Welcome to INNOVATOR, an update on secondary school change from the North Carolina New Schools Project. Our newsletter is designed to inform practitioners, policy makers, and friends of public education on innovation, research and success stories from secondary schools. Please feel free to contact us, provide feedback and suggest article ideas.
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Lesson from the field: Why science matters
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 | Kirk Kennedy
Teacher
East Duplin High |
What do a chemical company in the Research Triangle Park and a biology classroom in Beulaville in rural Duplin County have in common?
That is the question I was asking myself before entering into a two-week externship this summer with BASF. But after working with the scientists there, it became clear that they - like my own students - conducted experiments and recorded observations on a daily basis. Though I always knew that the skills I teach my students are important ones, now I know that they are also relevant with real-world applications.
I was awarded the opportunity to observe at BASF after being selected as a Kenan Fellow through a partnership with the NC New Schools Project and the NC Department of Public Instruction. My work with the fellowship requires me to construct a project-based lesson on genetics, and BASF is a rich environment to study biotechnology in action.
While I observed a great deal of work in the field of genetics, I took away a great deal more that I can share with my students. The first thing I noticed when entering BASF was that science concepts such as gene mapping, cloning, gel electrophoresis, experimental design, and many others were actually being used in the "real world." This was the first time I had ever seen "real" science taking place outside of the classroom. Now, I can do more than just tell students about gene mapping, cloning, and recording observations, I can give them examples of how it is being applied.
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NCNSP partner schools show strong results
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North Carolina's innovative high schools continue to demonstrate strong results, according to recently released state data for the 2011-2012 school year, with graduation rates for most above the state's overall showing and improved outcomes on ABCs accountability measures.
With North Carolina reaching a new high-water mark with a four-year graduation rate of 80 percent, the state's innovative high schools that are partners with the NC New Schools Project posted a combined graduation rate of 88 percent - up from 85.6 percent for the class of 2011, according to an NCNSP analysis of data from the Department of Public Instruction.
Among the 76 break-the-mold schools with graduating classes this spring, early college high schools graduated 93.5 percent, while more than a dozen STEM schools open long enough to graduate full cohorts had a graduation rate of 91.6 percent. Including a number of comprehensive high schools that joined NCNSP as partners this past year, the overall graduation rate for all 26 STEM schools was 84.3 percent.
Graduation rates, 2009 to 2012
NCNSP partner schools were also well represented among the state's top performers on the key outcome of graduation. Of the 161 high schools statewide with graduation rates of at least 90 percent, 55 of those - about a third - were either early college or STEM high schools that are partners with NCNSP. More than two thirds of the 76 NCNSP partner schools with graduating classes this spring - 53 in all - achieved graduation rates of at least 90 percent.
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Report: NC faces economic challenges
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A new report suggests that while North Carolina remains one of a few states in the South at or above the national average for jobs requiring at least some college, it may lose that edge by 2020.
The, report, "Breaking Out of the Low-Skill Trap in the Southern Economy," from the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, underscores the vital link between education and high-skill jobs.
The report predicts that 65 percent of jobs nationally will require some postsecondary education and training by the end of the decade, but the proportion of those jobs in North Carolina will be about 61 percent, little changed from current levels. Three areas of the South are projected in the report to exceed the national average: Washington, D.C. (76 percent), Virginia (68 percent) and Maryland (66 percent).
While North Carolina will continue to fare better than most southern states, the report suggests that the Tar Heel state faces similar challenges, though perhaps less severe.
"Without a trained workforce," the report says, "industry has little reason to locate or expand in a given state, virtually guaranteeing slowed economic growth." And conversely, "over the long term, slow and consistent increases in postsecondary attainment can address the problem by attracting high-value-added industries to a state."
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Students: High marks to innovative schools
 Students from more than a dozen innovative high schools that are partners with the NC New Schools Project gave high marks to their schools on a survey of students in nearly 100 schools nationwide.
On key measures in the survey, called YouthTruth, the median North Carolina innovative school showed more positive responses than the median for all schools nationally that participated. In all, 16 NCNSP partner schools were included in the survey, with responses from 3,042 students attending those schools.
The median responses of the 16 NCNSP partner schools landed between the 85th and 90th percentile for all schools (slightly above or slightly below) on areas that North Carolina's innovative high schools are designed to improve for students, such as school culture and academic rigor. Overall, students attending most NCNSP partner schools express very positive perceptions of their schools.
Among key findings were these:
- Options after graduating (Degree to which students agree that they will have more options after graduation because of what their school has done for them.) 88th percentile
- Quality of education (Degree to which students believe they are receiving a high-quality education.) 90th percentile
- Relationships with teachers summary measure (Describes quality of teacher support and personal attention.) 86th percentile
- School culture summary measure (Schoolwide culture that fosters respect and fairness.) 85th percentile
- Preparedness for the future summary measure (Degree to which students feel equipped to pursue college and careers.) 93rd percentile
- Rigor of classes and instruction summary measure (Degree to which students feel their teachers have mastery of course material and assign meaningful, challenging work.) 87th percentile
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Data Snapshot
Teachers' views ...
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The 2012 NC Teacher Working Conditions Survey found that teachers in NCNSP partner schools had more positive opinions than their counterparts in other high schools when asked to consider statements about two key issues: "Overall, my school is a good place to work and learn." "Professional development enhances teachers' abilities to improve student learning."  Source: NCNSP analysis of 2012 NC Teacher Working Conditions Initiative survey |
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Learning by doing
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 | Amayrani Calvario
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| Amayrani Calvario is one of 18 rising seniors at the City of Medicine Academy in Durham who recently completed a summer internship in a nearby medical facility. Under the close guidance of her preceptor, or mentor, Amayrani spent four weeks gaining hands-on experience inside the operating room of North Carolina Specialty Hospital, where she observed surgeries and assisted with patient care.
"The internship made me realize that I'm definitely interested in a career as a surgeon," Amayrani said. "Of all the experiences I've had at CMA, this was the most motivating. I got to see stuff that really interested me." When asked what her biggest lesson was, Amayrani didn't hesitate: "Patience. I learned it's best to do things right the first time, to take your time and do them carefully. The patient's safety always comes first. Really for everything you do in life, you have to have patience."
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