Top High Schools: Gist Weighs In
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Education Commissioner Deborah Gist weighs in on GoLocalProv’s exclusive rankings of the top high schools in Rhode Island. Find out what she says makes a good school, how the low ranking schools can be improved, and what is to be done about Central Falls High School.
GoLocalProv: Our top five schools are pretty similar to last year's list. It generally includes schools in suburban middle-upper class towns (East Greenwich, Exeter, Barrington). Have you visited these schools? What are they doing right?
Gist: I have visited every school district in the state and I have spent time in many of our high schools observing great teaching and learning. I would say that the hallmark of all high-performing schools is an environment where teachers are focused on student achievement, where students are challenged to excel, where learning is relevant and engaging, and where school leaders support teachers by ensuring they have the time and resources they need to do their work well.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTGLP: On the flip end, the worst schools are all along the urban corridor (Mt. Pleasant, Alvarez, Shea). What can we do to improve these schools?
Gist: We have identified several high schools … as persistently low-achieving schools. Each of these schools is in the process of developing or implementing a school-reform plan designed to improve student achievement, close achievement gaps, and improve the graduation rate.
GLP: What do you think about the criteria we used to rank schools? From your point of view, what are the non-quantifiables that make a public school great?
Gist: The factors that GoLocalProv has used to rank high schools in Rhode Island do raise some questions in my mind. I believe that assessment results and the graduation rates are useful as measures of school performance. I do not necessarily agree that class size or per-pupil expenditures are useful measures of school performance. Some schools may spend money wisely and get excellent results at a relatively low per-pupil cost. Some schools may have larger classes but with excellent instruction. In addition to assessment results (percent proficient) and graduation rates, to measure school performance I would want to know:
• Is the school improving over time?
• Is the school serving the needs of all student groups?
• Is the school offering opportunities for challenging classes for all students?
• What percentage of students are achieving at the highest level (proficient with distinction)?
• Does the school offer students multiple pathways toward graduation, such as preparation for challenging careers?
These and other questions could help GoLocalProv develop an even better system for measuring school quality.
GLP: Your best friend is moving to Rhode Island and wants to send her kid to public schools. Where would you tell her to move? Would you be comfortable telling her to move to Providence, Pawtucket or Central Falls?
Gist: For any family moving to Rhode Island and trying to select a public school, I would suggest visiting several schools, meeting with principals and teachers and parents, and talking with students. I would suggest that people check information on school performance and on school climate, such as our SurveyWorks data, which we publish at: http://infoworks.ride.ri.gov
No one school is right or wrong for everybody. There is no doubt that some students get an excellent education that prepares them for college or careers in every one of our high schools. As we transform education in Rhode Island, however, we want our high schools to prepare all students for success.
GLP: Central Falls actually fell slightly in our rankings. How long does that school deserve to turn it around?
Gist: Finally, as to Central Falls High School, please note that the data you have collected represents school performance in the previous school year. This year, Central Falls is in year one of implementing its plan for transformation. As the plan gets fully implemented over the course of the next two years, we expect to see positive results at Central Falls High School and at our other low-achieving schools.
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