Graduation Rates - 2015 Cohort
On Monday October 24, 2016 the Cape Cod Times printed the following article Cape Cod Graduation Rates Fall Below State Average. In the article, the Times points out that the 2015 MRHS cohort had the lowest graduation rate on Cape Cod at 76.9%. Throwing out numbers and comments like this without any details is certainly damaging to our school and our brand. Mr. Carpenter and I dug into the numbers and are sharing them, along with an explanation, to local news outlets, our School Committee, Boards of Selectman and to our community. I will share with you below my message and the accompanying graduation chart. Please see me with any specific questions. It is important that our school community know the truth about our school and the great gains we continue to make. There is certainly room for improvement.
Message from Bill Burkhead:
The Cape Cod Times bomb drop was very misleading and we need to get the word out that the sky is not falling, in fact, things are looking good at MRHS. I am attaching a chart (below) that helps visually explain the graduation data for our 2015 cohort reported in the times. Keep in mind, this class spent 1 year at the new high school. You will see from the data that after taking into account the 6 students dropped out before the new high school ever opened, the 10 other students who ultimately graduated (which is our goal), and 5 other students who are receiving transition special education services (a shame the state counts these students against graduation rates and in effect punishes MRHS for having a strong post graduate program for these students) - that in that 1st year as a new school we lost 2 students to dropping out-2more than our goal of zero. A far better data point that the 76.9% reported by the times - an adjusted graduation rate of 87.4%. You will also see that number grow next year and beyond as our school continues to relentlessly strive to be the BEST school in the state!
For the Class of 2015 cohort, Monomoy had nearly double to triple the number of students "still in school" (after the June 2015 commencement for that cohort)
compared to other Cape districts. Students "still in school" after graduation are often intensive special needs students, many of whom require services until age 22. The large number of students with intensive special needs definitely impacted Monomoy's Class of 2015 4-year graduation rate, something not mentioned in the Cape Cod Times article, despite the 14.4% "still in school" number for Monomoy being a glaring outlier on the Cape.
There is actually a very positive side to this story because 10% of the Class of 2015 graduated late, but did ultimately graduate. Many in this group had special needs and many still needed to pass one or more MCAS exam in order to earn a diploma. Several in this group walked across the stage this past June with the Class of 2016.
The attached graph visually portrays Monomoy's Class of 2015 4-year graduation rates and provides a much clearer picture of what really happened with that class. There is also room for improvement. We want to see our drop out rate decline, and even one drop out is one too many. We have already implemented many new strategies to achieve this.
The adjusted graduation rate for this cohort is 87.4%, rather than simply the 76.9% reported.
It should also be noted that we consistently assess all our school data and make decisions to improve as a school regularly. For example, after analyzing our data in the 2015-2016 school year, and creating a struggling learners task force, we have identified early indicators that lead to failures. We created a tiered system of supports that implements regular education interventions to provide supports for our most vulnerable students. Our struggling learners task force consists of teachers, MRHS administrators and central office administrators, who meet quarterly to oversee our programs/processes, look at student data, and identify methods to improve our tiered intervention of supports. We believe by identifying and supporting our struggling learners as early as 7th grade, we will see direct improvements in our graduation rates, and sharp reductions in drop out numbers.
For Example:
- Improved Student Support Team Process to identify struggling students earlier (parent involvement model0
- Expanded Alternative Education program model
- School-based credit recovery program
- Site-based summer school *new summer of 2016
- 7.5/8.5 summer school (for identified students in grades 7&8
- Academic Center & Student Mentoring *new fall of 2016
- Gosnold counseling assistance for increased mental health support *new fall of 2016
- Grade 8 teacher common planning time *new fall of 2016
Article, Video, Post of the Week
In my personal growth as an educator I often like to read and listen to advice that can best help me improve as a person and professional. I came across this graphic this week on twitter and immediately began to check off how many of the 10 characteristics were true of me. I certainly can improve, and took some notes on how I may do that today. I truly believe you get better or worse every day, and never stay exactly the same. Do you agree with these 10 qualities? Can you add more? How are you doing? What can you do today to improve? Great schools are great because of great teachers who strive to get better daily - you have the power as educators to contribute to our school improvement.
Working with our faculty senate, and looking to make sure we have a smooth system to keep our copy machines up and running, please note the following process:
Faculty Offices A171 and A246:
Two toner bottles will be in the storage closet of each faculty office. When the 2nd bottle of toner is used please let Claire know and she will restock the storage closet with 2 more the day she is notified.
