Friday Notes from Guilford County Schools

February 2, 2007

Our Vision, Mission/Thematic Goals and Core Values

Our vision – what we will become, Our mission/thematic goals- how we will get there -- Our
core values - what we believe -- solidify the underlying foundation for all Guilford County Schools’ decisions and actions.

GCS Inclement Weather Make-up Days

Schools in Guilford County were closed Thursday, February 1 due to inclement weather.  All schools that operate on the traditional calendar will make the day up on Monday, February 26. Schools operating on modified calendars will make the day up as follows:

• Friday, February 16 -- The Middle College at GTCC Jamestown, The Middle College at GTCC Greensboro and The Middle College of Entertainment Technology at GTCC
• Monday, February 19 -- Greensboro College Middle College, The Middle College at Bennett and The Middle College at NC A&T
• Monday, February 26 – Oak Hill Year-Round Elementary and Hampton Leadership Academy
• Tuesday, March 6 -- The Early College at Guilford
• Monday, June 11 -- Eastern High 9th and 10th grade students

Each year, potential make-up days are designated when school calendars are approved by the Board of Education. The potential make-up days assist families and school officials to plan their schedules in anticipation of days missed for inclement weather.  School calendars may be accessed on the district Web site – http://www.gcsnc.com/information/allcalendars.htm.

GCS Teacher Selected as Piedmont Triad/Central Region Teacher of the Year

Shawn Watlington, GCS Teacher of the Year and a history teacher at Greensboro College Middle College, has been selected as the 2006-2007 Piedmont Triad/Central Region Teacher of the Year.  As one of eight regional finalists, she will compete for the North Carolina Teacher of the Year award April 30 - May 1 in Cary.  The state winner will be announced at a formal event and will be presented with both the award and a new automobile for his/her personal use.

Shawn was among 115 teachers throughout the state who submitted a portfolio and participated in an interview process. She was one of two regional finalists observed in the classroom by a regional selection team before being chosen for this honor.  Shawn will receive $5,000 in recognition of the duties that she will perform during the 2007-08 school year. In addition, she now has the honor of being a member of the 2007-08 State Teacher of the Year Team. As part of the team, she will serve on various state and regional committees, including the State Superintendent’s Teacher Advisory Council.  Click here for more information about the N.C. Teacher of the Year program or contact Carla Alphin, Employee Relations, at 370-8821.

Kernodle Middle Named a “School to Watch”

Kernodle is now one of eight North Carolina middle schools among 107 from across the nation to be named a “School to Watch.” Kernodle is the first school from Guilford County to receive this honor from the North Carolina Middle School Association. Schools chosen for this top honor exemplify academic excellence where faculty members challenge students to use their minds through a variety of activities. Teachers and administrators display a strong concern for the development and support of their students, and the entire organization exhibits a common goal of striving for excellence.  Congratulations to the entire Kernodle school family for this recognition!  For more information, please contact Principal Charles Burns at 545-3717.

Removal of Personal Items at EGHS

Since fire destroyed Eastern Guilford High, the district has been trying to negotiate the removal of personal items of students and teachers from the site.  Late last week, the district finally received approval to employ a company to begin that task. Service Master began removing the items this week and will complete their work no later than February 23. The items will be bagged, tagged and stored in secured PODS. When the removal of the personal items is complete and all items have been tagged, the district will schedule a weekend time when students and staff members can pickup their personal items.  Our insurance carrier(s) have stressed, for safety and liability reasons, that the district should continue its practice of not allowing anyone access to the site for removal of personal items independent of or during the Service Master removal efforts.  This is a job best left to the trained experts. For more information, please contact Sharon Ozment, Chief Finance Officer, at 370-8343.

2005-06 Dropout Data

The State Board of Education met this week and released the state annual dropout results from the 2005-06 school year. According to the state department, the number of students dropping out of North Carolina schools has been collected each year since 1988-89. Reporting methods were changed in 1991 because of new federal guidelines and in 1999 because of changes in the state's definition of a dropout.

