The Stand Colorado team joined our Center for High School Success partner school, Englewood High School, for their celebration of ninth grade students on-track to graduate this semester. This celebration is one part of their successful Ninth Grade Academy.
Englewood’s on-track rate went from 73% to 86% this last semester, and they are closing gaps with Latino students.
Englewood has been implementing a 9th grade success approach in partnership with the Colorado Center for High School Success for two years. Their 9th Grade Academy is a robust effort to support students by implementing proven interventions to increase the number of 9th graders on-track to graduate by the end of their 9th grade year. It is clear their work is showing results –their on-track rate went from 73% to 86% this last semester, and they are closing gaps with Latino students.
Students who are “on-track,” meaning they have no more than one F, at the end of their 9th grade year are three times more likely to graduate from high school than their off-track peers.
“Creating the Ninth Grade Academy has really helped us to be proactive instead of reactive. It gives us the forum to teach kids study skills, social and emotional skills, and self advocacy. It has allowed us to set the bar high and then provide the supports that our students need in order to be able to reach that bar and achieve. Our 10th grade teachers have said they have seen the positive impact that our Ninth Grade Academy has had on our kids. And hopefully, we’ll continue to see that positive impact as they move up through the grades,” said Jamie Pollett, Dean of Instruction & Assessment and 9th Grade Administrator.
The 9th Grade Academy at Englewood Includes:
- Pirate 101 – a semester long class that engages 9th grade students in everything from team building and life skills, to learning the school fight song and how to get around the school, to how to meet with your teacher for support and community service.
- Kid Talks and Empathy Interviews – Kid Talks are regular every other Wednesday meetings of the entire 9th grade teaching team, structured around individual student data. This time is spent discussing students in need of support, gathering information from each teacher’s perspective, and crafting a plan to support improvement with specific interventions. Empathy interviews are when the student meets with the 9th grade team so that the educators can better understand the student’s experience and inform next steps.
- 9th grade orientation- an introduction to the school and being a high school student. Next year, Englewood will implement a 9th grade bridge program. This will enable 9th grade teachers to review data from 8th grade students and pre-fill gaps prior to school even starting.
- Consistent expectations and routines in all core classes and electives so students have clarity about what is expected of them.
- After school tutorials
- On-track to graduate celebrations – to check in with students throughout the year and celebrate those that are on-track to graduate.
In Their Words
“In the last two years since we started doing this (Pirate 101) we are seeing kids are more involved in activities and sports. The data shows improvements in attendance and PSAT scores. It makes sense – if you feel involved in a school, you’re going to do better academically.”
SEAN STETLER, SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER AND 9TH GRADE SUCCESS TEAM MEMBER
9th grade student, Ivan Flores Gutierrez, explained that he learned skills in the Pirate 101 course and other aspects of 9th Grade Academy, that led him to advocate to be placed in an advanced placement course. His teacher agreed, and he is now taking two advanced classes and thriving. “Being celebrated that you are on track gives people hope that they can do well in school.”
Ivan Flores Gutierrez, 9th grade student
“Before we implemented this program, the 9th grade team did not have the structures in place to meet regularly and talk about kids and how we can support them. What we do now is we get together and look at data, and we make a plan to support each student.”
Rosemary Wulf, physics teacher and 9th Grade Success Team member
