Learning Forward
Equity and excellence in teaching and learning.
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Successes at Vestal Central School District
- In 2004, 80% of seniors earned a Regents diploma, New York’s graduation standard for all students who pass five challenging examinations in the major disciplines. A total of 88% entered postsecondary schools.
- Students’ average SAT score in 2004 was 1,115 — 89 points higher than the national average.
- The district’s dropout rate was less than 1% in 2004, experiencing only slight fluctuations over the past decade.
- During the past seven years, the International Baccalaureate, Advanced Placement, and Honors programs have flourished in scope and number. For example, 36% of sophomores, 53% of juniors, and 56% of seniors now take at least one IB or AP course. In comparison, in 1998, only 25% of Vestal high school students took honors courses. Vestal has seen a 78% increase in the number of these courses since 1998.
- In 2005, Newsweek ranked the high school among the top 1,000 public high schools in the United States.
References
Coppola, A.J., Scricca, D.B., & Connors, G.E. (2004). Supportive supervision: Becoming a teacher of teachers. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.
Mary M. Survey is assistant superintendent for instruction for the Vestal Central Schools. You can contact her at Vestal Central Schools, 201 Main St., Vestal, NY 13850, fax (607) 757-2222. Surdey’s phone is (607) 757-2221, e-mail: mmsurdey@vestal.k12.ny.us.
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