Team Areas A180, A164 & A257, Library, Guidance:
The toner may be picked up in the main office. Please take only one at a time so that Claire can keep track of the supply.
Copier staples:
The staples for the copiers in are in the main office. When staples run out, let Claire know and she will put them in the copier as soon as she is notified.
Copier malfunctions:
Please follow the instructions that appear on the copier screen first. If there is still a problem, let Claire know the nature of the problem and she will contact Kenmark as soon as she is notified.
Reminder: Enrichment will start at 1:30 this Wednesday. This will allow students adequate time to take the youth risk survey in their enrichment classes. Instructions and surveys will be placed in teacher mailboxes. Please see Robin or Jen with any questions.
BetterCloud Monitor | When you collaborate in teams, it can be hard to know who’s responsible for what task. With Google's recent update, assigning action items is easier than ever.
BetterCloud Monitor | Gone are the days of having to use creative workarounds to create columns in Google Docs. Luckily, Google recently released a built-in column feature in Docs, making the process so much easier.
MRHS Professional Learning Unconference Update
Our first Professional Learning Unconference was a huge success! I want to thank Sarah Wheaton, Dave Alexander, Zack Gill, Liz Hoff and Rachel Barnes for offering to facilitate discussions. Thank you to everyone that took the time to fill out our survey - please see a summary of results below.
On a scale of 1 to 5 (1 terrible & 5 Outstanding) - how would you rate your overall Unconference Experience
S
012345678910
Which Unconference did you visit?
Beyond the Poster: Chromebook Compatible Tools - Sarah Wheaton
|
20.59%
7
|
Aspen Help: Liz Hoff
|
26.47%
9
|
Creating an early Home-School Connection - Zach Gill
|
11.76%
4
|
Strategies for struggling learners - Dave Alexander
|
32.35%
11
|
Turn it in Software Support
|
26.47%
9
|
| Total Respondents: 34 |
What did you like best about today's unconference experience?
I enjoyed the beginning where people were appropriately participating.
10/27/2016 8:43 PM View respondent's answers
Sharing experiences with colleagues
10/26/2016 4:07 PM View respondent's answers
The ability to chose an activity
10/26/2016 11:32 AM View respondent's answers
Support from colleagues on student apathy and ways to encourage more student responsibility/effort
10/26/2016 10:50 AM View respondent's answers
Choice of what to do
10/26/2016 10:43 AM View respondent's answers
A good many ideas about collaboration were shared.
10/26/2016 9:31 AM View respondent's answers
Liz did a great job of trying to help all of her colleagues that were at various levels of expertise.
10/26/2016 9:28 AM View respondent's answers
She could answer our individual questions
10/26/2016 9:01 AM View respondent's answers
Liz was great. She was able to help me solve a problem I had been having with one of my classes on Aspen.
10/26/2016 8:41 AM View respondent's answers
It was nice to have choices
10/26/2016 8:36 AM View respondent's answers
Brainstorming specific ideas
10/26/2016 8:26 AM View respondent's answers
I liked the quick responses to the participants' questions due to the interactive webinar format.
10/26/2016 8:08 AM View respondent's answers
It was directly relevant to improving teaching
10/26/2016 8:01 AM View respondent's answers
Interaction between staff members. Some great ideas shared.
10/26/2016 8:00 AM View respondent's answers
learning a new tool for the classroom
10/26/2016 7:46 AM View respondent's answers
It was not the traditional faculty meeting
10/26/2016 7:43 AM View respondent's answers
Individual instruction provided
10/26/2016 7:39 AM View respondent's answers
It was different
10/26/2016 7:34 AM View respondent's answers
Learning new things about ASPEN
10/26/2016 7:17 AM View respondent's answers
I could apply what I learned to my teaching.
10/26/2016 6:40 AM View respondent's answers
Practical application
10/25/2016 9:07 PM View respondent's answers
Time to learn something new
10/25/2016 8:37 PM View respondent's answers
Liz explains things really well. She takes the time to help everyone with patience.
10/25/2016 8:24 PM View respondent's answers
Some new information
10/25/2016 7:37 PM View respondent's answers
I loved that my time was spent learning about a new technology that I could use for class projects... and I LOVED the fact that I could chat with colleagues about the things they are using in their classes.
10/25/2016 6:34 PM View respondent's answers
Having a choice! Learning something??
10/25/2016 5:47 PM View respondent's answers
I liked that we had choices beyond Aspen training.
10/25/2016 5:29 PM View respondent's answers
google calendar to use in ASPEN
10/25/2016 4:43 PM View respondent's answers
Walked us through an infographic. Choice. Small group. No pressure.
10/25/2016 4:39 PM View respondent's answers
a teacher who uses it presented
10/25/2016 4:39 PM View respondent's answers
I think open teacher discussion is essential to improving practice. I always appreciate the opportunity to debate and discuss philosophical and practical questions that I can apply the very next day in class.
10/25/2016 4:26 PM View respondent's answers
I love the chance to talk shop with colleagues.
10/25/2016 4:23 PM View respondent's answers
What could we do to improve today's unconference experience?
There were some problems with the technology
10/28/2016 8:08 AM View respondent's answers
Group Norms. It seemed to have de-railed and became a yelling match at the end. It was rather uncomfortable.
10/27/2016 8:43 PM View respondent's answers
Keep the conversation going
10/26/2016 4:07 PM View respondent's answers
Put the options for the unconference in an email. I find email to be a more effective communication tool for myself.
10/26/2016 11:32 AM View respondent's answers
strategies for those students who don't do their work
10/26/2016 10:50 AM View respondent's answers
Procedure. Many were confused about the sign in/signout process. some showed up in the library expecting to start there.
10/26/2016 10:43 AM View respondent's answers
Make norms clearer to all so that the meeting isn't periodically hijacked by negative unproductive "input."
10/26/2016 9:31 AM View respondent's answers
I would love to have future Aspen training separated based on interests and abilities
10/26/2016 9:28 AM View respondent's answers
I can't think of anything offhand.
10/26/2016 9:01 AM View respondent's answers
Limit the number of people in the groups. It was difficult for Liz to address everyone's concerns in the limited time we had available.
10/26/2016 8:41 AM View respondent's answers
More technology related items that could help facilitate our teaching.
10/26/2016 8:36 AM View respondent's answers
Have more of them on the topic of struggling learners in small groups
10/26/2016 8:26 AM View respondent's answers
Cater it a bit more to participants who have yet to use the program. The contractor facilitating the meeting seemed to be presenting to people already using the program, but a few of us have yet to use it at all.
10/26/2016 8:08 AM View respondent's answers
List of the locations at the signup sheet table
10/26/2016 8:01 AM View respondent's answers
Continue varied topics
10/26/2016 8:00 AM View respondent's answers
Different options. I felt as though this was the only one that applied.
10/26/2016 7:43 AM View respondent's answers
Little more info about each subject
10/26/2016 7:34 AM View respondent's answers
There is so much to learn about ASPENS capabilities, I would like to continue the training. ASPEN is so user unfriendly, more frequent training is needed.
10/26/2016 7:17 AM View respondent's answers
I would like to see the principals deliver the instruction and stop relying on the teachers to do all the work.
10/26/2016 6:40 AM View respondent's answers
Nothing, it was great!
10/25/2016 9:07 PM View respondent's answers
Include a choice for colleagues to plan interdisciplinary work together
10/25/2016 8:37 PM View respondent's answers
?
10/25/2016 8:24 PM View respondent's answers
The audio connection and lack of dock made communication difficult
10/25/2016 7:37 PM View respondent's answers
Provide a dock for webinars. A quick pre-assess by presenters-like an interest/need survey prior to teaching . There were so many levels of comfort and experience...a lot of redundancy for some and too fast for others.
10/25/2016 5:47 PM View respondent's answers
Maybe having the attendance sheets in the rooms that the activities were located.
10/25/2016 5:29 PM View respondent's answers
Nothing
10/25/2016 4:43 PM View respondent's answers
Sign up online ahead of time gives presenters idea of turnout. Sign in sheets in rooms where class is held. Saves time.
10/25/2016 4:39 PM View respondent's answers
Have a beverage or snacks.
10/25/2016 4:39 PM View respondent's answers
I would have liked a more balanced discussion - this is more of a technical/discussion setup issue - but I think when a small amount of teachers monopolize the conversation, it becomes very difficult to have a truly open discourse.
10/25/2016 4:26 PM View respondent's answers
For old timers like me, I need a teacher in the room in person - not a scratchy voice on a computer (turnitin)
10/25/2016 4:23 PM View respondent's answers
Would you like to have another unconference in place of a traditional faculty meeting this year?
- Answered: 34
- Skipped: 0
YesNo
0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%
Yes
|
94.12%
32
|
No
|
5.88%
2
|
| Total | 34 |
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