19 New High Schools Opening in Oregon This Fall
Over 6,000 students will get more personalized learning
"Not Your Parents' High Schools"
Years of hard work by administrators, teachers, parents and consultants come together this fall when 19 new high schools open their doors to over 6,000 students across Oregon as part of the E3 Oregon Small Schools Initiative.
Seventeen new high schools are “conversions” - new schools created when a large high school is separated into 3 or 4 smaller schools. Two of the new high schools were created by educators and community members from scratch. All of the schools are designed to establish a high achieving and equitable school environment that focuses on helping all students succeed. Each school provides challenging academic courses, experiential learning, and extensive support to help prepare students for post-secondary education and the world of work.
Schools are not just smaller. Extensive work has gone into curriculum design and professional development so students have a challenging and exciting educational experience. Schools received technical and coaching assistance from E3: Employers for Education Excellence, the grant managers for the Oregon Small Schools Initiative. In addition, E3 provided funding for the schools to help in the conversion or start-up process. The Oregon Small Schools Initiative is generously funded by the Meyer Memorial Trust and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
“We are very pleased these schools are opening on schedule this fall and proud of the work they have done so far,” said Karen Phillips, Oregon Small Schools Initiative Director, “Schools have established their own identities with unique visions and themes. They have recruited accomplished and dedicated teachers, and most importantly, they have created practices that really change the way they teach, and the way students learn. These are not your parents' high schools. It’s very exciting.”
Each of the new schools has their own identity, budget and administration. This allows them to manage their school and implement best practices most appropriate for their students. School themes were created with input from teachers, parent, students and community members and while the themes vary, each school offers a rigorous core academic curriculum designed to prepare all students for post-secondary education and the workplace.
17 NEW SMALL SCHOOLS CREATED FROM EXISTING LARGE HIGH SCHOOLS
Woodburn High School Campus - Woodburn, Oregon. Four small theme-based schools serving grades 9-12 will open in the fall 2006 on the Woodburn Campus. The Wellness, Business & Sports School (WeBSS) will serve 340 students. Leo Colegio is the principal of WeBSS. The Woodburn Academy of Art, Science & Technology (WAAST) will serve 300 students. Geri Federico will be the principal of WAAST. The Academy of International Studies at Woodburn (AIS) will serve 312 students. Chuck Ransom is the principal of AIS. Woodburn Arts & Communications Academy (WACA) will serve 300 students. Jennifer Dixon is the principal of WACA. All of the small schools are ensuring college ready preparation by requiring International Baccalaureate curriculum or Advanced Placement courses, and other rigorous learning opportunities for all students. For more information about the schools please contact the School Change Coordinator, Laurie Zauner Cooper (503-981-2600). The Woodburn campus website is www.woodburn.k12.or.us.
North Eugene High School Campus - Eugene, Oregon. Three small schools serving 9th and 10th grade students will open fall 2006 on the North Eugene Campus. The School of Invention, Design, Engineering Arts & Science (IDEAS), a New Tech replication school, will open with 230 students. Each IDEAS classroom will provide a computer for each student. Students will use the technology rich environment to support their learning, completion of projects, and exhibitions of work. Kay Graham is the principal for IDEAS. International High School will open with 160 students, and provide an interdisciplinary study of global cultures, history, artistic expression, and political, economic, and belief systems. All students will receive instruction and support to be successful in an International Baccalaureate program.
Linda Vargas is principal of International High School. The School of the Arts will open with 180 students. Students will use planning, rehearsal, production, assessment, performance, and reflection (the processes used to learn the arts) to learn in all disciplines. Gus Padilla is the principal of The School of Arts. Laurie Henry is the North Eugene Campus principal. For more information about the schools please contact the School Change Coordinator, Cassandra Kamens (541-687-4592). The campus web site is www.nehs.lane.edu.
Newberg High School Campus - Newberg, Oregon. Five small schools (as yet un-named) will open in the fall 2006 on the Newberg Campus. Each school grade level will initially serve approximately 225 9th and 10th grade students; adding a new grade level each year. All of the schools are based on a set of Coalition of Essential Schools common principles, practices, and concepts for effective schools and teaching that each small school will implement according to its strengths and needs. Administrators for the new schools are Dan Malone, Kristen Breitmeier, and Bill Smethurst. Smethurst will also serve as the campus manager. For more information about the schools please contact the School Change Coordinator, Karen Pugsley (503-554-5363). The campus website is www.newberg.k12.or.us/schools/nhs/nhs.html.
