2013 Pathways to the Prize - School Winners | Page 24

Pathways to the Prize Lessons from the 2011 SCORE Prize School Winners Pathways to the Prize Lessons from the 2011 SCORE Prize School Winners At a Glance 20 11 S CO RE S social, and physical growth P L OO CH INNER OL W HO SC GH HI ZE RI . JULIET HIG MT H • ► ► Principal Mel Brown is singularly focused on the ► school mission that nurtures all aspects of youth ► development, including intellectual, emotional, ► • • • • ► ► ► ► ► ► The principal empowers his assistant principals ► to serve as co-leaders, giving them responsibili- ► ties for multiple aspects of teaching and learn- ► ing, professional development and coaching, and ► ► other teacher and student supports ► The school conducts deep data dives to identify ► ► root causes of academic challenges and successes. That information is used to set school- ► ► wide goals and replicate best practices from ► different departments throughout the school ► ► The entire school participates in activities to ► contribute to school-wide goals. For example, Mt. Juliet has a wide array of intervention programs that serve to accelerate the progress of all students, from those in need of remediation to those who require advanced coursework when the school decided to focus on writing, teachers in all areas, not just those in the English department, required their students to practice their writing • ► Teachers make the curriculum relevant for their ► students by introducing creative and practical assignments. Teachers effectively group students and use pacing guides to confirm and meet rigor and sequencing expectations for all ► students Mt. Juliet High School (MJHS) sits in western Wilson County, a high growth retail and commercial center in ► Middle Tennessee. The new school building, opened in ► 2008, signaled a new beginning for the community, replac- ► ► ing a structure that had been renovated four times. The building features many state of the art facilities: a media center, theater, four computer labs, two gymnasiums, a band/chorus facility, cafeteria, office complex, and spacious classrooms. 2011 SCORE Prize High School Winner: Mt. Juliet High School Website — http://www.wcschools.com/education/ school/school.php?sectionid=1988 Grades served — 9-12 Enrollment — 1,775 Economically disadvantaged students — 17.9% White — 88% African American — 8% Hispanic — 3% Asian — 1% Attendance rate 2009: 93.9% 2010: 93.2% TVAAS three-year growth standard T-Statistic (2011) Algebra I: 8.38 English II: 5.72 ► ► ► ► 24 Principal — Mel Brown End of course deciles (2010-11) Algebra I: 60th English II: 80th to 70th The achievement gap between Black and White students decreased by 6.07 points in English II and 9.48 points in Algebra I The achievement gap between economically and non-economically disadvantaged students decreased by 6.19 points in English II College readiness data ACT Composite (3-Year Average): 21.0 Graduation rate 2010: 88.8% College-going rate 2009: 64.8% 2011 SCORE Prize High School Winner: Mt. Juliet High School 25