Laura Edouard, Principal, flagged for the Committee that Quarter 4 grades for 11th, 10th and 9th grade closed this week, not allowing for that data to be shared at the June 2021 Academic Excellence Committee meeting. In the absence of that data, Edouard shared City on a Hill 12th grade trends with the Committee. These trends included, but were not limited to, 77% of seniors graduating in June, 6 seniors attending summer school to graduate in August, and 15 seniors returning to City on a Hill to repeat their senior year. 

Edouard then directed the Committee's attention to the NWEA MAP test, which is a state-aligned, computerized adaptive test to measure a student's growth over time. Edouard shared that City on a Hill's 9th grade performed better than 10th grade on the test. As a whole, the growth shown by students who took the MAP test for a second time this Spring was below the national average.

After reviewing the data, Edouard shared that the Leadership Team considered several factors that could have affected student performance, some of which include changing the testing format to test in large groups, administering the test directly after MCAS, and administering the test right before Quarter 4 finals. 

Edouard shared action plans that City on a Hill Leadership has formed for next school year after reviewing NWEA MAP data, which include, but are not limited to, continuing monthly grade level meetings with an amended format, using tutorial and outside providers to help fill in learning gaps, test students in class instead of a large group environment, and have both incoming and repeating 9th graders attend Freshman Academy in August. 

The Committee discussed using the MAP data collected this year to inform curriculum that is used for instruction during School Year 2021-2022. Edouard shared that City on a Hill has found outside consultants to work with the MAP data as well as look at the curriculum City on a Hill is using in tutorial classes. 

Edouard then shared an update around City on a Hill's summer school, which will take place from July 6-28th. Summer school will offer classes in Math, English, History, Science and Spanish. 101 students are enrolled in City on a Hill's summer school this school year, which is more students than what is average. 

The Committee discussed school curriculum, which includes a four week review of the course the student is enrolled in, with two benchmark tests to gauge for understanding. Edouard shard that the student would receive a credit if they pass both benchmark classes during summer school. 

The Committee then discussed the 15 seniors who will have to repeat 12th grade. Edouard shared they had over the accepted amount of classes to repeat in summer school in order to graduate in August. The Committee discussed the departments that still are hiring for School Year 2021-2022, which include English and Science. Edouard shared that the Leadership Team continues to recruit and interview to fill these positions in the coming weeks.