Study Reports Success in New York City’s Small Schools

A new research report examined the impact of a Small Schools initiative in the New York City public schools that is similar to the initiative undertaken at Cleveland Heights High School, and reports promising results, including improved graduation rates and student achievement. The report, Transforming the High School Experience: How New York City’s New Small Schools Are Boosting Student Achievement and Graduation Rates, was produced by MDRC, a New York-based research group.

An article in the June 23, 2010, issue of Education Week about the report begins:

At a time when reformers and philanthropists have largely turned their back on the “small schools” movement, a major study of New York City high schools has found that students are more academically successful in smaller, more personal high schools that they choose for themselves than they are in larger, more traditional schools.

The report …. focuses on the 1.1-million-student school system’s effort from 2002 to 2008 to shut down 20 large, failing high schools and replace them with 200 smaller schools where students might be more likely to receive the attention they need. Researchers found that students who ended up in the small schools were more likely than peers in other kinds of city high schools to be on track by 9th grade to graduate in four years, to stay on track for three more years, and graduate from high school on time.

“This is the first convincing evidence that the ‘small schools’ model can be effective at improving student outcomes,” said Brian Jacob, a professor of education policy and economics at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. “It’s incredibly important.” Mr. Jacob advised the researchers on an early version of the study.

The report’s executive summary reports three key findings:

• In roughly six years, it is possible to create a large system of small public high schools that markedly improve graduation prospects for many of the disadvantaged students who choose to attend these schools.

• In the schools being evaluated, positive effects on students’ progress toward high school graduation become apparent as early as the ninth grade and are sustained during the next two years; by the end of four years of high school, these effects culminate in higher rates of graduation.

• These positive effects are experienced by a broad range of students who differ in terms of their demographic characteristics, economic circumstances, and academic preparation. It is particularly noteworthy that the benefits of small schools extend to male high school students of color, whose educational prospects have been historically difficult to improve.

Full text of the report is available here.

Complete Results from the 2010 Forest Hill 5K ThunderRun

UPDATE: Here are complete results from this year’s Forest Hill 5K ThunderRun Walk/Run, held July 17 at Forest Hill Park.

Thanks to all who ran, walked, volunteered and contributed to a great event Saturday morning at Forest Hill Park.

 

 

Forest Hill  was John D. Rockefeller’s estate before he left Cleveland for elsewhere. I hear he did well. Forest Hill is now a park, and this Saturday,  July 17 at 9AM, you can challenge its hills and paths by taking part in the Forest Hill ThunderRun 5K Run/Walk.

Trophies will be awarded to the overall male and female winners, male and female masters winners, and male and female age group winners. All proceeds from the race will support Reaching Heights’s work on behalf of excellent public education in our community. Register online here or simply show up on Saturday morning

As for John, who also did quite a bit of good, you can pay him a visit at Lake View Cemetary (Section 10, Lot 49). It’s right down the street.

For more information about the race, visit thunderrun.org.

Good Citizenship – Community Connection Grant

Students will lead school-wide recycling program and perform community service at children’s hospital, retirement community or elementary school. Grant funds will provide gloves for use while recycling, and pins and plaques for top performing students.

Community Connection Grant
Year: 2009- 2010
Amount: $250
Project Manager: Denise C. Lackey
School: Roxboro Middle School

Students Teaching Students – Community Connection Grant

Freshman biology students will help teach ecology lessons this spring to Fairfax students once a week this spring. Funds will pay for books that the older students will read to Fairfax students. The books will be donated to Fairfax School.

Community Connection Grant
Year: 2009- 2010
Amount: $250
Project Manager: Janett Korb
School: Fairfax Elementary, Legacy School at Cleveland Heights High School

Proposal:

Providing students an opportunity to teach younger students builds self confidence and reinforces their own understanding of a new concept. In the spring, biology will be focusing on ecology. A great way for my students to show that they understand about ecology would be to have them teach younger students what they have learned. I would like to take my students, one afternoon for a walk to Fairfax Elementary school.

While there, each student will work with a small group of younger students sharing with them what they have learned about ecology. Each one of my high school students will go to Fairfax that afternoon with an age appropriate science related book that they have hand picked to read to their student group. The books will be donated to the Fairfax classroom.

I would like each of my students in my ninth grade biology class to research and purchase an age appropriate children’s book that focuses on ecology. The grant will provide each student with a $12.00 budget in order to purchase one book per student for a total of twenty four books, which will be donated to Fairfax Elementary. They must justify their choice and summarize how it relates to ecology. They must be prepared to go to Fairfax with a mini-ecology lesson prepared. They will use their time at Fairfax to read, discuss, and teach.

English Language Learners – Community Connection Grant

During the summer, English language learners in grades kindergarten to 8th grade will visit locations of interest in the greater Cleveland community to learn more about different languages and cultures.
Community Connection Grant
Year: 2009- 2010
Amount: $250
Project Manager: Elenny Tuleta
School: District wide

Classroom Cleveland – Community Connection Grant

Special education students will take an educational field trip in the community to learn about careers and their community.