For the annual dropout rate calculation, the state defines a dropout as a student who:

• was enrolled in school at some time during the previous school year, which is the reporting year
• was not enrolled on Day 20 of the current school year
• has not graduated from high school or completed a state or district approved educational program and
• does not meet any of the following reporting exclusions:
• transferred to another public school district, private school, home school or state/district approved educational program,
• temporarily absent due to suspension or school-approved illness, or death

Students who leave high school to enroll in a GED program are considered to have dropped out of school under the policy of the State Board of Education. The annual rate tells us what percentage of students in grades 9-12 dropped out of school in a year's time. The rate also is calculated for students in grades 7-12. Sometimes students may drop out of school more than once during their educational career and each time they dropout, they count against the district’s average.  For example, last year GCS returned large numbers of students who had previous dropout of school to our middle college high school; only to have some of them dropout again.  The district’s dropout average went up as a result.  It’s unfortunate that the system is penalized for trying to help students continue their education.

According to the state, it may seem logical to think that multiplying the annual dropout rate by four would tell us the percentage of students who fail to graduate from high school, but that would not be very accurate. The annual rate does not account for students who exit and re-enter school multiple times or for students who may take more than four years to complete high school. 
The Guilford County Schools continues to rank significantly below the state average and leads the other large districts in the stats; as well as our surrounding districts. 

However, we are disappointed that our dropout rate rose from by .41 percentage points from the 2004-05 school year.  One dropout is one too many.  We are restructuring our current dropout prevention counselor program and strengthening our elementary reading efforts to help further decrease the number of students dropping out of Guilford County Schools.  Click here to view the state-wide report.  Please call me at 370-9882, should you have questions. 

GCS Volunteer of the Month

The success of Guilford County Schools is due much in part to its volunteers. To recognize those who selflessly donate their personal time to the district's 70,000 students, GCS has created the Volunteer of the Month recognition program.  Persons who volunteer at GCS full- or part-time may be nominated.  Nominations can be made by anyone and must be received by the 10th day of each month and are good for 30 days.  Those selected as the district's Volunteer of the Month will receive a certificate of recognition from GCS and recognition during a Board of Education meeting.  Their photograph will hang at all central offices and at the school(s) they volunteer at. Businesses interested in sponsoring the Volunteer of the Month program, please contact Cecilia Adams, Manager of Community Partnerships, at 370-8355.  Click here to nominate your favorite GCS volunteer.

Rookie Teacher of the Year

The Office of Induction and Success has received 63 nominations for "Rookie Teacher of the Year."  Nominees will complete portfolios which are due March 26.  A committee will review all portfolios and select five finalists.  The five finalists will be recognized at a breakfast in early May.  The winner of the "Rookie Teacher of the Year” award will receive a scholarship for the master's program at UNCG.  For more information, please contact Martha Snavely, Executive Director, Induction and Success, at 335-3290.

Mentor of the Year

First and second year beginning teachers have the opportunity to nominate their mentor for the "Mentor of the Year" award.  Teachers are encouraged to nominate mentors who have provided exemplary support for them during their first two years in the profession.  Nominations are due by February 28.  For more information, please contact Martha Snavely, Executive Director, Induction and Success, at 335-3290.

Navigating the System: What Every Parent Needs to Know

The Exceptional Children’s Parent Advisory Council and the GCS Exceptional Children Department are hosting two workshops as part of their Brown Bag Lunch Series. The sessions will provide valuable information to parents of exceptional children about parental rights and procedural safeguards, the Individualized Education Process (IEP) and how to prepare for the IEP meeting. The workshops will take place on Wednesday, February 7 and Wednesday, March 7 from Noon until 1 p.m. at Westover Church, 505 Muirs Chapel Road, Greensboro.  For more information, please contactStephanie Antkowiak, EC parent liaison, at 370-8329.

GCS to Host Magnet/Choice Fairs

To showcase the various magnet schools and high school options students have within GCS, the district will host two Magnet/Choice Fairs, one in Greensboro and one in High Point. The first fair will take place on February 17 from 10 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. at Koury Convention Center in Greensboro. The second fair will take place on February 22 from 6 until 8:30 p.m. at Oak Hollow Mall in Greensboro.

Not only can students and their families receive a wealth of information at the fairs, they can also submit their application for magnet and choice schools. School representatives will be available to answer any questions about their school’s unique programs and opportunities.

