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Smaller, Safer, Saner, Successful SchoolsKey architectural features. Formany years, the city of St. Paul hasconstructed and operated recreationcenters in various neighborhoodsaround the city. Typically these facilitiesinclude a field house with a basketballcourt, craft studios or classrooms,and a large field with spacefor football in the fall and hockey inthe winter. Young people generallyuse these recreation centers afterschool, in the evenings, on weekends,and during vacations.The WPA constructed a recreationcenter and located it in a low-incomearea on the city’s East Side in1940. In 1992, the city permitted severaleducators to create a new publicschool for about 100 secondaryschool students in the center. Thecenter’s three-story facility and outsideathletic field had not previouslybeen used during school time. Thefounders proposed to use the facili-38aties from Monday through Friday, duringthe morning and early afternoon(i.e., school time) and agreed to paya modest amount of rent. The cityagreed, figuring this was a win-winsituation.Impact on students. City Academystudents are all either former dropouts or students who had been toldto leave large traditional schools. Inother words, these young people arenot just “at risk,” they have experiencedsignificant problems in theirlives. Never the less, the school hasproduced dramatic improvements inthe students’ skills, knowledge, attitude,and behaviors. For example, forevery year the average student attendsCity Academy, her or his scoreson standardized tests improve twoyears.More than 90 percent of CityAcademy's graduates have continuedtheir education beyond highschool. Some graduates return to talkwith current students, and one CityAcademy graduate joined theschool's faculty.For further information. ContactDirector, City Academy, 958 Jessie St.Paul, Minn. 55101; (651) 298-4624.www.cityacademy.org.37a, 38a, and 38b: City Academy,the nation’s first charter school,shares facilities with a recreationcenter. Serving students with challengingbackgrounds, City Academyhas a highly individualized curriculumthat rewards students who makeprogress in their apprenticeships.38b38
SUMMARY OF RESEARCH ON SMALL SCHOOLS AND SHARED FACILITIESClark MontessoriCincinnati, OhioMaria Montessori's philosophyhas inspired many parents andearly childhood educators.However, the Cincinnati PublicSchools has created one of the nation'sfirst Montessori public middleschools, and the nation's first publicMontessori high school, which arehoused together.About 300 students attend the juniorhigh school, and about 250 attendthe high school. Educators sayMontessori philosophy is central tothe schools' vision, philosophy, andoperation. Faculty want students tobe productive, healthy, happy, contributingpeople. Approximately 50percent of the students are AfricanAmerican, and 50% white. The completerange of academic skills is represented.Any student may attendthe schools. However, priority is givento students who've attended aMontessori school. Key elements ofthe schools include.which they study for college entrancetests, write college essays, visita variety of colleges and talk withadmissions counselors. Seniors do careerinternships in two fields that theychoose to help investigate post secondarystudy options. In the spring,intersessions are elective courses. Inthe past, students have, visited civilrights movement historical sites, livedwith Hopi Indians in the southwest,studied flora and fauna of CostaRica, hiked the Atlas Mountains andcamped with a group of Berbers,and gone to Appalachia to study theculture, work on a Habitat project,and hiked sections of theAppalachian Trail.Extensive use of community experts.For example, a psychologisthelped students study challengesteenagers face, and present this researchat a national conference.To help students learn to live in,learn from and contribute to theircommunity, junior high students mustcontribute 36 hours of communityservice per year and high school studentsmust contribute 50 hours/year.Active, hands on learning. The juniorhigh school has a steel drumband has received a great deal ofrecognition, including being asked toplay at the New Orleans Jazz andHeritage Festival, and many events inthe Cincinnati metropolitan area. Theband has produced a "cd" which itsells to raise money.Seniors have a major year longproject of their choice, which theypresent in May. Extensive opportunityfor students to assess their work.Students tell teachers what gradethey would give themselves. Whilefaculty make the final decision, theyhelp students learn to look carefully,honestly and critically at their ownwork.Architectural features: Clark presentlyis in a temporary location whilea new facility is being built.Measures of Effectiveness: TheExtensive use of the outdoors.Twice a year the high school has twoweeklong intersession (2 weeks) thatinvolve intensive study of one subject.In the fall, students are involved inthese immersion courses by gradelevel in order to work with their advisorsand build community with eachother. Freshmen work on study skills,community building, service projectsfor the school and strengths assessments.Sophomores do an “urbanplunge” community service, juniorstake a college prep intersession in39a39
Page 4 and 5: For copies contact:National Clearin
Page 7: Table o f ContentsAcknowledgements
Page 10 and 11: 66a
Page 12: Summary of Researchon Small Schools
Page 22 and 23: Smaller, Safer, Saner, Successful S
Page 29 and 30: School Case Studies
Page 31 and 32: SUMMARY OF RESEARCH ON SMALL SCHOOL
Page 41: SUMMARY OF RESEARCH ON SMALL SCHOOL

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