Woodrow's IB decision: Miracle on Glasgow or racist plot?
Our posts (click here and here to read them) and our podcast (click here to listen) about Woodrow Wilson High School's decision to become an International Baccalaureate school, and DISD's support for the move, prompted quite a bit of discussion on theDMN's education blog yesterday.
Much of the discussion on the DMN blog centered on the wisdom and rigor of the IB program, with a few comments thrown in suggesting that white Lakewood parents have seized on offering the IB program as a way to "cleanse", if you will, the student body of purportedly low-achieving minorities.
Read more about the IB discussion on the jump:
A few other comments suggested that even if purging minorities isn't the intent of parents and/or administrators, that could well be the effect because IB is a demanding program that, the comments seemed to presume, a lot of minorities won't be able to negotiate even if they're given a chance. And then there were a number of comments supporting the decision and praising the school's willingness to develop a program that could raise the bar for all students.
The discussion is mostly civil and interesting, and it's worth taking a look if you have a couple of minutes.
DISD constantly takes the rap for poor student performance, but if we don't give all students a chance to improve themselves, we're never going to improve the district. If you don't think that's possible, you aren't alone, but you aren't doing much to kick the ball forward, either.
That's what Woodrow's adoption of the IB program says to me: The school, its administrators and teachers are continuing to raise the bar, but they don't spend 24 hours with the kids and can't be expected to work miracles. Inevitably, as in any program regardless of rigor, some students will succeed and some will fail and need alternatives (which are readily available in DISD).
Instituting an academic program that requires all students, regardless of income or ethnicity, to work diligently to excel is exactly what DISD should be doing every day in every school.
- Posted by Rick Wamre on Feb 11, 2009 at 04:15 AM in DISD, Education, Neighborhood, Podcast, Wamre, Advocate Mag, Lakewood - E Dallas
- Woodrow takes another step toward IB designation
- IB, academies to be discussed at Woodrow Wilson open house
- Woodrow choice forms due Feb. 26
- Comments (15)
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Comments
Much of the discussion centered on this excerpt from Tuesday's article " those who are unable or unwilling to learn at either level will be asked to select
another "redesigned" high school that might offer a program or level of academic rigor more in line with that student's ability or willingness to achieve."
Did Vail say this or not, either in the podcast or otherwise?
The concern about changing Woodrow's student body may be more about economic than ethnic factors. IB is often considered more rigorous than AP and right now only 37% of WW's students taks AP and only 44% of those kids make a "passing" score of 3,4,5. Thats 16% of the student body. Only 55% of graduating seniors take the SAT of ACT and 34% of those make a college ready score. Thats 19% of the grads. Less than 60% of students graduate in 4 years. It looks like there's going to be a lot of work to do if all students will be successful in a program that demands the same or more than AP. I really do believe that any student with good basic skills and ability can be successful in a demanding program if they are willing tomake the effort. At the same time, when we look at large populations instead of the individual kid, research tends to show that parents' income and education are among the best predicters of sucess on measures like the SAT. There will be some students from the Lakewood side of campus who will bomb. Some from the East Dallas side will shine but I'm afraid they may be the exceptions unless the school can provide a lot of extra support.
@Socialstudies - There will be other pathways at Woodrow that students can take. Just because the IB program is offered at WWHS, does not mean a student has to take it.
Shouldn't a school be at least deemed "academically acceptable" or greater before engaging in a program like this? It seems like they are skipping a few steps of progression.
Joy - Thanks for the clarification. It still seems to me that this will require a lot of resources for a very small number of students. The instructional materials, course expectations and evaluations are likely to be very different from what students have encountered before. Teachers will require several out-of-district staff developments on an annual basis and extra planning time. Before jumping in, WW and Dallas ISD might do better to target several middle schools where the IBO's Middle Year Program could be phased in. Then a larger and broader group of students might be prepared to be more successful at the IB level.
Not making any comments on how this will affect the school, but I am very excited about this. I have a young daughter, and I have been planning on her going to Lakewood Elementary, but wasn't sure what would be next. By the time she is in Long or Woodrow, if this IB plan works, it will be going full bore then - which could literally save me tens of thousands of dollars in private school tuition, and probably add a lot of value to my house. I hope, hope, hope it works out.
