Granger Jr. High School

Let’s Get It Started “Three replicable systems essential for academic success”

Robert Bleisch & Ruben Baeza

Assistant Principal’s Granger Jr. High School

Overview

1. Who We Are: Community/Demographics

2. Where We Were: Dysfunctional School Culture

3. What We Did: Three replicable systems

4. The Results: Academic Champs!!!

Who We Are...National City, CA

•Highest poverty rate in the county ($15,000 per capita)

•Highest violent crime rates in county

•Highest unemployment rate in San Diego County (20%)

•Highest immigrant population in the county

•Highest adult illiteracy rate in the state

•Lowest rents/property values in county

Who We Are cont.

Population: 1078Grade 7-9Free Lunch 91%Eng. Lang. Learners 30%Hispanic 68%Filipino 19%White 5%African American 1%

Where We Were (2002)

Lowest performing school in district: -Year 3 PI -604 API

Low attendance: -Lowest in the district

Excessive Stu Problems: -Undisciplined & Rude

Homework ????: -Unmotivated/Unprepared

Where We Were in 2002..(reality)

Where We Were...

Unsafe campus: -High Gang Presence -High Crime/Violence -Fights/bullying the norm

Poor School Pride: -Few clubs/activities Low teacher expectations -Students have a right to fail

Low parent involvement

What We Decided To Do

Granger’s Mission

To ensure all students realize their boundless potential through a system of learning distinguished by:

Enrichment & rigor Recognizing achievement Timely support & intervention Safe & nurturing environment Building character, respect & trust A culture where success in the only option A strong partnership between family, school

& community

Increase Attendance

Increase Attendance cont.

1. Changed Attendance Policy: • Described the importance of coming to school every day. • Included research linking irregular attendance and crime, risky

behaviors and school failure. • Informed that irregular attendance would not be tolerated- no

excuses!!!• Shared information re the law in California.• Detailed progressive consequences

Increase Attendance Cont.2. Comprehensive SYSTEM:

• Positive reinforcement: - Increased class competitions (earn non-uniform days).

- Quarterly recognition event (certificate and pizza/ice cream).

- Griffin Dollars/school raffle (ipods, TV’s, games etc.)

• Progressive Consequences: - Parent phone call (each abs)

- Dr. Note Contract/Sat Sch (3rd abs).

- PM O-RM (2 hr detention if no show to Sat Sch).

- Pre-SARB meetings to sign attendance laws contract (5th abs).

- Student Study Team (6th abs).

- Student Attendance Review Board (7th abs).

- Behavior Contract (8th abs)

Improve Behavior

Improve Behavior cont.

1. Changed Policy:

- Instruction sacred !!!!

- Empowered teachers to remove students

- Teachers supported by admin

Improve Behavior cont.

2. Procedures revamped:

- Every Referral tracked and documented

- Immediate consequence assigned (2 hrs after-

Sch)

- Parents notified

- Student picked-up/escorted at the end of the day.

- Progressive discipline used

- No teacher time or involvement required

Mandatory Academic Support

“The Granger Model”

“The Granger Model”

1. Attitude of a Winner (resiliency philosophy)

2. Mandatory Academic Support

3. Six Step Folder Distribution SYSTEM

4. Five Research-based Principles of

Intervention

1. Attitude of a Winner Resiliency Philosophy

• It’s an ATTITUDE: believe in yourself, work hard, dream big and NEVER, EVER GIVE UP!

• We EMPOWER students: hold high expectations, provide support & encouragement.

• No hay pobrecitios: do not feel sorry: We view our students as capable, not broken!!!

• FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION!

2. Mandatory Academic Support

1. Changed school policy (Mandatory HW )

2. Informed parents (meetings, letters, phone calls)

3. Allocated Resources (10 tutors, ASP bus, Teacher Extra

duty)

4. Immediate Interventions after-school (same day)

5. Changed the bell schedule (Moved Advisory)

6. Added Targeted Support (formal and informal assessments)

7. Defended Program (from attack!!!!)

TARGETED SUPPORT

1. Homework: Academic Enrichment Center (All)

2. Re-teach: Support Classes (Anyone- below 70% on a weekly CFA)

3. Re-teach: Blended SC (Anyone- informal assessments)

4. Re-teach: Saturday Workshops (Below 70% on Quarterlies)

-

-

Targeted Support cont.

5. Intensive Intervention: Rising Stars (Anyone- two or more F;s)

6. Intensive Intervention: Shinning Stars (Basic EL’s)

7. Intensive Intervention: 7th Period Classes (FBB, BB)

8. Credit Recovery (CR): Credit make-up

9. Review: ABC Intervention (P and A)

Six Step Folder Distribution SYSTEM

1. Folders Prepared (placed in AEC box)

2. AEC Box picked-up (by the end of lunch 1:15)

3. Daily List Prepared (emailed on Staff News)

4. Folder Sorted (according to room #)

5. Folders Distributed (during 6th per passing period)

6. students released to cafeteria (5 min early)

Research-based Principles of Intervention

1. DIRECTIVE

2. TIMELY

3. TARGETED

4. FLEXIBLE

5. SYSTEMATIC

The Results:

Academic Performance Index (API)

&

Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP)

API Scores

API Subgroup Results 2004-2009

AYP Gains in Math 2004-2009

AYP ELA Results2004-2009

School API

East Lake Middle 849

Ranch del Rey Middle

829

Bonita Vista Middle 805

Hilltop Middle 782

Granger Junior 782National City Middle 780

Chula Vista Middle 743

Mar Vista Middle 742

Montgomery Middle 734

Castle Park Middle 696

Southwest Middle 687

API Ranking 2009

Wes

t S

ide

% Free or Red

12%

14%

18 %

42 %

91 %85 %

68 %

64 %

65 %

64 %

80 %

Academic SuccessGranger (GJH) & National City Middle (NCM)

• GJH: 178 pts. in 6 yrs (604-782): 2003-2009; ranked 10 out of 10 on similar schools ranking

• NCM: 128 pts in 3 yrs (652-780): 2006-2009; ranked 10 out of 10 on similar schools ranking

• GJH/NCM: Both pulled out of Program Improvement 1st year “GJH Model” implemented.

• GJH/NCM: Top two performing similar school in the district (out of 7 schools in w/ similar demographics)

The SYSTEM is thesolution!