Community Connection Grant
Year: 2009- 2010
Amount: $250
Project Manager: Harvey Horwitz
School: Cleveland Heights High School

Oxford Honors Choir – Community Connection Grant

Oxford students will perform in the community and schools. Funds will purchase sheet music.
Community Connection Grant
Year: 2009- 2010
Amount: $250
Project Manager: Colin Milne
School: Oxford Elementary

Remembering Denise Jackson

Reaching Heights mourns the loss of one of our own, Trustee Denise Jackson, who died on May 28. Denise joined our board this year, with a strong interest in working with our music programs. She and her husband Stew Pharis have been staunch supporters of the Heights public schools as actively involved parents of Tommy and Dorrie, and as active volunteers.

Denise’s family posted the following remembrance on tributes.com, where condolences can be shared:

Denise Allison Jackson, beloved wife of Stewart Pharis and mother of Tommy and Dorrie Pharis, died peacefully on May 28, 2010. Denise, 48, began her career as a musician in Chicago and subsequently became a successful attorney in Cleveland, focusing on employee benefits law. A native of Palo Alto, California, Denise had a lifelong passion for music. She earned both a Bachelor of Music and a Master of Music degree from Northwestern University, where she studied with Mary Ann Mumm, Myron Kartman, and Gerardo Ribeiro. Along with her husband, Denise was active throughout the Chicago area as a freelance violinist, chamber musician, and teacher, before joining the New World Symphony in Miami under the direction of Michael Tilson Thomas. Denise went on to receive a J.D. from the University of California Hastings College of Law in San Francisco. She and Stewart grew into established residents of Cleveland Heights as Denise practiced benefits law at Squire, Sanders & Dempsey in Cleveland. For nearly a decade, Denise served on the Board of Directors of Apollo’s Fire, the Cleveland Baroque Orchestra. She was a member of the steering committee for programming for the Ohio/Kentucky chapter of the ESOP Association and a frequent presenter at meetings for ESOP employers. Denise was a strong advocate for public education and was actively involved with the Cleveland Heights-University Heights Schools. At the time of her death, Denise was a member of the Board of Directors of Reaching Heights, an independent citizens’ organization that encourages community involvement in the public schools. She also coached members of the Roxboro Middle School Science Olympiad Team. At home, Denise was an avid knitter and gardener and a skilled worker of glass and tile. She designed and knit beautiful sweaters for her family and friends, which they will treasure; and she leaves her husband and children a house graced with lovingly tended roses and the many works of her own hands that decorate their home. In addition to her husband and two children, Denise is survived by her parents, Tom Jackson of Cleveland Heights and Charlotte Jackson of Palo Alto, California; her brother Keith Jackson and his family of Fresno, California; her mother-in-law, Dorothy Stewart Pharis of Auburn, Alabama; and her brother in-law, Will Pharis and his partner Richard Weinman of Cheyenne, Wyoming. Denise loved her community and was a strong supporter of the public schools she felt were such a vital part of the community. As a way of remembering Denise, her family asks that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Reaching Heights (1991 Lee Road, Suite 106, Cleveland Heights, OH 44118).

Gifts made to Reaching Heights in Denise’s memory will be used to support our music programs.

Stone Island Lab – Community Connection Grant

One 4th grade class and the Environmental Club will travel to the Ohio State Lake Erie biology laboratory for field projects.

Community Connection Grant
Year: 2009-2010
Amount: $250
Project Manager: Joe Mendes
School: Gearity Elementary School

The project desires to improve student academic achievement and involves kids and parents in a community building experience. Additionally, we plan to complete a service project at the Stone Island Site.

Academically, the focus of study is a 8-12 week unit on global climate change. This will be based on the workshop at Stone Lab I took this summer with Dr, Fortner. Fortner’s non profit educational group, COSEE GREAT LAKES has committed $1,000 to this project’s $3,000 budget. Having my 32 students and their families spearhead the efforts to raise this money will provide us with a community building experience. It will also give my class a shared purpose and goal, a bonding experience and sense of accomplishment when we are successful.

The 8-12 week unit of study will culminate with the overnight to Stone Island Lab. We will do countless activities preparing students for the workshop. The major focus will be on “doing science” by using the scientific method. We will be reading, researching and conducting experiments in preparation for our trip. At Stone Island we will study: Geology and Ornithology of the Lake Erie Islands. We will also participate in a boat based science cruise where we will take measurements and reading in the lake and trawl for fish and aquatic life. We will take our “catch” back to the lab and analyze and dissect it.

Leading Ladies – Community Connection Grant

This is a replication of a Monticello project. Girls can volunteer for the leadership training group if they have a minimum GPA and behavior record. The group focuses on the importance of academic success, community service, goal setting, character development and etiquette. Funds will purchase refreshments and supplies.

Community Connection Grant
Year: 2009- 2010
Amount: $250
Project Manager: Sabrina Humphries
School: Heights High

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