<p>As I am sure some of you know Newsweek has published its annual list of America's best high schools. I don't want to know what you think of the methodology behind these rankings but rather what do you think of the current climate in public schools and how things can be improved? My vote is for a semi-segregated school dividing students based on goals, learning ability, etc. </p>
<p>I will my high school as an example. There are approximately 850 students in the entire school. Of that 850, 70+% are black and approximately 29% are white and less than 1% are hispanic. The vocational program at my school is a decent one enrolling primarily minority students. The students in these program usually go on to the local junior college and some will go on to a four-year university. Overall however, for most students at my school a high school diploma is the highest degree they will achieve. </p>
<p>Time and again it has been shown that if you challenge students they do better, my school is resubscribing to this philosophy for the first time in nearly 40 years. Now it's time for a little history lesson about my town. Until the intergration movement the blacks students went to a seperate high school and it was a rather good one. The school was one par with, if not better than, the white high school in town. But following the combining of both schools the quality of education has dwindled in my town and county.</p>
<p>Fewer and fewer minority students went to college as time progressed and now that rate is climbing, slowly. </p>
<p>However, my school still has some severe problems in my humble opinion. One of the most pervasive is the lack of black students in upper level classes.<br>
I am the only black student in my graduating class who will have take all honors and advanced placement classes offered at my school. I know this post is becoming rather race-centric but this because of the example. I have had several discussions with my fellow students and we have all came to the same coclusion: why are we the only ones concerned about this? The administration in my school is more concerned with achieving state mandates rather than improving the achievement of it's students. </p>
<p>In Mississippi in order for me to graduate I must pass a battery of state tests. Now mind you these tests are written on an eight grade level and cover information learned in the eight grade. The teachers at my school are solely concerned with ensuring that the majority of students passed these tests that the more advanced students at my school have been neglected. Therefore I propose the creation of a school within a school. This school would serve the more advanced students. Also schools should take into account students who have no desire to go to a four-year college. At my school there are many students who want to be mechanics, chefs, and the like. These students should be enrolled in the core curriculum for grades 9 and 10. Then in grades 11 and 12 they should take 4 core classes at the high school and then go to the local junior college and take classes in their career paths. This serves three purposes. 1) It allows student to receive a high school diploma and be able to participate in high school. 2) Students have a jump start on their chosen path by becoming certified in their fields of interest. 3) This will allow students to see their options and access their goals. When I talk to students in vocational programs many of them come to school so they can take their vocational classes, in which they usually excel.<br>
A standard education does not benefit these students.</p>
<p>I have more ideas but this post is long enough. I will add them later. Responses are welcome and appreciated.</p>
<p>No kidding. I think that is everyone here's secret dream. Or at least mine. I am stuck in Kentucky in a school oriented toward reducing the number of <em>blank</em> state-mandated tests by 5%. 5%!!!!! What the crap? We just have a weight of 100 or so people who just leave their tests.... blank! Yes! So our school is freaking out b/c we aren't meeting our accountability standards, and money that would be used for more AP teachers, or "advanced" science (all physics is independent study) is being wasted on trying to convince these people to at least attempt the questions.</p>