Classical+High+School

=** Classical High School ** =

District: Providence School District Author: Jason Allard

== Classical High School Locatio n: ==

=** Introduction ** =

Classical High School, founded in 1843, is a public exam school in the Providence School District, in Providence RI. It was originally an all-male school, but has since become co-ed. Its motto is a translation of the famous translated Latin phrase, "To Strive, to Seek, to Find, and Not to Yield". It has been rated "High Performing and Sustaining" by its performance in 2005 on the New Standards Reference Exam, placing it third highest in the state. Classical High School stands roughly at the intersection of the Federal Hill, West End, and Upper South Providence neighborhoods.Classical High School is a magnet school, which is a public school offering a specialized curriculum, often with high academic standards, to a student body representing a cross section of the community. According to data from 2009, there are 1045 kids enrolled in grades 9-12. There are 69 teachers, which equates to a student to teacher ratio of 15:1. Of the freshman who were enrolled from 2004-2005, 93.8% graduated in 2008. This number is significantly higher than the state average of 74% in 2008. The purpose of this report is to analyze three main factors that play a role in Classical High School's performance. The three that will be covered are the following: Accountability (student achievement), students' point of view, and health behaviors. This report is aimed at those who wish to see an in depth comparison of Classical High School along with other high schools in the state of Rhode Island. While statistics play an important role in the interpretation of the data, one must first look at the demographics of the school to have an inside look at the makeup of the student body.

** Demographics ﻿ **


  Classical High School is very diverse. Only 35% of the student body  is white, which is significantly lower than the state average of 74%.  Additionally, 54% of the student population is either black or Hispanic,  whereas these groups only comprise 23% of the school population.  These statistics can be found at Public School Review Website. Now that the backgrounds of the students have been provided, an in depth analysis of their achievement can be examined. 



<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; cursor: pointer; font-family: sans-serif,helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 0px;"> Classical High School is proficient in both mathematics and English language arts based on the Rhode Island state target. The Rhode Island state target for mathematics was an estimated score of 62 and the average for all students was 79.6. The Rhode Island state target for English language arts was an estimated score of 75. The score for all students in English language arts was 21.3 points higher than the state target at an average score of 96.3. The above shows a comparison between score averages of all students, Hispanic students, and economically discouraged students. Each of the statistics required a minimum 45 students in each group, so some demographics may not be represented. The performance of each of the groups represented are consistent with each other and show that cultural and economic backgrounds do not play a factor in this school's performance.

<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; cursor: pointer; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 0px;">

<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; cursor: pointer; font-family: sans-serif,helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 0px;"> Performance progress from the past 5 years has shown a consistent trend between Rhode Island test scores and the scores of Classical High School. These numbers can be seen in the above Fig. 2 Mathematics test scores show a correlation in the slight decline that has occurred. Despite this, Classical's mathematics scores are still 12-15 points higher than the state average over the 5 years. In English and Language Arts, the state and Classical High School have shown consistency, although the scores for Classical are repeatedly 10 points above the state average. Simply put, the students at Classical are high achieving and show no signs of declining.

<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; cursor: pointer; font-family: sans-serif,helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 0px;"> In addition to the greatly exceeding each of the state targets, Classical High School also boasts a huge participation rate. According to data from the InfoWorks website, 100% of the students enrolled at Classical High School who were eligible to take the exams participated (See Fig. 3). It can be said that with regards to testing and state standards, Classical is maintaining consistent positive results both in Mathematics and English Language Arts. The demographics that were not included (African American, Asian, Native American, students with disabilities) may have fully participated, but did not meet the requirement of 45 participants in order for their results to be published in the report. Of the 19 targets evaluated for Classical High School, 19 were met. This reinforces the notion that Classical is a high performing high school. It can be seen that the students of Classical High School are high achieving, but how do they feel about their surroundings? In the next section we will take a look at general student opinions as well as safety concerns.

