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Spring 2008: Special Report on High School Transformation

February 2008: Special Report on High School Transformation

In this special report, Catalyst explores the rollout of CPS' latest effort to improve high schools. Extensive data analysis fill out this year’s annual school report card, as well as buttress in-depth reports on how High School Transformation is working at Marshall High School.

Special Reports

Transforming Marshall High School This year, some 300 freshmen enrolled at Marshall High in the rough East Garfield Park neighborhood. If current trends hold steady, 84 will be absent on a given day, just 18 of them will pass state tests as juniors, and only 120 will end up graduating within five years—even fewer in the traditional four, as the Class of 2011. But Marshall is aiming to beat those odds. The High School Transformation Project has brought new resources, teacher training—and a glimmer of hope—to the struggling school.
Lost and left out The new curriculum introduced under High School Transformation does little to address the learning needs of special education students or students who are significantly below grade level. This poses a problem at schools like Marshal where special ed students make up 26 percent of the freshman class.
Getting into trouble At schools participating in the transformation project, absenteeism is a significant problem caused by a mix of suspensions, unexcused absences and class cuts. CEO Arne Duncan says the transformation project’s focus on curriculum is part of the district’s bet that if classes are more engaging, students will show up and behave.
Big dreams, long odds Lack of rigor at Marshall High School is just one barrier to a teen’s goal to reach the Ivy League. So far, it’s unclear whether the district’s high school reform strategy will address the academic needs of motivated or above-average students.
High School Report Card This year Catalyst Chicago analyzed reams of data on high school demographics and performance. Our findings fill out this year’s annual school report card.

Letter From the Editor

Enrollment X factor undermines efforts to improve high schools Frankly, we were stunned when Associate Editor Sarah Karp first reported in the Catalyst Chicago newsroom that there were so many incoming 9th-graders registering late at Marshall High School that the freshman class nearly quadrupled within the first month. Only 85 were pre-registered when Marshall opened its doors on the first day of school Sept. 4. A month later, on the critical 20th day, when budgets are locked for Chicago public schools, the freshman class had mushroomed to some 322 students. Unfortunately, this is no isolated occurrence.