“A rising tide lifts all boats.” ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AGAINST THE ODDS By Dr. Anael Alston Dr. Larry Aronstein
Dec 28, 2015
“A rising tide lifts all boats.”
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AGAINST THE ODDS
By
Dr. Anael Alston
Dr. Larry Aronstein
ELA Percentage Passing
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
2006 2007 2008 2009
Grade 6
Grade 7
Grade 8
Glen Cove City School DistrictGlen Cove City School DistrictWho are we?Who are we?
2900 students K-12 located on the North 2900 students K-12 located on the North Shore of Nassau County Long Island, Shore of Nassau County Long Island, New YorkNew York
Serve a diverse student population: 38% Serve a diverse student population: 38% Euro-American, 16% African-American, Euro-American, 16% African-American, 42% Hispanic, 3% Asian, 1% other.42% Hispanic, 3% Asian, 1% other.
50% of our population live in poverty 50% of our population live in poverty (qualify for free and reduced lunch).(qualify for free and reduced lunch).
Glen Cove City School DistrictGlen Cove City School DistrictWho are we?Who are we?
Landing Elementary School - named Landing Elementary School - named 2010 National Blue Ribbon School 2010 National Blue Ribbon School of Excellenceof Excellence
Robert M. Finley Middle School – Robert M. Finley Middle School – named 1 of 10 schools in America named 1 of 10 schools in America as an NASSP as an NASSP ““Breakthrough SchooBreakthrough Schooll””
ELA Percentage Passing
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
2006 2007 2008 2009
Grade 6
Grade 7
Grade 8
2006-2009 ELA Scores2006-2009 ELA Scores
Math Percentage Passing
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
2006 2007 2008 2009
Grade 6
Grade 7
Grade 8
What did we do?What did we do?
Innovative Professional Development Series
1. 1.5 periods of ELA and Math for ALL students 6-8
2. UbD: Grant Wiggins K-12
3. Differentiation of Instruction K-12
4. Readers and Writers Workshop K-8
5. 36 Hours of PD in Mathematics
What Accurate Data does…
Allows for understanding information to make decisions
Should come from many sources Negates the myths Give multiple views of historical, current
and future conditions Must be used in the context of learning
and teaching for ALL students
Data…
2006-2009 Math Scores2006-2009 Math Scores
Year African American Hispanic White Year African American Hispanic White05-06 36% 30% 71% 05-06 44% 54% 79%06-07 63% 71% 80% 06-07 46% 65% 83%07-08 78% 70% 86% 07-08 69% 59% 81%08-09 57% 82% 98% 08-09 78% 89% 95%
Year African American Hispanic White Year African American Hispanic White05-06 32% 38% 70% 05-06 41% 47% 79%06-07 68% 58% 91% 06-07 56% 46% 86%07-08 75% 81% 86% 07-08 67% 70% 86%08-09 88% 86% 95% 08-09 73% 74% 91%
Year African American Hispanic White Year African American Hispanic White05-06 26% 31% 61% 05-06 21% 28% 67%06-07 38% 36% 71% 06-07 58% 58% 88%07-08 70% 67% 91% 07-08 56% 49% 82%08-09 81% 84% 92% 08-09 81% 68% 82%
NYS Math Assessment NYS ELA Assessment
Percentage of Students Scoring 3-4 (passing) on Assessments by Ethnic Group
6th Grade
7th GradeNYS Math Assessment NYS ELA Assessment
NYS Math Assessment NYS ELA Assessment
Robert M. Finley School Gap Closing Results
8th Grade
What are our What are our beliefs?beliefs?
We Have No Control
We Can Influence
In Our Control
Beliefs (continued)Beliefs (continued)
Poverty is no excuse for a lack Poverty is no excuse for a lack of academic achievement.of academic achievement.
Beliefs (continued)Beliefs (continued)
We believe in the 3RWe believe in the 3R’’ss
Rigor, Relevance, and Rigor, Relevance, and RelationshipsRelationships
Beliefs (continued)Beliefs (continued)
We based our practice on We based our practice on four pillars of instructionfour pillars of instruction
Differentiation of InstructionDifferentiation of Instruction Teaching for UnderstandingTeaching for Understanding Understanding by DesignUnderstanding by Design InquiryInquiry
The principles and actions The principles and actions behind the behind the
Essential ElementsEssential Elements EE # 7EE # 7 Professional learning and staff Professional learning and staff
development for all staff that are ongoing, development for all staff that are ongoing, planned, purposeful, and collaboratively planned, purposeful, and collaboratively developed.developed.
“You get what you get!”
“Hire the BEST!”
“Know who you are, know where you are, look around, then plan and do”.
Post College Ready Cut ScoresNYS ELA Assessments
Grades 2009-2010 2009-2010 using 08/09 Cut Scores
Grade 6 57% Passing 77% Passing
Grade 7 51% Passing 81% Passing
Grade 8 53% Passing 65% Passing
Post College Ready Cut ScoresNYS Math Assessments
Grades 2009-2010 2009-2010 using 08/09 Cut Scores
Grade 6 62% Passing 86% Passing
Grade 7 64% Passing 88% Passing
Grade 8 64% Passing 92% Passing
How to get in touch with How to get in touch with us:us:
Via e-mail: Via e-mail: [email protected] Twitter: @DrAAlstonTwitter: @DrAAlston Via e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected]