Greene+School+Description


 * The Greene School ** West Greenwich, Rhode Island Lia Moceri

The Greene School is a public charter high school for Rhode Island students located at 94 John Potter Road in West Greenwich. The school, now home to 108 students, opened in 2010 and has not been established for very long, thus giving them little time to establish any superior achievement or resources. Though the school is average compared to most other schools in the state, the Greene School has a curriculum focused on nature, biology, and environmental science, adding a new facet to the states variety of charter schools. They are still growing as a school, planning to add more students, change locations, as well as add new buildings like the the Sustainable Learning Center on the W. Alton Jones Campus, with the help of the University of Rhode Island, a current educational partner.
 * Introduction **

In the expanding Greene School, the students are evenly diverse in age and gender, however not in race or ethnicity. There are 108 students, averaging about 35 students in each grade from 9-11. The school's data was taken in the 2011-2012 school year and they have since expanded to include the 12th grade and 168 students. In the 2013-2014 school year, they plan to have 201 students enrolled as its full capacity. Among the students they have now, 52.8% are female and 44.4% are male. In addition, 85% are White, 15% are more than one race, 13.9% are Hispanic/Latino, and every other race, including Black, Asian, American Indian and Hawaiian make up 10% total. In the city of West Greenwich, 91% of students are white and in the state there are 70% Despite, the 19 different districts they originate from, these students' demographics are consistent with the district's percentages except with slightly more racial diversity.
 * School Demographics and Geological Location **

Overall, the Greene School has student achievement levels that are consistent with that of the state achievement, however, this includes fluctuating NECAP scores. For example, on the NECAP assessment given to 11th graders, the achievement level for the Greene School is inconsistent in comparison to the state and the district. For example, in math, the Greene School (28% proficiency) was 2% lower than the state and 26% percent lower than district. In reading on the other hand, where the Greene School achieved 100% proficiency, they were 9% higher than the district and 24% higher than the state. Lastly, in writing, the Greene School scoring 58% proficiency, was 15% lower than the district but 7% higher than the state. The science NECAP scores were unavailable for this school. Given the data, the NECAP test scores are inconclusive about the achievement at the Greene School in comparison to the state or district.
 * Student Achievement **

Despite the varied scores, the student survey shows that the Greene School students have increased interest and technology use which can be of great value in our advancing society. The students at the Greene School use the computer just as much during homework as other state students but they seem to be more interested in their classes, with 40% of kids saying most of their classes are interesting where 55% of the state said only some were. The only other area where the Greene School surpasses the state is in technology use. Much more technology is utilized for their benefit in coursework, with 22% higher use than kids in the state for English, 16% higher for science, and 32% higher in social studies. Based on the use of technology, NECAP scores, and interest in class, the Greene School is about average in regards to the student achievement in comparison to state and district.

The Greene School just opened in September of 2010 and has only so far completed two successful years, therefore there was not enough data for them to be included in an assessment of Adequate Yearly Progress and has an AYP status of "New School." However, the district, Exeter-West Greenwich, met AYP in all 9 target areas.

In terms of teaching, The Greene School has slightly higher teaching performance in comparison to the state. There is no data for teachers with emergency certification, not highly qualified teachers, and teacher-student ratio. However, the Greene School the students participated in a survey in which they were asked to indicate behaviors of none, some, most, or all of their teachers. It was found that, according to the majority of students, all teachers help catch up, use facts to support, peer editing, debate, explain things in different ways. Also, most of them give clear instruction, give enough time for assignments, work in small and large groups, make presentations, and only some to none let class get out of control. Whereas throughout the state, only some help kids catch up, explain things different ways, make presentations, work in large groups, and peer edit. As a result of the teaching practices ranked both even and above those of the state, it can be concluded that the Green School does have proficient teachers.
 * Teaching **

