Welcome
Westmont High School
Parents
2014-2015
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
How were we able to make this
happen?
Criteria
2013-2014 School Year Data
Graduation Rate
Advanced Placement Program
PSAE Scores
Graduation
Rate
Graduation Rate
99.0 %
Advanced
Placement
Program
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)
Washington Post Challenge Index
Score
Most
Improved
In
Illinois
From .56 to
3.01
<------------We will be
about right
here
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***
Why take AP classes?
Impress Admissions Counselors
•
Develop College Level Academic Skills – Prepare for College
•
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Take more elective classes in college
•
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Choose a major sooner
Add a minor or second major
•
Create a stronger and more rigorous academic environment at
W.H.S.
•
•
•
Save money!
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.
Why take an AP test?
•
Prepare for the college experience
•
Low risk – choose which exams to report
•
•
•
•
College credit
Advanced Placement Scholar
Promote Westmont as a Top Performing
School
College – Reputation as a school, which will
increase college admissions opportunities.
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)
PSAE
Highest Test Scores in
School History
Overall Score
69%
meets and exceeds
•
Previous high was 66%
•
(graduation rate 90%)
13 year average was 58%
Reading
Math
(second highest)
76%
63%
meets and exceeds
meets and exceeds
•
•
Previous high was 70%
13 year average was 61%
•
•
Previous high was 67%
13 year average was 55%
◄ WHS 2014
◄ WHS 2014
Highest Science Scores in School History
More Accomplishments to Celebrate
Sponsored 2nd AP
Conference
•
Lowest out-of-school
suspension rate
•
•
Athletic Success
•
Innovative Programs and
Summer School
•
AP Grant- 3 rounds
totaling $140,000 in
competitive grant funding
•
All but one student from
WJHS selected WHS
Positive
relationships with students
Teacher interventions and support
A commitment to helping students succeed
Athletic Successes
Competed Down State:
•
Boys’ Cross Country
•
Girls’ Cross Country
•
•
•
Wrestling
Boys’ Track
Girls’ Track
Baseball
_________________________
•
Girls’ softball won
Sectionals
•
Innovative Programs
Change Makers
The Garden
Summer School
Programs and Attendance
Program
# of Students
Credit Recovery
23
TEAM
26
AP Human
Geography
23
Math Jump to
Honors
22
Summer Literacy
11
TOTAL
105 students
How did we do it?
“Whatever it Takes”
philosophy
Focus on learning
for all
Smart Goal Process
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
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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
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
Thank you for all your
support
Here are some things we need from
parents to continue this
momentum…
The 12 Touchstones of Good
Teaching
Be Demanding – Section 1
“The general principle that emerged from the studydubbed 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, Rafe Esquith, 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.
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)
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)
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)
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.
Let’s Celebrate …
An Amazing Year
Thank you for all you
have done and will
continue to do for our
students!