High School Choice

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High School Choice

• 2006-2007

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Why is Choice Important?

• Districts turn to choice for multiple reasons
• Improving student learning and educational
  equity,
• Decreasing racial isolation and improving school
  integration,
• Improving student attendance as a result of
  students and parents choosing the school,
• Increasing parent support and involvement in
  schools,
• Providing alternative types of learning
  environments that may better match childrens
  needs,
• Promoting focused, cohesive school programs, and
• Encouraging student responsibility for the future

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Eighth Grade Applications

• 6,013 eighth grade students submitted high school
  choice applications
• 88 of BCPSS eighth grade students submitted high
  school choice applications

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Choice Placement Rate(Academic Entrance Criteria)
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Choice Placement Rate(Lottery Schools)
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Choice Placement Rate(Campus Choice)
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Choice Placement Rate(Audition Schools)
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High School Choice

• 2007-2008

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Five Types of High Schools

• High Schools without Entrance Criteria
• High Schools with Academic Entrance Criteria
• Career and Technology (CTE) High Schools and
  Programs with Entrance Criteria
• Performing Arts High School and Program
• Charter High Schools

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Lessons Learned

• All eligible 8th grade students will be able to
  select from schools and programs with and without
  entrance criteria.
• Most lottery seats are filled by applicants who
  list a specific school as a first choice.
  Students increase the chance for admission to a
  lottery school by listing the school as a first
  choice.

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Lessons Learned

• All 8th grade students and parents will receive a
  letter of eligibility, identifying schools for
  which a student is eligible to apply.
• Administrators and counselors at middle and K-8
  schools will receive an accuracy report to
  verify electronic applications submitted for
  students via the Citywide Program Application
  Tracking System (CPATS).

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High School Choice Timeline 2007 2008

• October 23-27, 2006 BCPSS 8th graders are
  administered Terra Nova exam
• October 2006 December 2006 High School Open
  Houses
• November 15, 2006 Information packets are
  mailed to private and parochial
  schools
• November 10, 2006 School Counselor
  Articulation
• November 18, 2006 High School Fair hosted at
  Baltimore Polytechnic - Western
  High complex from 9 a. m. to 1 p.m.
• November 14-16 2006 CPATS training for School
  Counselors
• November 2006 December 2006 School Counselors
  host informational sessions with
  8th grade students

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High School Choice Timeline 2007 2008

• December 12, 2006 CPATS training for Special
  Education Coordinators
• December 2006 Eighth grade students
  receive high school applications
• December 20, 2006 Letters of eligibility
  provided to School Counselors
• January 12, 2007 Deadline for submitting
  applications
• February 2, 2007 School Counselors to
  verify applications submitted
• February 16, 2007 Lotteries for high schools
  are conducted
• March 16, 2007 Admission status is
  received by 8th grade students

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High School Choice 2007 2008 Goal

• 100 Eligible 8th Grade Students will Participate
  in the High School Choice Process