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Freshman Plus:
A Multi-faceted Support System
for At-Risk Ninth Graders
Dr. Carol Kelley
[email protected]
Alicia Parker
[email protected]
New Smyrna Beach High School
1015 Tenth Street
New Smyrna Beach, FL 32168
(386) 424-2555
New Smyrna Beach
High School
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2,000 students in grades 9-12
1 out 5 or 20% are ESE
More than 1 out of 3 or 38% are economically
disadvantaged
1 out of 10 or 10% are non-white
64% attend post–secondary institutions
Designated as an “A” or “B” school for the past 3
years
The Need
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2007-2008* Freshman Data
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95 “Level 1” readers on the regular diploma track
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43 of 95 were ESE
42% failed English 1
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39% failed Biology 1
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65% earned a D or F in English 1
53% earned a D or F in Biology
12.6% failed English, Biology and World History
*This data has been fairly consistent over the last several years
The Purpose:
Increase the academic
success of at-risk
9th graders
The Goals
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Increase the percentage of course credits
earned by at-risk 9th graders
Increase academic and social success of atrisk 9th graders
Increase content area reading
comprehension skills of at-risk 9th graders
Position 9th grade at-risk students on track to
graduate
New Smyrna Beach High School
Small Learning Communities
2008-2009
Academy of Digital
Biotechnology
Global
Media & Marketing
Academy
Community
•Marketing & Sports Marketing
•Agritechnology &
Environmental Resources
Academy
•Culinary Arts Academy
•Medical Academy
Academy of
Engineering & Design
• Building Construction
Technologies
• Engineering–Project Lead the Way
• Interior Design Services
•AP Courses
•AVID
•Computers for
College/Careers
•Diversified Cooperative
Training
•Foreign Language
•Mass Media
•Health & PE
•Performing Arts
•Reading
•Specialized Electives
•Speech/Writing
School of Performing
& Fine Arts
•Art
•Band
•Chorus
•Dance
•Drama
•Television Production
•Information Technology
•Entrepreneurship
Public Service
Academy
• Criminal Justice Operations
• Academy of Teaching and
Coaching
• Government, Law,
Psychology, Social Services
Professional Learning
Community
Program
Coordinator
Biotechnology
Digital Media & Marketing
Engineering & Design
Public Service
Academic Teacher
Academic Teacher
Academic Teacher
Academic Teacher
ESE Teacher
ESE Teacher
ESE Teacher
ESE Teacher
Counselor
Counselor
Counselor
Counselor
The Freshman Plus team consists of:
•4 academic teachers
•4 ESE teachers
•4 guidance counselors
Scheduling
English 1
Biology
Algebra (1 or 2 periods)
Intensive Reading
Computers/PE
SLC elective (Career and Technical Education course)
Critical Thinking Skills (Freshman Plus)
30-minute Academic Intervention Period
*Students will take World History their 11th grade year which allows
them to have a CTE elective
Program Components
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Academic:
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Regular tutorials for core subject areas
Daily 30-minute academic intervention periods
Upperclassman tutors
Organizational skills/Interactive Notebook
Vocabulary reinforcement and enhancement
Individualized interventions
Regular collaboration with academic teachers
Consistent parent contact
Program Components
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Social
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Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens
Career planning/visioning
Career-related guest speakers coordinated to
CTE selection
School, community and world awareness
Program Components
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Emotional
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Celebrations of success
Seminars on student issues (dating, anger
management, abusive relationships, etc.)
Small group and one-on-one counseling
Results: Course Failures
2007-2008:
Without Freshman Plus
2008-2009:
Freshman Plus
English 42%
English 9%
Algebra 40%
Algebra 18%
Biology 39%
Biology 9%
2.37 GPA
3.04 GPA
Results
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85% of Freshman Plus students were
promoted to 10th grade
3.04 overall GPA at the end of the year
(Entire 9th grade class: 2.52)
38% of the students had a GPA of 3.0 or
higher
64% made learning gains on the Reading
FCAT
57% scored at level 2 or 3
Results
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Internal climate survey:
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Freshman Plus students rated 23 of 25 items
higher on the Likert scale than the school at large.
The instrument was the HSSSE.
25 selected items to elicit information on the
following:
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Perceptions of the school,
personal motivation,
and perception of relationships with adults.
Creating a Climate of Success
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A school history of high school redesign
School culture committed to student
success
Structure provided collaboration among
adults
Focused and on-going staff development
Emphasis on results
“…the rest of the story…”