Powerpoint Presentation

Our world is changing and so is  education.  How will the 9^th Grade Academy at  North High address these changes?

Freshmen will need increased skills in the 21^st Century workplace.  The 9^th Grade Academy promotes interpersonal skills, effective use of resources and a high degree of accountability.  All students will have to reach high standards in reading writing, math, speaking, listening and thinking skills.

Students will understand that there are no acceptable excuses for poor attendance, incomplete school work, or inappropriate behavior.  Those attitudes are not tolerated in the workplace and are not tolerated at North High School.  Students who need extra assistance in those areas will have the opportunity to extend their school day with us.

Research shows that students in large schools are more successful in smaller groups.  Most young people must feel connected to significant adults and a positive peer group to have the support to be an accomplished student.

9^th Grade Academy Goals:

• To increase the graduation rate
• To increase individual GPA
• To facilitate the transition into high school
• To decrease the amount of learning problems associated with attendance and behavior

• Improved student achievement as measured by the number of students promoted to 10^th grade and number of students passing courses and earning all credits.

• Improved student attendance as measured by the number of students in school and attending all classes on-time.

• Having 9^th graders become more connected to a set of teachers and peers through the team approach.

• Encouraging students to participate in extra-curricular activities and attending school function

All incoming first time freshmen are assigned to a house of 80-100 students. (A house is an organizational arrangement that assigns students and teachers to teams).

Each House:

• Consists of cross-curricular teams of English, math, science, and social studies teachers with one member serving as a lead teacher

• Contains courses of varying abilities, i.e. honors, regular, extra help, etc.

• Has a common planning period for staff to meet

• Schedules ninth grade students in “all freshmen” classes with no upper classmen in those classes

• Students remain with teachers in their Houses the entire year

• Increased academic achievement
• Increased student attendance, attitudes, and behavior
• Promotion of positive feelings about self and others
• Increased number of students going on to 10^th grade
• Lower student drop out rate
• Increased extracurricular participation rate
• Development student awareness of academic/career options
• Stronger student-teacher relationships
• Involvement of each student along with his/her parent/guardian in a guidance and advisory system.

• Teachers work as an interdisciplinary team, but they will also remain involved with their subject area departments.  Academy teachers continue teaching courses in grades 10-12.
• Academy teacher teams plan team conferences with students and parents as necessary.
• Included in the Academy are an administrator, counselor and a special education teacher.
• Each team establishes a common system of procedures and expectations.
• Each team works to identify common problems and to discuss possible solutions.

• Will my student still be able to take electives?
  --  Yes
   
• Will my student still be able to take Accelerated classes, i.e., Geometry? 
  --  Yes
   
• Can my student take music and World Languages? 
  --  Yes