They’re Moving On Up
Test scores, academic offerings keep soaring at Crown Point High Crown Point High School has always been known for top-notch academics, but it’s really on a roll these days. Four years ago, the school offered six advanced placement courses; in 2006-07 it will offer 22 courses ranging from European history to environmental science. “Anyone who reads current research understands that educators need to do a better job challenging our youth,” says Principal Ryan Pitcock. “We feel this charge includes increasing our high-end offerings.” But that’s just the start of the good news.
The school has grown by between 100 to 120 students each year for the past five years, and test scores continue to climb. “Students are scoring as high as any student class in Crown Point history on the standardized AP exams that the College Board puts out,” Pitcock says. “Generally, your scores might come down when you increase the number of students – but we’ve found just the opposite to be true. We’re testing more kids, and our scores are going up.” Eighty percent of Crown Point High School’s 2,200 students passed the Indiana Statewide Testing for Educational Progress (ISTEP+), which represents a 7 percent increase over the past three years.
Crown Point students’ SAT and ACT scores are also at all-time highs, and students are achieving the more rigorous Core 40 and Academic Honors diplomas in steadily increasing numbers. “Just a few years ago, 44 percent of our kids were completing Core 40 diplomas. Next year, that figure will be closer to 80 percent,” Pitcock says. “Eighteen percent of our students earned Academic Honors Diplomas a few years ago. Next year we anticipate that number to be 35 percent.” The school started academic teams three years ago, including Quiz Bowl, Super Bowl, and speech and debate teams – all of which have qualified for state-level competitions. Music, drama and athletics programs are also strong. In fact, opening weekend performances for a production of Fiddler on the Roof drew nearly 2,000 people to the 700-seat auditorium.
“We have a student body that supports the programs and wants to be part of the programs,” Pitcock says. “We have great faculty sponsors and a great talent pool of kids.”
Ultimately, the school’s goal is to work with students and parents to develop educational plans that are rigorous and appropriate for each student’s given ability level, Pitcock says. “By doing so we have kids stretching themselves like never before – and they’re surpassing previous highs in student achievement.” Story by Rebecca Denton
Photo by Brian McCord
A Unique Partnership
Test scores, academic offerings keep soaring at Crown Point High Crown Point High School has always been known for top-notch academics, but it’s really on a roll these days. Four years ago, the school offered six advanced placement courses; in 2006-07 it will offer 22 courses ranging from European history to environmental science. “Anyone who reads current research understands that educators need to do a better job challenging our youth,” says Principal Ryan Pitcock. “We feel this charge includes increasing our high-end offerings.” But that’s just the start of the good news.
The school has grown by between 100 to 120 students each year for the past five years, and test scores continue to climb. “Students are scoring as high as any student class in Crown Point history on the standardized AP exams that the College Board puts out,” Pitcock says. “Generally, your scores might come down when you increase the number of students – but we’ve found just the opposite to be true. We’re testing more kids, and our scores are going up.” Eighty percent of Crown Point High School’s 2,200 students passed the Indiana Statewide Testing for Educational Progress (ISTEP+), which represents a 7 percent increase over the past three years.
Crown Point students’ SAT and ACT scores are also at all-time highs, and students are achieving the more rigorous Core 40 and Academic Honors diplomas in steadily increasing numbers. “Just a few years ago, 44 percent of our kids were completing Core 40 diplomas. Next year, that figure will be closer to 80 percent,” Pitcock says. “Eighteen percent of our students earned Academic Honors Diplomas a few years ago. Next year we anticipate that number to be 35 percent.” The school started academic teams three years ago, including Quiz Bowl, Super Bowl, and speech and debate teams – all of which have qualified for state-level competitions. Music, drama and athletics programs are also strong. In fact, opening weekend performances for a production of Fiddler on the Roof drew nearly 2,000 people to the 700-seat auditorium.
“We have a student body that supports the programs and wants to be part of the programs,” Pitcock says. “We have great faculty sponsors and a great talent pool of kids.”
Ultimately, the school’s goal is to work with students and parents to develop educational plans that are rigorous and appropriate for each student’s given ability level, Pitcock says. “By doing so we have kids stretching themselves like never before – and they’re surpassing previous highs in student achievement.” Story by Rebecca Denton
Photo by Brian McCord
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A Unique Partnership