The deadline for magnet schools (elementary and middle) is March 16. Applications will be accepted from February 17 through March 16. The deadline for high school options is March 23. Applications will be accepted from February 1 through March 23.  Learn more about GCS Magnet/HS Options by viewing a video daily at: 8:30a.m., 9:30a.m., 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on GCSTV 2.   For more information, please contact Tony Burks, Director of Magnet/Choice Schools, at 378-8832 or Haley Henderson, Program Administrator – Communications, at 370-3200.

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions: High School Options Fair Makes It Easier

Figuring out which high school option is the best fit for an upcoming ninth-grader is a big decision. In order to help parents make the choice, Aycock, Kiser, Mendenhall and Brown Summit Middle Schools will sponsor a High School Options Fair for parents of current eighth-grade students. The fair will be held in the auditorium of Aycock on Thursday, February 15 from 6 until 8 p.m.

Representatives from all high school options will be available to answer questions and provide interested parents and students with applications. For more information, please contact Dena Parson, Aycock counselor, at 370-8114.

Spring Social Studies Teaching and Learning Sessions Scheduled

Five teaching and learning sessions are scheduled to provide continued education for all GCS social studies teachers. Sessions will cover topics dealing with current issues, first-hand accounts of the Civil Rights Movement and newly updated resources to help teachers reach their students. Each meeting will be led by outstanding local professors and educators from NC A&T, Guilford College, UNCG and UNC - CH.
The dates and locations for each session are as follows: February 7 at Greensboro Central Library; February 21 at The Middle College at GTCC Greensboro; March 21 at Dudley High; April 25 at Northwest High and May 23 at the Greensboro Historical Museum. All sessions will begin at 4:15 p.m. and end at 6:30 p.m.  For more information, please contact Jonathan McRae, social studies specialist, at 317-3214.

Northern Middle Celebrates its Open with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Opening the Doors of Possibilities: Expecting Excellence Every Day. Northern Middle will officially open its doors with a ribbon cutting dedication event, including performances by Northern’s band and chorus and remarks from Board members, the PTA president and Principal Sam Misher. Parents and the public are welcome to attend. Invitations have been extended to Guilford County Commissioners and State Legislators. Attendees will have the opportunity to tour the building and ask Innovative Design Architecture questions about the award-winning “green” facility. Refreshments will also be served.  The ceremony will take place at the school on Sunday, February 11 at 3 p.m.  For more information, please contact Terry Kay Force, media specialist, at 605-3342.

Johnson Street Global Studies Receives Grant Money

Exciting things are happening at Johnson Street Global Studies in High Point!  The Global Studies Magnet school is the proud recipient of a grant awarded by the High Point Community Foundation in the amount of $28,000!  The grant will be broken into two components including $10,000 for global resources and $18,000 for the construction of an outdoor classroom and a specialized playground for the Exceptional Children's program.  Mr. Paul Lessard, executive director of the High Point Community Foundation, secured an additional grant in the amount of $10,000 through a private benefactor for installation of the new playground equipment.  The outdoor classroom will benefit students of Johnson Street from Pre-Kindergarten through eighth grade.  Work is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2007.  Funds designated for global resources will be used to strengthen and enhance the global studies magnet program introduced at the school in 2003.  For more information, please contact Kelli Staples, Exceptional Children Lifeskills teacher, at 819-2900 or staplek@gcsnc.com.

Dudley Parents Receive First Look at Student Life

On Thursday, February 8, Dudley parents will have two opportunities to better understand their children’s school life. First, parents are invited to attend a PTSA full body meeting where they will learn more about the major issues facing their students. Topics to discuss include: Dudley’s new academic and curriculum reform model, student attendance issues, status of standard mode of dress (SMOD), “The Human Race” and other fundraisers, the academic/achievement committee and the nominating committee for 2007-2008 PTSA Officers.

Following the meeting, parents will have a chance to “Walk-The-Schedule.” This event gives parents an opportunity to walk through a typical day of their student’s life in high school while meeting each of their teachers and learning about new class requirements.

The PTSA full body meeting will take place from 6 p.m. until 6:45 p.m. in the Dudley Auditorium. Walk-The-Schedule will immediately follow from 6:45 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. For more information, please contact Francine Scott, site coordinator, at 370-8130, ext. 4149.

Falkener Principal and Teachers to Sleep on School Roof!