<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; cursor: pointer; font-family: sans-serif,helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 0px;">

<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; cursor: pointer; font-family: sans-serif,helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 0px;"> Students attending Classical High School reported a <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; cursor: pointer; padding-right: 10px;">relatively low percent of negative emotions compared to other Rhode Island High Schools. Of the students, 45% felt that they could talk to a teacher about academic issues and 10% felt comfortable enough to talk about personal or family problems.Of the students, 1 out of 5 reported not getting along with teachers and roughly 1 out of 4 reported drug use being pressured upon them. Less than 1 out of 10 students felt that bullying was a problem, however. Contrasting with this statistic, almost 1 out of 3 students reported that they have been robbed. To summarize, violence is not a major factor in Classical High School, but drug use and robbery seem to be a bigger problem. As an inner city school with a low amount of income, the students' actions may be reflective of their socioeconomic standing. The children need money so they resort to stealing or selling drugs. They rarely resort to violence, though. Based on the students' reactions to their environment, Classical High School needs to take further precautions into how students protect their belongings. Solutions to these problems may be to ensure working lockers, have a hallway patrol system, or to education students on ways they could handle their belongings more responsibly. Alongside personal concerns is personal care. In the net section we will take a look at how the student's take care of themselves as well as if they engaged in illegal behavior. This data will be compared to state averages to give some perspective to the statistics that would otherwise seem meaningless.

= **3. Name of Indicator: Health Risks** =

<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; cursor: pointer; font-family: sans-serif,helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 0px;">

<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; cursor: pointer; font-family: sans-serif,helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 0px;"> The students at Classical High School are not much different than students in other Rhode Island High Schools. Roughly 18% reported smoking at least a day and 21% reported the same behavior throughout the state. These statistics can be seen above in Fig. 5 and show that Classical High School maintains the status quo with health behaviors and risks. Each bar on the graph pertaining to Classical is within 9% of meta data collected from Rhode Island. Surprisingly, less of the students reported smoking marijuana than those around the state (31% compared to 40%), but only 23% reported being sold drugs (Fig. 4). This can only mean that students either felt pressured to report using drugs, or that drug use is more prevalent than drug dealing. As a result, it can be inferred that the primary source of drugs and drug dealing occurs in the surrounding area and is relatively well contained within the school itself.

<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; cursor: pointer; font-family: sans-serif,helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 0px;"> In accordance with students' risk behaviors and attitudes, the students practices are also extremely similar to trends found throughout the state. These statistics can be found at the Information Works Health Web Page. Interestingly, the data comparing Classical with the state of RI on the health behavior chart is within 5% of each other on each of the following statistics: personal insecurities, diet, sleep, breakfast habits, and electronic stimulation (television/computers).

<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; cursor: pointer; font-family: sans-serif,helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 0px;"> When something does happen to a student at Classical, his or her form of help differs <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; cursor: pointer; font-family: sans-serif,helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 0px;"> slightly from the state average (Fig. 6). 60% of the students attend the doctor's office when feeling ill and 17% report going to the community health clinic. This is different than the state averages of 69% and 9%, respectively. These numbers directly correlate with the <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; cursor: pointer; font-family: sans-serif,helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 0px;"> economic standing of the surrounding area, where the majority of citizens cannot afford proper health care. This would account for the decrease in number of students who attend a doctor's office compared to the average percentage of Rhode Island high school students who visit a doctor's office. The number of students who visit a community health clinic reinforce this claim. 17% of students at Classical reported going to their community health clinic while only 9% reported going based on the state average. This means that the surrounding area provides care for the community and students at Classical utilize this. Another piece of data to note is slight difference between students who claim to have no regular doctor or nurse at Classical and those who make the same claim based on the Rhode Island average. 11% of students at Classical reported having no doctor compared to the 12% of high school students in RI who reported the same. Accordingly, it can be said that students at Classical High School are slightly better off health wise than Rhode Island high schoolers as a whole.

= = =<span style="font-size: 1.4em; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">** Conclusion ** =

<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; cursor: pointer; font-family: sans-serif,helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 0px;"> Overrall, Classical High School is a high performing school located in inner city Providence. While taking into account demographics as well as factors such as accountability, student's point of view, and health statistics, it is astounding to see the progress such a school has made. The fact that it is a magnet school reinforces the idea that the students at Classical are there because they want to learn. Compared to schools in the surrounding area it can be seen that Classical is a special school in that it is able to educate children in a supportive environment despite the generally poor communities surrounding it. More information on these surrounding schools can be located in the related context reports and can provide a more in depth comparison.