@SocialStudies - we gotta start somewhere. We are targeting Long Middle School and several teachers/staff have already gone to an orientation on the IB program. Keep in mind that students from around the district can apply to the program so anticipation of a very small group enrolling is unlikely.
@RickC - Woodrow was deemed academically acceptable last year. We have around 700 students in pre-ap or ap classes which is half of Woodrow's student body. So we are making progress.
@jnw32 - Do more than hope it works out. Get involved. The IB program costs money. We have alums and community donations already, but every little bit helps.
A couple of notes:
Regarding the accountability programs and their designations of "Academically Acceptable" and "Adequate Yearly Progress", please note that the subgroups that have been scoring at or below the levels needed to obtain these designations have been confined to the 9th and 10th grade. All groups in 11th and 12th grade score well above the mandated minimums. This can only be a testimony to the results of the effectiveness of the academic environment at Woodrow once students have been immersed in it for a time.
Secondly, this isn't an either/or proposition. Woodrow will continue to serve as a comprehensive high school and will continue to offer academic opportunities to students at all achievement levels. Just because opportunities are created for the highest achieving students does not mean that the others will be neglected. Likewise, under the Accountability Programs, the achievements of the highest performing students cannot offset or dilute the impact of under-performing subgroups when it comes to achieving "Academically Acceptable" status. Like I've said before, love 'em or hate 'em, these No Child Left Behind programs are very effective at just that. You can't ignore or neglect anyone or your designation is in danger.
Based on reviews at other schools where the IB program has been successful, we expect the IB program to serve as an attraction to allow us to recruit and retain top teachers at all levels.
Norman,
The fact that juniors and seniors do so well can also be attributed to lower performing students dropping out, resulting in a higher percentage of students performing well in the upper grades.
Rick - you didn't seem well-informed about Woodrow's TAKS rankings, now you are postulating negatively on Woodrow's success in getting kids on track by junior and senior year.<br><br>Are you worried that kids will 'drop out' of your private school and "Choose Woodrow"?
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Well, I guess someone needs to dig out the data and prove me wrong. I will gladly stand corrected since it shows better management of my tax dollars.
According to the DISD website, the newest data (2007) they have shows Woodrow as Academically Unacceptable. I used this info as I assumed DISD would have updated their successes as soon as possible.
http://www.dallasisd.org/inside_disd/depts/evalacct/data/ratings.htm
The TEA website now shows 2008 data which shows Woodrow as Acceptable. I guess that is improvement and some kudos should be given. Congrats.
Secondly, are you saying there are not fewer Seniors than when they were Freshman or Sophomores? I would guess (logically) that many kids drop out after their Sophomore year. These are not A students. Those are students that do not care and frankly dragged down the entire test results. Removing them from the equation makes the entire average go higher. Pretty simple math if you ask me and very logical.
I think the IB program could be great for a small subset of students who have the drive and I hope it succeeds. It will not change the overall success of failure of the school.
That dropouts are indifferent, low performing students is a stereotype. Certainly many are, but in an urban school you also lose those would can and would stay and contribute, but who feel they must leave due to personal and family crisis, especially to take jobs and help support their families. I won't argue that the school's test scores are helped some by the stereotypical dropout, but to use that to explain away the academic gains evident in the test scores is nothing but cynicism and diminishes the accomplishments of a dedicated school faculty.
Norm, not only is your statement correct about students dropping out to support their families--their families EXPECT them to drop out and start working. When we can change this mindset and it won't be for another generation or two, we will see better results.
One key point absent from this discussion is that Woodrow's redesign is federally mandated to be open enrollment.
The IB program is optional. Students from all over the district can apply and diversity is at the top of the list of priorities for any DISD school redesign.
In a time of what seems to be endless lowering standards to help students make it to graduation, this is a welcome alternative. Woodrow had 535 AB Honor Roll students last six weeks,the vast majority were Hispanic. I see them every six weeks come to get their recognition rewards and they are very proud. And the beef about raising the bar to offer IB along with AP to help any student who wants to go further is what exactly....? Creating options for more curriculum subjects hurts whom? Certainly not the 535 kids who made Honor Roll last six weeks.