Falkener Elementary is raising money for the American Heart Association by participating in Jump Rope for Heart.  The event will take place during Physical Education classes throughout the week of February 19.  PE Teacher Cinda Krueger, has set high goals for Falkener students, but has put into place some very interesting incentives!  If Falkener students raise:

$500: Falkener Teachers and Principal will dress up like clowns for a day
$1,000: Top student earners get to put pies in the faces of Falkener Teachers and Principal
$1,500: Falkener Teachers and Principal will compete in a Tricycle Race
$2,000: Falkener Teachers and Principal will sleep on the school roof for one night! 

For more information on how you can help sponsor this event, please contact Ms. Krueger or Principal Amy Holcombe at 370-8150. 

Northwest Middle PTSA to Sponsor “Unlocking the Mystery of High School”

On Tuesday, February 6, from 7– 8:30 pm, Northwest Middle will host an informational session with presenters from many of the GCS high schools with alternative options to the traditional high school setting.   Information about the following high school options and programs will be presented from the following: Northern High School, Northwest High School-IB Program, Weaver Academy, The Early College at Guilford, The Middle College at GTCC-Greensboro, and the Middle College of Entertainment Technology at GTCC. Many aspects of high school will be covered including curriculum, diploma options, and classes. Northwest’s guidance counselors will be presenting information in the school gym.  The Principal and Counselors from Northern High School will be presenting in the school cafeteria for students who will attend Northern High School.  For more information, please contact the Northwest Middle School Guidance Counselors at 605-3333 or Kendra March, Instructional Improvement Officer, at 370-8107.

Penn-Griffin School for the Arts Sets Schedule for Tours and Open House

Penn-Griffin’s arts-focused curriculum provides a well-rounded education for all children, especially those interested in the arts. To encourage enrollment and offer more information to both parents and students, Penn-Griffin will host school tours and open houses during February and March.

School tours are available every Tuesday and Thursday from February 15 through March 15. High school tours (ninth and tenth grade) will be given at 9:15 a.m. Middle school tours (sixth, seventh and eighth grade) will be given at 1:15 p.m.

In addition, open house dates have been set for March 4 at 3 p.m. and March 13 at 6:30 p.m. The March 4 open house will include student performances, while the March 13 event will feature a faculty recital beginning at 7 p.m. For more information, please contact Principal Bobby Ann Hayes at 819-2870.

Celebrating Black History through the Arts

This year’s Penn-Griffin School for the Arts’ dinner theatre promises to be better than last. Students in a variety of areas throughout the school will participate in the production along with business partner POLO Ralph Lauren. The dinner theatre show will take place on Tuesday, February 20. Dinner will be served from 5:30 p.m. until 6:45 p.m. with the show following at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $5 per person.

Mrs. Winner’s will cater the dinner, and the school orchestra and ninth-grade piano student Brian Castro will provide dinner music. Visual art students will create table decorations and CIS students will serve as wait staff for the evening. POLO Ralph Lauren employees will provide and serve dessert. Following dinner, students from Penn-Griffin will take the stage in the areas of dance, chorus, band, guitar, piano and orchestra. All performances will celebrate Black History Month. For more information, please contact Principal Bobby Ann Hayes at 819-2870.

“February One:” The Story of the Greensboro Four

In a simple act of defiance, four Greensboro men took a stand on February 1, 1960 that allowed others throughout the nation to sit down.  When these courageous N.C. A & T University students walked into Greensboro’s Woolworth’s store 47 years ago, they also walked into the history books.

The story of Joseph McNeil, Franklin McCain, Ezell Blair, Jr. and David Richmond, the men who changed the face of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States, will air in honor of Black History Month on GCSTV 2 (cable TV).  “February One,” produced by California Reel, is the behind-the-scenes story of the Greensboro Sit-Ins. The story is told first hand by three of the Greensboro Four. The one-hour documentary chronicles a significant event in local history that quickly turned the eyes of a nation toward Greensboro.  GCS advises viewer discretion as the program contains some graphic language and images that may not be suitable for younger audiences.

This documentary provides our schools with another way to celebrate and teach black history in the classroom and to demonstrate the significant role our community played in the Civil Rights Movement.  Airing the video throughout February on GCSTV 2 provides our students and community an opportunity to learn more about local history that influenced the entire nation.

