New+England+Laborers+Academy+Description

 The New England Laborers'/Cranston Public Schools Construction Career Academy

 District: Cranston, RI

 Author: Erin Caldwell  The New England Laborers'/Cranston Public Schools Construction Career Academy is a Charter School located on 4 Sharpe Drive in Cranston, Rhode Island. The NEL/CPS as it is commonly referred to is a Cranston public school that has been approved by the Rhode Island board of Regents for Secondary and Elementary education. This school is designed with a unique mission, one that is unlike any other charter school in Rhode Island. The goal is to provide students in grades 9-12 with a solid academic foundation through hands on and experiential learning. The hope is that these students will then pursue a career in fields such as environmental sciences and construction trades. The belief is that through their collaborative learning environment, students of the NEL/CPS will not only be able to achieve their career goals, but will also become valued, hard working, and productive members of society.
 * Introduction: **

Often times to gauge student achievement in a school, it is standard to look at a schools demographics. An interesting aspect of the NEL/CPS school demographic is its number of male students. Of NEL/CPS’ 139 students, approximately 91 identify as male. NEL/CPS is also not extremely diverse with approximately 73% of it’s students identifying as white. Because NEL/CPS seems to cater to a Caucasian male majority other aspects such as high test scores and more funding and might be assumed, but are quite false. The lack of diversity could easily hinder the learning process for some.
 * Demographics: **

 AYP, NECAP, Graduation rates: NEL/CPS has not made Adequate yearly progress. That paired with dismal test scores might indicate that the NEL/CPS is not an effective learning institution. According to NECAP, in Mathematics just 6% of NEL/CPS' 11th grade students were proficient whereas the statewide proficiency is 30%. In reading, 55% of students were proficient, also performing well below the statewide proficiency rate which is 76%. In writing, only 22% of 11th grade students were proficient whereas the entire state is at approximately 51% proficiency. Lastly, students of NEL/CPS are performing well below state proficiency in 11th grade science, at just 4% proficiency, statewide proficiency is at 26%. Relative to their own district NEL/CPS is also underperforming. In Cranston 23% of 11th grade students were proficient in Math, 78% were proficient in Reading 48% in Writing and 23% in Science. This may indicate that even while under the watchful eye of the Cranston school district, students may be missing essential components provided by a well rounded public school education, as opposed to a career specific education.
 * Student Achievement: **

Graduation rates and numbers are not much more promising than NECAP numbers. Just 46% of NEL/CPS students were able to graduate in four years, significantly lower than the state average which is 77% as well as the district average which is 77% in four years. 62% were able to graduate in five years whereas the district average is 81% of students graduating in five years. However, students of NEL/CPS are certainly not allowing test scores and high drop out rates to define their futures. The majority of NEL/CPS students did plan on furthering their education, whether it be through a trade school, community college, two year college or four year college.

 The NEL/CPS is performing slightly better compared to the state in terms of teaching. While a number of teachers come directly from the field, NEL/CPS has no teachers with emergency certifications, which is less than the 1% average across the state. NEL/CPS also has a smaller student to faculty ratio than the state at 1:10, in opposition to the statewide average which is about 1:11. NEL/CPS does have a higher percentage of non qualified teachers than the state average, 4% as opposed to 3%, however this can also be equated to the specialized area of study this school provides. Teachers with hands-on experience teach in the same fashion to their students, whether they have obtained the necessary degree or not.
 * Teaching: **

Surveys provided by the Rhode Island Department of Education are excellent indicators of where the students of NEL/CPS are coming from. While the school is not particularly diverse, it is relatively standard in comparison to all Rhode Island schools. Students do however come from a diverse socioeconomic statuses. About 47% qualify for subsidized lunch, 3% higher than the state average. None of NEL/CPS' students are receiving bilingual education services, while the average statewide is approximately 6%. Students receiving special education services however double the state average at 32%. According to student surveys the majority of students feel as though they are being well supported at home and within the community. Students believe that they are receiving ample support from their parents or guardians, and almost all of them believe that there is an adult within the school that is concerned about their well being.
 * Family and Community Life: **

Funding and resource wise NEL/CPS is relatively standard across the board. Their per pupil expenditure is approximately $13,261, which in the students opinions seems to reflect cost effective spending. The majority of students report that they have up to date textbooks and that they rarely have to share them. The majority of students also report that the facilities are certainly adequate and the inside of the building can be described as nice even. Classroom temperature, lighting, and seating are reported to be in good working order, all of which provide students with a comfortable and productive learning environment.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 15px;">Funding and Resources: **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 15px;"> The NEL/CPS is a unique charter school. While they are fairly standard across the board, students seem to be happy with the experience and education they are currently receiving. It is for that reason that we can assume that students are getting more than just an education from their school. The collaborative and experiential learning environment is what sets NEL/CPS apart from other public schools, and of course other charter schools. Students seem to feel a sense of accomplishment, well being, and most importantly, purpose.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 15px;">Conclusion: **

Rhode Island Department of Education. “InfoWorks! Rhode Island Education Data Reporting - RIDE.ri.gov.” // Infoworks Live //. 2011. Web. 8 Nov. 2012