|
INTERVENTION SET FOR FAILING L.A. HIGH
| |
Suzan Filipek
|
LOS ANGELES HIGH SCHOOL opened in 1873, making it the oldest in the city.
A 40-percent drop out rate and low student test scores have prompted state and federal agencies to require Los Angeles High School to make some serious changes. “It’s been identified as a low-performance school. It needs some form of intervention,” said Douglas Waybright, director of Local District Three which oversees the campus for the Los Angeles Unified School District.
It’s a sad turn of events for the 137-year old school and the city’s first public high school, according to Bruce Corwin. He is president of the board of a trust willed to the school in 1895 by Alice Harrison.
Educators are weighing four options: finding a partner to help manage the school, replace its faculty and administration entirely, transform it into a charter school and closing it altogether. The latter two options are not realistic, said Waybright, as it is unlikely any one will step up to take the site over as a charter. And closing the campus is also not practical in a city the size of L.A.
Its year-round calendar which was in place to combat overcrowded classrooms, ends this month, thanks to the opening of the Kennedy School at the former Ambassador Hotel property last year. Its student population has dropped from about 3,000 pupils to 2,400 expected in the fall.
Administrators hope test results show improvement when released in August. “What we’d like to see is an upward trend,” said Waybright.
Strategies aimed to combat the high drop-out rate include changing schedules to meet the students’ needs. For instance, allowing them to make up credits during the school year, rather than only in the summer. Often if a student fails an algebra or English class, which are among the most challenging, they give up altogether, said Waybright. Many of the students first language is Spanish or Korean.
Opened in 1873, it is the oldest high school in the city. It moved to its present location in 1917.
Roman Circle to aid campus
L.A. High students from the class of 1958 are working to save their school. The 12-member group formed during its 50th reunion, called itself the Roman Circle and formed a student, faculty, alumni and community outreach: Alumni on Campus. The group seeks a matching grant to jumpstart students scores and achievements and provide mentors and tutors.
“We’ve got tens of thousands of years of life experiences. That should be worth something,” says Roman Circle member Ken Marsh.
“Two decades of year-round classes—eliminating extra-curricular and afterschool programs—five different principals in 10 years and diminishing funds have taken a toll,” the group says.
A school newspaper and drama and choral clubs are just a few of the activities missing on the Olympic Blvd. campus. Among the Alumni’s objectives is establishing an archive of student art, music and other works and developing a communications network. The first-year budget is $24,000.
For information e-mail romancircle@ymail.com.
|
|
Home
Current Issue