The documentary will debut at Noon today and will air three times daily, Sunday through Saturday, at: Noon, 8 p.m. and Midnight throughout February.  For more information, please contact Leonard Simpson, Broadcast Production Manager, at 370-8167.

Guilford County Schools’ Draft LEA Improvement Plan Available Online 

The GCS Local Educational Agency (LEA) Improvement Plan draft is available on the district’s Web site at http://www.gcsnc.com/lea_improvement/index.htm in both English and Spanish. Additionally, copies of the plan are at each school in Guilford County, offering parents and community members an opportunity to review and provide input until February 14. Input can be provided by e-mailing LEA_ImprovementPlan@gcsnc.com. Along with feedback, list the following information: name, school, street address, city and phone number.

GCSTV 2

 
On Assignment

For the latest in news and information that chronicles programs and events throughout the school district, join host Leonard Simpson for “On Assignment.”   The video airs daily at: 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 3:30 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Building the Future

Our growing school district makes it necessary to add schools and renovations to existing campuses.  Construction bond money helps make that possible.  Join hosts Lillian Govus and Dave Burnett, Executive Director of Facilities and Construction, as they take us on a guided tour of new school and improvement projects in Guilford County.  The program airs daily at: 7:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Tus Hijos y GCS (Your Children and Guilford County Schools)

The State Writing Test is a crucial component for students in the fourth, seventh and tenth grades.  Passing the test in high school is a determining factor as to whether a student will graduate and receive a diploma.  Join host Karin Young for the newest edition of our Spanish and English language program: “Tus Hijos y GCS.”  Karin provides ideas and suggestions on how parents can help their children sharpen their English grammar and vocabulary skills to improve test scores.  Tus Hijos y GCS airs daily at 1 a.m., 7 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 7 p.m.

GCS/ABC 45 Partnership Continues

GCS continues its partnership with ABC 45 television to share the current news and feature stories about our district. The segments run on ABC 45 (Cable Channel 7) during “Good Morning America” each Wednesday and Friday at 7:25 a.m. and 8:25 a.m. You can also learn more about GCS by tuning in to GCSTV 2 (Cable Channel 2.)

Parkview/Peeler
The arts are very much alive and well in Guilford County Schools.  See how Parkview Magnet School uses integration of visual art, music, dance and drama to complement the learning environment.  Performing arts play a key role in the success of students at Peeler Open School.  Peeler is a unique place where avenues for artistic development and opportunities for academic growth abound.  This Newsbreak airs Wednesday, February 7.

Triangle Lake/Aycock
Magnet schools each have a unique signature on the teaching and learning process.  Triangle Lake Montessori seeks to create an environment that invites children to learn through experimentation and exploration.   Science and technology is emphasized at Aycock Middle along with its rigorous Spanish Immersion program. This Newsbreak airs Friday, February 9.

For more information, please contact Leonard Simpson, Broadcast Production Manager, at 370-8167.

NON-GCS EDUCATIONAL NEWS

Six Tips for High Schoolers About to Start College

The holidays are over and another season has begun: the season of college admissions decisions for many high school seniors. Those who have already heard from their school of choice are heading into their senior spring with a smile, and those who haven't are eagerly awaiting that thick envelope in the mail.  But all students - those who have deposited already and otherwise - should remember that a lot can happen between now and August, said Beverly Low, dean of first-year students at Colgate University. "Just because you have confirmed your admission to college does not mean that the school year is over yet," she cautioned. "Most institutions of higher learning will review your final high school transcript and peek at your spring grades. So stay focused and finish strong." Here, Low offers some advice on preparing for the challenges of college life: … Click here to read more.

Academic Gains Not Superior Among Students Enrolled in Privately Run Public Schools 

