Welcome Westmont High School Parents

1. Welcome Westmont High School Parents 2014-2015

2. Westmont High School is… • The Most Improved High School in Illinois 2014 • One of the Most Improved and Top Performing High Schools in the United States

3. How were we able to make this happen? Faculty and Staff School Board Students TEAM EFFORT Superintendent Parents Community

4. Criteria 2013-2014 School Year Data Graduation Rate Advanced Placement Program PSAE Scores

5. Graduation Rate

6. Graduation Rate • 99.0 % 98.5% reported to the state (strictest criteria counts all students) 99.2% walked across our stage (completed all requirements in four years) **Best Graduation Rate in School History** **Top 1% in United States**

7. Advanced Placement Program

8. Advanced Placement Performance • Almost 400% increase in the number of passed AP Exams • 29 in 2013  141 in 2014 • Advanced Placement Scholar increase • 3 in 2013  16 in 2014 • (highest in school history with the previous being 5)

9. Washington Post Challenge Index Score From .56 to 3.01 Most Improved In Illinois <------------- We will be about right here

10. U.S. News and World Report • Ranking will be improved from • 15(not in the top 20%)  30 (in the top 7%) • ***TOP 7% in Illinois for performance*** • ***Most Improved in Illinois***

11. Why take AP classes? • Impress Admissions Counselors • Develop College Level Academic Skills – Prepare for College • Take more elective classes in college • Choose a major sooner • Add a minor or second major • Save money! • Create a stronger and more rigorous academic environment at W.H.S. • Help develop and build a strong reputation of W.H.S. for all student admissions process. • Build a championship academic environment to promote more student achievement.

12. Why take an AP test? • Prepare for the college experience • College credit • Low risk – choose which exams to report • Advanced Placement Scholar • Promote Westmont as a Top Performing School • College – Reputation as a school, which will increase college admissions opportunities.

13. 25 Year Study • “Take challenging school work in high school, and don’t let anyone scare you away from it.” (page 103) • “The intensity and quality of one’s secondary school curriculum was the strongest influence not merely on college entrance, but more importantly, on bachelor’s degree completion…” (page 5) • Answers In the Toolbox Revisited (2006)

14. PSAE

15. Highest Test Scores in School History • Overall Score • 69% • meets and exceeds • Previous high was 66% (graduation rate 90%) • 13 year average was 58%

16. Reading Math (second highest) 63% meets and exceeds Previous high was 67% 13 year average was 55% • 76% • meets and exceeds • Previous high was 70% • 13 year average was 61%

17. ◄ WHS 2014

18. ◄ WHS 2014

19. Highest Science Scores in School History

20. More Accomplishments to Celebrate Sponsored 2nd AP Conference Innovative Programs and Summer School All but one student from WJHS selected WHS • Lowest out-of-school suspension rate • Athletic Success • AP Grant- 3 rounds totaling $140,000 in competitive grant funding

21. Positive relationships with students Teacher interventions and support A commitment to helping students succeed

22. Athletic Successes Competed Down State: • Boys’ Cross Country • Girls’ Cross Country • Wrestling • Boys’ Track • Girls’ Track • Baseball • _________________________ • Girls’ softball won Sectionals

23. Innovative Programs Change Makers The Garden

24. Summer School Programs and Attendance

25. How did we do it? “Whatever it Takes” philosophy Focus on learning for all

27. Smart Goal Process • Implement goals • 2-3 building wide goals • 2-3 team goals • 1 is linked to school goals • 1 is what gets you up in the morning • 1 is your choice • Monitor all time – Focus • Adjust – Support – Goals drive action

32. We must continue… • Making improvements • Maintaining our graduation rate • Building our AP Program • Challenge Index Score of 4.0 or higher) • Closing the achievement gap for African American and Latino students • Improving literacy for all students

33. Thank you for all your support Here are some things we need from parents to continue this momentum…

34. The 12 Touchstones of Good Teaching • Be Demanding – Section 1 “The general principle that emerged from the study-dubbed the Pygmalion effect – has been confirmed in other studies (e.g., Hattie, 2009), and it has been demonstrated by such famous teachers as Marva Collins, RafeEsquith, and Jaime Escalante: when teachers expect more, students rise to their expectations.” (p. 3) • Goodwin, B., & Hubbell, E. R. (2013). The 12 Touchstones of Good Teaching. Alexandria, Virginia: ASCD.

35. The 12 Touchstones of Good Teaching • Be Supportive - Section 2 • “Warm demanders – originally labeled ‘supportive gadflies’ – combined ‘high personal warmth with high active demandingness’.” (p.64)

36. The Smartest Kids in the World and How They Got That Way • “The only way to get smart was to work hard and learn well” (p.194) • “There are even whole schools built around the ideals of rigorous learning and telling children the truth. These are countercultural places, though, with leaders who spend a lot of time convincing parents that their children are tougher than they think” (p.197)

38. Growth Mindset • Intelligence can be developed therefore leads to a desire to learn and therefore a tendency to • Embrace challenges • Persist in the face of setbacks • See effort as the path to mastery • Learn from criticism • Find lessons and inspiration in the success of others • As a result they reach ever higher levels of achievement • Mindset - Dr. Carol Dweck(2006)

39. Quick Tips • Reading independently every night will have a positive impact in all academic areas. • Help your child to see the growth mindset. • Asking questions and seeking help is a sign of strength. • Encourage your child to be gritty.

40. Let’s Celebrate … An Amazing Year

41. Thank you for all you have done and will continue to do for our students!