The Top High Schools in Rhode Island 2014

GoLocalProv News Team and Kate Nagle

The Top High Schools in Rhode Island 2014

GoLocalProv's Fifth Annual Top High Schools in Rhode Island has looked at the numbers, and the grades are in -- Narragansett High School is at the head of the class of top high schools in Rhode Island for 2014.

SLIDES:  See the List of Top High Schools in Rhode Island 2014 BELOW

Based on a formula developed at Babson College to assess and weight each school's latest NECAP and SAT scores, plus per pupil funding, student-teacher ratios, and graduation rates, GoLocal has provided a comprehensive performance list of the state's public, charter, and technical high schools.

Steps to Success

So what makes a top high school?  GoLocal spoke with principals at schools in the top ten to get their insights as to what enables their schools to make the grade.

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"This is the 3rd straight year that Scituate High School is a commended school based on the RIDE classifications.  To my knowledge, SHS and Classical are the only high schools to be commended for 3 consecutive years," said Principal Mike Sollitto at Scituate High School, which finished 6th in the rankings.  "The success can be attributed to the culture of the building and the personal relationships between and among students and teachers.  Our faculty does great work in differentiating for all students and ensuring challenging and engaging classroom instruction."

Principal Michael Podraza at East Greenwich High School, which took the third spot on the list, spoke to evaluation -- and empowerment -- as the cornerstones of the school's success.

"While we are constantly reflecting on how we can sustain and improve in traditional standardized and summative measures, we increasingly use our recently developed core values about teaching and learning to guide us in developing empowering school experiences for all students," said Podraza.  "I am extremely proud of the steps we have taken, as we work to systemically provide students with opportunities to attain the skills necessary for success along the many different pathways available to them in the 21st Century."

Chart: See All the Data for Rhode Island's Top High Schools 2014 HERE

Westerly High School landed a top 10 spot on this year's list.
Chariho High School came in 10th on GoLocal's list, which saw an increase of graduation rate up a percentage point over the previous year.

"We have a strong administration team that's focused on students' first and a talented group of teachers to get better at what we do every day.  When people are focused around student achievement data -- and performance in the classroom every day -- and adjusting the instruction based on that, we get better at supporting kids where they're at and need to be," said Chariho principal Laurie Webber.  "Every year, every class, every day, they look different.  Kids aren't widgets, they're people."

Principal Steven Ruscito at Westerly High School, which claimed the sixth spot in the rankings, spoke to leadership structure -- and attention to attendance -- as key areas of excellence at the school.

"We have created the structure here at Westerly. I meet with my leadership team three times a week, where we monitor data, use very specific protocols when reading research, brainstorm, and back brief each other of meetings we have with colleagues, departments, guidance, students and parents. We model the protocols in our leadership meetings that I expect department heads to use when facilitating discussions with their teams," said Ruscito.  "Digesting educational journals and essays is part of our practice; leadership team as well as school wide. We pilot programs and activities and collect data against these palettes to make decisions that we would like to implement schoolwide. We've put in place a school improvement team made up of students parents and teachers.

Ruscito continued, "We have a very deliberate and comprehensive attendance monitoring scheme. There's action taken by staff when a student is absent three days, five days, seven, 10 and someone that it involves the nurse guidance counselors deans, and social workers.  Increased attention on attendance has reduced absences and tardiness and when students are in class they are more likely to learn and demonstrate their learning whether it be with internal assessments or external as in NECAP tests."

Christine Lopes Metcalf, who is the Executive Director of the education advocacy group RI-CAN, provided her perspective on the wins -- and needs -- in the state.

"One of the biggest points of success in secondary education has been the sharp rise in graduation rates in some of our urban areas. Since 2007, districts such as Central Falls and Pawtucket have seen about a 20 percentage point increase which are some of the highest increases across the state," said Metcalfe.  "The next biggest challenge for all our schools will be the continued implementation of the new higher state standards, known as the Common Core. These standards are more aligned to college and career readiness and we will need to work hard to make sure all kids are prepared and graduating with the tools they need for success in the world in which they will live and work."

Schools on Challenges

What are the challenges facing the top schools to keep achieving high marks?
While the schools at the top acknowledged their achievements, the principals also noted the challenges that they face in striving for greater success.

"In my opinion, our greatest challenge is one that is faced by all schools in our society today. Our challenge is to constantly and meaningfully evolve amidst the rapid pace of change that exists in the world while we continue to maintain our traditions, legacies and essential purpose," said East Greenwich's Podraza.  "We must find new ways to work collectively to personalize educational experiences and to empower each individual with knowledge, skills and dispositions to make meaningful contributions to our culture, government and economy through intrinsically motivating experiences that drive their learning. While this evolution is a challenge, it is also one that our educators relish."

The new Common Core State Standards and PARCC assessments were mentioned by principals as being a key area of focus. 

"Our biggest challenge is to fully align curriculum with the Common Core State Standards throughout all subject areas as we work towards full implementation of CCSS," said Scituate's Sollitto.

Chariho's Weber added, "We're getting ready for PARCC assessment -- we've been implementing common core as we continue to learn more and how its assessed, we'll continued to refine our approach.  It's a constant state of examination and reexamination."

Stakeholders on Gains and Needs

Anna Cano Morales with the Latino Policy Institute at Roger Williams University, who last year released the state's first Latinos Student Achievement report, spoke to the gains made since then. 

"The three urban districts that are educating the great majority of Latinos (Pawtucket, Central Falls and Providence) have all taken steps to ensure that they take heed to the demographic changes and the recommendations of the report," said Cano Morales.  "More good news is that Tolman and Shea High School are making great strides and gains. In addition, Blackstone Academy recently received a commendation from RIDE for their academic success with their students, and they recruit from Central Falls and Pawtucket.  Pawtucket schools kicked off a diversity task force led by Interim Supt. Patti DiCenso, and the first meeting drew over 70 parents and community members!"

"Central Falls High School saw a graduating class of 150 last week and another 25 or so will graduate in August, and we have our first grad going to Harvard!" continued Cano-Morales.  "It’s not as clear cut as a list, but there are amazing things happening in our urban schools every day and LPI is pleased to see the positive results."

Editor's Note: Blackstone Academy Charter School was also a commended RIDE high school three years in a row, in addition to Scituate and Classical. 
 


Top High Schools in Rhode Island 2014

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