Racial diversity in advanced classes still a challenge at HPHS

On November 14, the Highland Park Board of Education focused on four achievement reports presented by the district's principals for the 2010-2011 academic year.

The reports indicated mixed results for the various grades tested, Assistant Superintendent Karen Lewis said. Only the high school scores classify as reaching Adequate Yearly Progress levels, Lewis said, “but it’s only one grade tested there,” possibly distorting the value of the raw statistics.

Ms. Lewis also reported that New Jersey's current proficiency tests may be abandoned or dramatically revamped. State education officials "are already talking about not giving the state test, as it’s not going to align with the common core standards,” she said.

The Common Core State Standards (www.corestandards.org) nationwide initiative that has been adopted by 45 states, including New Jersey, and the District of Columbia. The common standards are intended to provide clarity and consistency "to prepare our children for college and the workforce,” according to their website.

In the local district, Lewis explained, a number of recent changes have been implemented to improve overall academic performance as well as test scores. Better curriculum alignment between the Middle School and HPHS is one completed example, with a similar effort now underway to build continuity between Bartle Elementary and the Middle School.

Another recent change in the elementary school last year was in its ability groupings for math and language arts. The previous system, Lewis said, "put students in high level math with no criteria, and then they were not checked on . . . . It was important to change that system.” She added that in the Middle School, for the first time there are criteria on entering into math groupings.

While the High School met its federal Adequate Yearly Progress goals, it was less successful with broadening black and Latino students' Advanced Placement (AP) and Honors participation. According to the report by Principal Frederick Williams, the school's target was to increase minority participation by 5%, but the number actually dropped by 1% this year. Williams reported that out of 38 new AP and Honors seats, only two were filled by black or Latino students.

Williams explained that there had been a minority population in the advanced courses last year, but that “not grouped together, they lost enthusiasm and moved back.” Moving more easily from College Preparatory classes to Honors "(has) been a problem for years here,” Williams said.

Board members asked the principal about recruitment efforts, and recognized the difficulties for students. Board member Chandra Pointer-Titus commented on the difficulties students face: “You can’t just throw them in to sink or swim. Other levels of support have to be there.”

On this topic, Ms. Lewis later commented, “When I met with counselors, I looked at Algebra II . . . there were three African-American students and they had them in three different classes.” She said that, “The Guidance Department is now aware of that and are looking at all the attributes to being successful.”

Among other issues discussed was the involvement of the Board of Education with other community members in opposition to the Tikun Olam Charter School proposals. It was agreed that the Board of Education would work to have its official position published, opposing the charter school published. There was also mention of the November 29 public meeting on the subject at Bartle School.

Prior to the above-mentioned forum at Bartle, board president Catherine Bull was scheduled to meet with school board members of Edison Township and of New Brunswick, together with members of Speak Up Highland Park, a local group organized to stop the Tikun Olam charter initiatives.

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