Verdugo Hills High School WASC Self-Study Page 1

Verdugo Hills High School WASC/CDE Self-Study Report2010, will be completed by the Italian teacher for the next school year.The English Department has revamped their departmental assessments toinclude four tests given at the end of each term of English 9AB and English10AB. The ninth grade assessments are multiple choice tests and cover thecore literature of the department. Furthermore, the students are expected towrite an essay addressing the prompt that they are given. The tenth gradeassessment is a creation of CAHSEE questions and also include prompts thatthe students are expected to write on. The English department decided todevelop their own assessment to further challenge VHHS students andfurther instill in the students the importance of being able to write ondemand. This practice is something that will aid them when they take theCAHSEE, SAT, and courses in college.A few key factors that have worked in our favor and allowed us to make sureour course of instruction are aligned with the CDE State Content Standardsare our Copernican Schedule which allows our faculty to meet andcollaborate during school hours, moving our staff development to Tuesdaymornings which we have found to be more productive, the establishment ofan Instructional Cabinet made up of department chairs, SLC leads,counselors, and administrators that work together to ensure our school ismoving forward, and the establishment of CAHSEE and CST prep classesthat prepare the students for three weeks before each test. Furthermore, toaddress and support our BB and FBB population, each SLC has established aday of conferences where students who score at these levels or are failingmore than one class are called in and counseled and encouraged. Studentsmeet with teachers in English, Math, Social Science, and Science. Theteachers shared CST scores with the student, encourage them to scorehigher, and discussed classes where the students needed to improve. Thisprogram is successful because it urges the students to see the importance ofthe CST and to realize that their teachers are concerned stakeholders in theeducational process. It also is an opportunity to hold students accountablefor their grades and scores on the CST because the students become awareof their significance and importance.While the focus group recognizes the need for continuous improvement andrefinement of VHHS’ instructional program, the school continues to improvein all the leading indicators: graduation rates, CAHSEE pass rates, API, AYP,Verdugo Hills High School WASC Self-Study Page 115