Verdugo Hills High School WASC Self-Study Page 1

Verdugo Hills High School WASC/CDE Self-Study Reportanalyzed for all exams in Algebra I and Geometry AB classes. Mathematicsteachers use a common departmental scoring rubric for all departmentexams. Weekly course meetings allows for mathematics teachers to reflectand adjust their instructional strategies accordingly.The social studies department administers all 10th grade social studiesstudents the LAUSD District assessment. The 11th grade teachers usedepartment-generated periodic assessments. They follow a calendarschedule or pacing plan that tries to ensure that all teachers have coveredthe material students will be assessed on. The periodic assessments are inaddition to regular classroom exams. The social studies department alsouses a common writing plan that aligns with the English Department.The science department has created assessments for each of their coursesand is in the process of implementing them. In Physics, there are fiveperiodic assessments currently in use. Intercoordinated Science has fourperiodic assessments which can be implemented. Chemistry and Biologyhave three periodic assessments each of which were completed in Spring2012 and Fall 2012 and are to be fully implemented by Spring 2013. Thescience department has created these assessments using test bankprograms that allow multiple versions to be created and used. Once theseassessments are all in place, the department will use them to collect data.The collection of data derived will be used to improve instruction in thecoming years.The Foreign Language Department has created a curriculum which includes apacing plan, common assessments, and benchmarks for levels 1 and 2 inSpanish and level 1 in French. The Foreign Language teachers are currentlyworking on level 3 curriculums for Spanish with a level 3 French to follow.Assessment in all levels and languages, including the Spanish Speakers 1and 2 levels and the AP Language and Literature, is done orally, in writing,and auditorily. Additionally, teachers use individually created assessmentsthat also challenge the students and help them become better criticalthinkers. Level 1 Italian has been reinstated into the Foreign Languageprogram for the 2012-2013 school year. With the current budget crisis, ithad been phased out in the 2011-2012 school year. Italian curriculum,pacing plans, and common assessments, which were initially worked on inVerdugo Hills High School WASC Self-Study Page 114