| Amanda Grace hears the kids at other schools make fun of Northwest Area High School.
They find it funny that there were only 1,518 students enrolled in the Luzerne County school in the 1999-00 school year -- and that everyone at the school is on a first-name basis. They also get a kick that the rural school, tucked off a back road in Shickshinny, has been known to have buffalo from a nearby farm and wild turkey roam in its front schoolyard.
"We're looked down upon by other schools because we're smaller," says the 17-year-old Northwest senior.
But when Amanda starts talking shop -- courses, test scores, educational opportunities -- they are not laughing for long.
"It's better being smaller," she says. "We don't have people afraid to go to school. Because we're smaller, we get more one-on-one instruction. We get to have more things that they don't have at bigger schools."
It is that private-school atmosphere that Northwest educators point to as a secret for their success.
The results of an extensive computer analysis show Northwest surpassed its target or predicted Scholastic Assessment Test score by 70 points -- more than any of the 37 districts in the seven-county region. The district had an average SAT score of 1011 last school year one of the highest scores among the 37 districts and above the state average of 994.
The computer analysis, done by Times-Shamrock Newspapers, looked at 480 school districts in the state, using the widely recognized software program, SPSS. After examining the correlation among more than a dozen variables, the analysis determined that Northwest's average SAT score should have been 941. A perfect SAT score is 1600.
The variables included per-pupil expenditures, percentages of low-income students, attendance rates, teacher-student ratios and percentages of students taking the SATs.
"We're a small, cohesive community with active parental involvement and a very active School Board," says Northwest Superintendent Rob Gardner. "Part of our strength is the sense that the community is responsible for helping its kids succeed."
SOME SCORES OFF
The analysis also shows that Northwest was above its predicted scores for the mandatory Pennsylvania System of School Assessment tests in fifth grade reading and math but missed its target scores in the eighth and eleventh grades math and reading.
"We try to raise the bar for everybody and we talk about personal accountability," Mr. Gardner says. "We're trying to raise our expectations more."
Northwest educators do not have an explanation as to why the eighth and eleventh grade assessment tests are low, while the fifth grade ones are much higher. Several steps are being taken to try to improve those test scores, but it is not the primary focus of education in the district.
"We're not designing our curriculum after these tests," Mr. Gardner says, adding that the district is rewriting its curriculum to make sure classes remain small and that it is aligned with new state academic standards. "Certainly we want to do well and we have a history of doing well. But success is not just based on tests. We've had kids get close to 1500 on the SATs and get a 75 in a course."
Rather than focus its curriculum on teaching students how to succeed on the SATs and state assessment tests, the district thrives on giving its students a balanced education.
"Our belief is that success on tests comes from a strong curriculum," Mr. Gardner says. "We don't have SAT coaches. We don't offer special SAT courses. We do focus on developing strong reading and writing skills. But we integrate courses."
The district's high school curriculum is similar to the courses offered at colleges or costly private schools. Besides the basics -- math, language arts, science, social studies, health, physical education -- there are classes in the environment, ecology, music theory, composers, computer science, sociology, agriculture, horticulture, psychology and business law.
The district also offers classes that integrate more than one academic area and are taught by two teachers, which is rare in public high schools. For example, Northwest students can take a seminar in English and science, which gives them credits in both fields. Students can also take the history of mathematics, which gives them credits in both math and social studies.
Northwest students also take college-level courses through distance learning. In one classroom, a computer is hooked up so that the students can attend classes at area colleges without leaving their high school.
"They fax us the tests and we communicate with a keypad," says Northwest senior Emily Ciak. "We can talk back and forth with the professor. I already have 21 college credits. It's wonderful."
Many of Emily's friends are jealous when she tells them she is graduating high school with so many college credits.
"Lots of schools don't offer distance learning," she says. "Some kids don't even know what that is. We have the edge."
Like other districts, Northwest students can also take advanced placement classes in various subjects. The students can earn college credits if they score high enough on the AP tests.
OUTDOOR SCIENCE LABS
There are also outdoor science labs where students learn firsthand about wetlands and the environment. One group of eighth graders was outside collecting leaves to identify as part of their class assignment.
Northwest teachers are also dedicated to the students and are a veteran staff, he says.
"Our teachers are not here just 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.," says Andrew Sorber, Hunlock Township Elementary School vice principal. "They are here in the evenings, for meetings, for talent shows, spelling bees. They are very dedicated. There's a lot of teaching that goes beyond the regular school day."
The district also has a strong commitment to the arts, Mr. Gardner says. Students are selected to participate in state chorus programs and one high school student is waiting to have his musical composition published, he says.
In the high school cafeteria, a group of advanced art students work on murals. The students recently completed one mural, which was a painting of the Statue of Liberty and an American flag.
"We believe the arts are connected to academic success," Mr. Gardner explains. "Many schools have decided not to have art and music in elementary schools. Rather then delete it, we've added more."
Next year, all Northwest elementary students will also take Spanish, following a successful pilot program this year, he says.
"We know languages can be learned better at a younger age," Mr. Gardner explains.
Parental involvement is also strong within the district, Mr. Gardner says. The Parent-Teacher Organizations take a strong leadership role and plan many events for students, he says.
The PTOs hold a Reading is Fun carnival each year for elementary students. Students who read books throughout the school year receive tokens that can be used at the end-of-school carnival, says Mr. Sorber.
"It's a very good incentive for kids to read," he says.
The district is in the process of upgrading its technology and has hired a technology coordinator and a full-time technology teacher for the elementary schools.
"We don't believe curriculum should be technology driven," Mr. Gardner says. "It's the other way around."
Despite the academic opportunities in the district, many Northwest students do not go on to higher education. With about 60 percent of its 1998-99 graduates pursuing higher education, Northwest has one of the lowest percentage among the 37 area public school districts.
Mr. Gardner says that trend is changing, as more Northwest students are pursuing higher education. However, given the rural makeup of the school district, there are still many students who go into agricultural jobs following high school graduation, he says. The district has one of the largest geographical boundaries; some students live 45 minutes away from their schools.
The district also has a high percentage of low-income students -- about 33 percent, which is above the state average of 31 percent.
"We have rural poverty," Mr. Gardner explains. "Generally for high SAT scores, the predictor is high family income. I think we buck that trend because we have so many parents involved and they have huge hopes for their kids."
HIGH PER-PUPIL SPENDING
The district also has one of the higher per-pupil expenditures -- $7,818 -- among the 37 districts. It is, however, below the state average, which is $8,323.
"We try to balance students' needs with the desires of taxpayers," says Northwest School Board President Peter Grella. "We haven't spent foolishly."
The board is committed to making Northwest a model district, but not by compromising students' education for high test scores, he says.
"It's either testing for dollars or teaching for life," he says. "We believe in teaching for life." |