North Medford High School Campus - Medford, Oregon. Medford will begin the conversion process by developing The Freshman Academy, serving 470 students. It will open fall 2006. Students will be assigned to one of four learning teams within the Academy. Students on a common team will share the same core academic teachers and receive personalized instruction and support. Team teachers will provide inter-disciplinary learning opportunities and have common expectations for student behavior and achievement. In fall 2007, three 10-12 theme-based small schools will open. Ron Beick is the principal of the Freshman Academy. The school campus website is www.medford.k12.or.us. For more information about the school please contact the School Change Coordinator, Carole Robarts (541-842-5335).
South Medford High School Campus - Medford, Oregon. The Freshman Academy, serving 490 students, will open fall 2006. Students will be assigned to one of four learning teams within the Academy. Students on a common team will share the same core academic teachers and receive personalized instruction and support. Team teachers will provide inter-disciplinary learning opportunities and have common expectations for student behavior and achievement.
Hal Jones is the principal of the Freshman Academy. In fall 2007, three 10-12 theme-based small schools will open: a medical and health technology school, an arts and humanities school, and a student interest driven, project based learning school. The campus website is www.medford.k12.or.us. For more information about the school please contact the School Change Coordinator, Tim Rupp (541-842-1468).
Madison High School Campus – Portland, Oregon. Madison has already launched successful smaller learning communities and is poised to convert into small schools in 2006. Staff will actively engage in a small school design process that embraces rigor, relevance and relationships through curriculum integration and project based learning to create 3 unique small schools. Each of the small schools will hold approximately 330 students. For more information please contact the school campus principal, Patricia Thompson (503-916-5220).
BRAND NEW SMALL HIGH SCHOOLS OPENING THIS FALL INCLUDE:
Leadership and Entrepreneurship Public Charter High School (LEP) - Portland, OR Opened in August 2006 with 100 original students, LEP seeks to serve underachieving and disengaged students entering high school by offering a rigorous, integrated, college-prep curriculum in a personalized school setting with extensive academic supports. Through the study of leadership and entrepreneurship, students will develop a strong sense of self efficacy, social responsibility, and an entrepreneurial spirit. The school will use technology, project-based learning, advisories, and community-based learning experiences to prepare all students for college, careers, and citizenship, close the achievement gap, and increase graduation rates. The school will continue to add students each year until reaching their 400 student cap. The LEP program director is Reese Lord (503-380-6476). The LEP website is www.lephigh.org.
A3 Academy of Arts and Academics - Springfield, OR
Springfield’s Academy of Arts and Academics will offer a flexible schedule that allows students to tackle core academic classes and arts instruction, as well as providing time for rehearsal, practice and projects in theater, video and media arts. Writing will be emphasized across the curriculum, with additional emphasis on movement, voice, story telling and graphic design.
The Academy will enroll 100 students this year using an academically blind admissions process, admitting students based on their passion for the arts and their willingness to develop it. Enrollment will be capped at 250 students. The Academy will be a district magnet school. The Director and New Start Coordinator is Michael Fisher (541-744-5140).
A TOTAL OF 30 NEW HIGH SCHOOLS NOW OPEN
With the addition of the 19 schools opening this fall, the Oregon Small Schools Initiative has helped to open 30 new small high schools across Oregon changing the way over 13,000 students learn. When fully implemented the E3 initiative will have helped create 46 new small schools and established new models for high school education with far reaching benefits to schools and students across Oregon.
Many Oregon education leaders and organizations have endorsed the E3 Oregon Small Schools Initiative, including the Oregon Department of Education, the Confederation of Oregon School Administrators, the Oregon School Boards Association, Oregon University System and the Oregon Education Association.
The Initiative is administered by E3: Employers for Education Excellence, an Oregon based not-for-profit organization founded in 1996 by the Oregon Business Council. E3’s mission is to dramatically improve student learning and achievement in Oregon schools. The initiative is generously funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Meyer Memorial Trust.
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