Transforming Tar River Academy: A Path to Student Success

1. An Alternative Road to Success: Tar River Academy Brian Hopkins, Principal Jeannie Kerr, School Social Worker

2. Agenda • Our past • Who are we now? • How did we get here? • Organizational Strategy • Instructional Strategies • Community and Parent Involvement

3. In the Past • High drop-out rate • Graduation rate of 50% • Majority of students had severe behavioral problems • Low proficiency rate • Low attendance rate • Teacher absentee rate of 7%

4. Who Are We Now?

5. Current Data • Graduation rate of 75% (25% increase) • Student Absentee rate decreased by 5% • Behavioral Referrals decreased by 2/3 • Steady trajectory of student growth • Teacher Absentee rate of 4.7%

6. Demographics • Race/Ethnicity: • 74% African-American • 15% Caucasian • 8% Bi-Racial • 3% Hispanic • 26% Aged 18 or above on first day of school (only 9% were 12th grade) • 50% identified EC • Low Income (88.79% free/reduced lunch) • Majority have a history of behavioral, emotional, family and/or academic problems

7. Academic Barriers • Transitional group • No consistent cohort • Majority behind 1-2 grades • High % of students projected to perform below proficiency on assessments

8. Graduation and Beyond - Video

9. How Did We Get Here? • District assembled an investigative committee representing all departments and professions • Visited alternative programs in Virginia and North Carolina • Researched model schools and school improvement intervention models • Developed plan and submitted to district • Restructured the school

10. Organizational Strategies • Title I Priority School • School Improvement Grant Transformation Model • Tar River Academy composed of three programs • High School • Middle School • Day Treatment • District created a separate after-hours program for students with severe behavioral problems

11. Change the Culture “We are going to have students visit colleges, not prisons.”

12. New Structure • Majority of students apply to TRA. • Superintendant placement an option. • If applicable, BIP or EC identification process completed by base school. • TRA Application Review Committee reviews all applications and meets with referring school personnel. • Population is balanced – majority of students focused on graduation. Small percentage referred due to behavior.

13. Focus on Students’ Needs • Intake conducted with student and guardian. • Clear transition goals set. • Students stay through graduation or time designated to transition back to base school. • Classes are small and teachers provide one-to-one assistance. • Remediation available. • Incentives set for student success. • Student Support Services works closely with individual students to meet basic needs.

14. TRA: Three Programs • High School • 21-Credit Diploma • 4 core classes • Art, PE, CTE • APEX • Middle School • 4 core classes • Art, PE, CTE • Day Treatment • 4 core classes • Art & PE • Evidenced-based Therapeutic Services

15. Instructional Strategies • APEX Learning Program • Corrective Reading • Paideia Method • Extended learning time • Access to technology for differentiated learning • PLC-lead instructional change based on data review • District Educational Specialists one-on-one support for teachers

16. Academic Growth - Video

17. Community and Parent Involvement • Strong partnerships with community agencies • Parent Involvement Council • Community Outreach Fair (winter) • College and Career Fair (spring) • College Tours • Moms on a Mission • Field trips • Donated goods to assist students’ basic needs (food closet; clothes closet; hygiene closet; school supplies; baby supplies)

18. Student Support - Video

19. Contact us: Tar River Academy 224 S. Pearl St., Rocky Mount, NC 27804 (252) 451-2875 Brian Hopkins bkhopkins@nrms.k12.nc.us Jeannie Kerr jhkerr@nrms.k12.nc.us