Academic improvement among students attending Philadelphia public schools managed by private operators kept pace, but did not exceed, the achievement gains of students in the rest of the district in the past four years, according to an analysis issued today by the RAND Corporation and Research for Action. While significant academic gains were made from 2002 to 2006 by students across Philadelphia, private managers who were given extra funds to run 45 elementary and middle schools did not achieve additional gains exceeding district-wide trends, according to researchers. Researchers say that their findings have implications for other regions that are considering private management of public schools and that the effort in Philadelphia suggests the challenges of implementing private management on a large scale. Philadelphia is the site of the largest experiment in the private management of public schools in the United States. "Schools in Philadelphia have shown strong improvement that has been reflected widely across the district," said Jolley Christman, a co-author of the report. "But our findings show the investment in private management of schools has not paid the expected dividends." Advocates of private management of public schools say the approach works best when private managers have full control of campuses and parents decide where to enroll their children -- measures that were not fully implemented in Philadelphia. Funding for the study was provided by the Annenberg Foundation, the William Penn Foundation and the Accountability Review Council for the School District of Philadelphia. The presentation of findings was hosted by the Philadelphia Education Fund, a local education fund. The report, "State Takeover, School Restructuring, Private Management, and Student Achievement in Philadelphia," was co-authored Ron Zimmer of RAND and Suzanne Blanc of Research for Action. Click here to read more.

Children Left Behind: How Metropolitan Areas are Failing American’s Children

The Diversity Data project identifies metropolitan area indicators of diversity, opportunity, quality of life and health for various racial and ethnic population groups. This website is now available to a wide variety of potential users interested in describing, profiling and ranking U.S. metros in terms of quality of life. The indicators provide a scorecard on diversity and opportunity, and allow researchers, policymakers and community advocates to compare metro areas and to help them advocate for policy action and social change. The choice of indicators was grounded in recent work on urban inequality and health inequality, which points to the significance of racial/ethnic disparities in health, educational, employment and housing opportunities across metro areas.  The project challenges urban researchers, policymakers and activists to define quality of life and health broadly -- to include opportunities for good schools, housing, jobs, wages, health and social services, and  safe neighborhoods -- to compare achievement across metros, and to make continuous changes to keep metropolitan life healthy for all populations. Public policies may enhance or harm the well-being of diverse populations. Important policy areas include neighborhood integration, residential mobility, anti-discrimination in housing, urban renewal, school quality and economic opportunities.  A new report from the Harvard School of Public Health scores the living conditions experienced by children in the 100 largest U.S. metropolitan areas. It reveals a consistently bleak picture for black and Hispanic children compared to white and Asian children and suggests approaches to address some of the factors behind whether or not a child thrives. Click here to read more.

Students Get More News in Classroom From Internet Than TV or Newspapers

A new survey by the Carnegie-Knight Task Force at Harvard University shows a strong movement in America’s classrooms toward the use of Internet-based news and away from the use of newspapers and television news, a trend that is virtually certain to continue. The study also shows that teachers, as they have moved to the Internet, have switched from using hundreds of local news outlets to making use of a small number of national ones. Internet-based news in the classroom is dominated by the websites of a few top news organizations including CNN, PBS, and The New York Times. In fact, the classroom use of non-U.S. websites, such as BBC’s, even exceeds the use of local TV or newspaper sites. The report is based on parallel national surveys of over 1,250 social studies, civics, and government teachers in grades 5 through 12, as well as several hundred Newspaper-in-Education (NIE) program directors at daily newspapers. The survey of teachers showed that half are making greater use o  f news today than they were a few years ago, an increase attributable to developments outside the school such as the war on terrorism and the fighting in Iraq. For over 20 years, hundreds of large and small U.S. dailies have provided free or reduced rate copies of their newspapers for classroom use by students through the Newspapers-in-Education program.  Touted as a means of improving students’ reading, spelling, and writing skills as well as contributing to civic education, it has also been a way to encourage students to become lifelong newspaper readers.  Most newspapers continue to promote hard-copy newspapers at a time when teachers and students are moving online. Click here to read more.

New Study of Gates Small High School In NYC 

In 2002, New York City initiated an ambitious campaign to transform its public high schools, which, on average, had been graduating only half their students. The lowest performing high schools in the City were replaced with new, smaller schools intended to prepare students for successful postsecondary study or work. But, have smaller high schools worked? A new WestEd study, prepared for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, examines 14 of the new, smaller high schools that graduated their first class in June, 2006. Data indicate that attendance is high, ninth grade promotion rates are high, and a majority of students are graduating. A significant number of those graduates are applying to and being accepted by postsecondary institutions, over half of whom will be the first in their family to attend college. The report, "Rethinking High School: Inaugural Graduations at New York City's New High Schools," provides a snapshot of the promise and impact of these small high schools in the lives of adolescent learners from some of New York's most underserved communities. Click here to read more.