The Greene School students have very average family community and home lives in comparison to the state data in most areas. Like most other Rhode Island kids, they agree that they feel they have an adult in the community that they can go to as well as agree their parents like their school and are engaged in school work. Furthermore, both groups of students strongly agree that others think they will go to college and their parents care about grades, college, and careers. The Greene School has very similar rates of involvement to that of the state with most kids either in sports, music, or working, but when you consider the mere 108 students that attend, it means that nearly every student is involved outside of school in some form. However, there is one area where this school differs from the state, the amount of kids on subsidized lunch is 30% lower than the state, they have no ESL students compared to the states 6%, and their special education rate is 2% higher. Despite this, the other categories like parent and community involvement are still consistent with that of the state.
 * Family, Community, and Home Life **

The Greene School is in many ways similar to the state of Rhode Island in regards to how safe and supportive the school is. Both have attendance rates over 90% with most kids asthma free and eating breakfast every day. Furthermore, the students only spend an average of 1-2 hours on video games and only 0-1 hours in chatrooms, instant messaging, or emailing. The majority of kids in both categories never skip class, have never been robbed in school, and agree that the school is safe. Also, students agree they have both adults and peers in school with whom they can talk to about home, academic, and social problems. On a less optimistic note, most kids text in school and have been called names or had rumors spread about them and not reported it. Over half have drunk alcohol, around 20% drove with someone who had been drinking, around 40% have smoked weed, about 20% have participated in sexting, all of which are rates higher than that of the state and the local public high school, however most have not smoked cigarettes.
 * Safe and Supportive Schools **

Despite the numerous similarities, the Greene School is also very much different than than other schools in the State, however some of the statistics seem skewed because the Greene School only consists of only 108 students whereas the state surveys over thirty thousand. The Greene School had much higher absenteeism, but has much less kids to consider. 25% of kids at Greene saw student-teacher violence where as the same type of violence was witnessed by only 13% of kids statewide. At the Greene School 15% have been in fist fights and 28% in verbal fights, where as state averages were only 10% and 20% respectively. There are also more percentages of kids with depression or have been under the influence of alcohol in school. However, the students also feel there are more teachers that treat students with respect.</range id="377052896_14"> On the other hand, in the statewide averages, the students have slightly more time spent<range type="comment" id="377052896_15"> on </range id="377052896_15">physical activity, but also more have driven drunk, 10% more are sexually active, double as many have experienced violence in a romantic <range type="comment" id="377052896_16">relationship</range id="377052896_16">. Given the data, it is evident that in some ways The Greene School is in ways similar to the state, but is also very different, which would force us to conclude that this school is consistent in safety and security in comparison to others in the state.

In regards to resources, it appears that the Greene School resources are about the same as the state average for schools. For example, they are consistent with the state in that they both have good desks, gym equipment, smoke-free bathrooms which students are not afraid to use, enough lighting, comfortable temperature, access to up-to-date instruction materials, and a clean, well maintained school building, presentable inside and out. Also, the parents agree the school has enough. However, the Greene School students have a seemingly lesser computer lab and must share books. The teachers claim there is inadequate space for instruction, but they have newer textbooks than the state as a whole. In Greene,<range type="comment" id="377052896_18"> more students are using busses, which for this school run on biofuel. </range id="377052896_18">Despite the minor differences, the other categories in regards to resources are still consistent with that of the state.
 * Funding and Resources **

The Greene School, though only average in nearly all categories analyzed, still proves a great state charter school. Yes, the school is statistically average, being a new public school with an innovative, unique curriculum based on forthcoming economical issues and topics, as well as having partnership with institutions of higher education does make it stand out as exemplary on the Rhode Island educational map<range type="comment" id="377052896_19">.</range id="377052896_19">
 * Conclusion **

“The Greene School Story.” //The Greene School//, n.d. http://tgsri.org/about_us/the_greene_school_story.php. “Mission.” //The Greene School//, n.d. http://tgsri.org/about_us/mission_vision.php. Rhode Island Department of Education. “InfoWorks! Rhode Island Education Data Reporting - RIDE.ri.gov The Greene School.” //Infoworks//, 2011. http://infoworks.ride.ri.gov/school/the-greene-school.