing labor statistics for careers (14 dollars and hour or more) in the Gulf Coast region Course catalogue was used to determine which courses are offered at Cypress Creek that align to the careers in the Gulf Coast region
Programs of Study: Development Process The next step was to set aside a day where all teachers were invited to come and give feedback concerning their particular classes/levels and where they would fit in the various programs of study.
Project-Based Instruction Days 1-3: Create Worked with grade/content teams Non-core found best fit Day 4: Peer Review Day 5: Revise Swapped projects and completed a peer review Original teams used feedback to create a final product Southern Regional Education Board Bie.org Standards Based Integration Projects
Unit Mapping and Standards Based Grading
RRR Rigor, Relevance and Relationships
Rigor, Relevance and Relationships Rigor Programs of Study AP Courses Human Geography (detracking) Department Chair to Curriculum Coach Academy Coordinators Project-Based Learning Academy Time
Relevance Academy Coordinators Project-Based Learning Programs of Study
Relationships Academy Time Academy Coordinators Focus Groups Advocacy
Next Steps
Next steps Student Cub camp Student advisory board Internships Senior projects
Community Next steps Advisory Board Collaboration with University of Houston Northwest Campus and Lone Star Community College Grant opportunity with University of Houston Northwest Campus Project-based learning will bring in the community such as garden/farmers market and fitness trail with circuit training
Next steps Staff Externships Increase in AP training for teachers Implementing project-based learning Programs of Study Continued staff development on projectbased learning, differentiated instruction, Eric Jensen book study (Teaching with Poverty in Mind), and EOC alignment
Data We Will Collect
Data AP/Dual Credit data, including # of tests TAKS/EOC data HSTW survey NAEP Passing Rates Graduation Rates Recommended/Minimum Plan Data Attendance Rates (by demographic)
Future Data Collection HSTW survey NAEP
Research Resources Teaching the Digital Generation National Career Academy Association Career Academy School Networks Achieve Texas School Visits HSTW Consultants Gallup Poll
Contact Information Jim Well Principal james.wells@cfisd.net Maggie Wiley Associate Principal margaret.wiley@cfisd.net Donna Pahmiyer Director of Instruction donna.pahmiyer@cfisd.net Jenny Landry Academy Principal jennifer.landry@cfisd.net
Questions?