despite low grad rate in trenton public schools, city charter to see all seniors graduate - smart electronic whiteboard

Tom seknett is the meal of time-
The city's public school graduation rate was as low as 48% last year, but at a charter school this year, officials expect to graduate not only every 12 days
Grade students can also see all 17 continue to 4-year colleges.
"There is no secret of what we do," said Graig Weiss, principal of the Foundation College Middle School . ".
"It's really hard to work.
"We will not make excuses for why our students have not and will not achieve, because we believe in setting high expectations for our children in behavior and academics.
When you have high hopes for your children, they will definitely meet the challenge and our students prove it year after year, "he said.
The charter school, founded in 2007, has only one secondary school that handles about 100 children in grades 5 and 6, Wes said.
More grades are added every year.
Now, seven years later, there's a high school.
Basic College-
There are a total of 531 students in a middle school.
Officials plan to add a K-
In August, the second grade of primary school brought another 268. children.
"We are very excited about opening the kindergarten next year, because historically, we started from middle school, and when we let students enter the middle school, many students are already lower than the typical fifth grade.
So with them, we play catch. Okay. "Said Wes.
In last year's eightask eighth grade standardized test results, basic intermediate students in Trenton and other city schools scored far above average in literacy, science and mathematics.
The numbers are amazing.
In terms of mathematics, the proficiency of the Foundation's students was 66% points, compared to 23% points for the Trenton students.
Across the state, the average level of the subject, 69% skilled, is only a few points higher than the foundation's results.
Although this school can't cherry
Wes said that the selection of the best students from the public school population, the charter managed to get good grades from most grades, and his secondary school dealt with students from grades 3rd to 5.
He said that the foundation's focus in doing so was on measuring results, teacher responsibility and the "no excuse mantra" across the school ".
Wes worked for the foundation for five years and in July he will be promoted to CEO from the position of general manager of middle school and middle school district.
According to Weiss, the foundation is different in many ways from other public schools.
The students of the Foundation have a longer day to go to school from 7: 15. m. to 4 p. m. —
8 hours and 45 minutes-
Additional assistance or detention for an additional hour.
In contrast, the average class time in public schools is about 6 hours.
The school year of the foundation is also longer, with 200 school days;
The minimum requirement for public schools in New Jersey is 180 days.
Earlier this year, the government
Chris Christie said that a school day and a longer school year in New Jersey benefit all students and help them perform better and be more competitive.
The governor said he was working on a proposal with state education commissioner Christopher Cerf to submit it soon.
Wes said the value of making children spend more time at school is very clear.
"Obviously the more time we spend with the kids, the more we can make sure that, you know, they're learning what they need to do to prepare for college," he said.
"To get these things done, we have a longer school day and a longer school year.
"Charter schools are similar to public schools because they are funded by the state, but they have more freedom to develop their own educational methods.
Teachers in charter schools do not have to meet the same qualifications as teachers in public schools.
Principal Nicole falcona said high school students at the Foundation are very concerned about moving forward to higher education.
Juniors and seniors leave campus at noon on Monday, Wednesday and Friday to attend community university courses and receive university credits.
"The university is definitely what we do at the Foundation College, and we see that it has achieved results and we see its vitality," Falconer said . ".
According to Falconer, the high school will be in its first graduating class this year, with all students enrolled in higher education programs and some students receiving scholarships of up to $20,000.
This high school is very technical.
Said falcona.
Sophomore students have their own electronics.
Electronic whiteboards are used in each classroom and teachers are equipped with laptops, smartphones and personal websites to help them teach.
Basic middle grades also place special emphasis on individual achievements, focusing on the strengths and weaknesses of each student and adjusting their curriculum accordingly.
Most of them are done through rigorous data collection of students throughout the school year, Weiss said.
"When a teacher said, 'Well, I taught it, 'we want to say,' well, you taught it, but did the children learn, where is the evidence that students learn this material? " Said Wes.
"This data allows us to meet students accurately and move them forward.
"Instead of teaching in textbooks, teachers in secondary schools use a" teacher resource room "where they can customize the teaching materials to meet the needs of students," said Wes.
However, the textbook is still used in high school, Falconer said.
Reading skills are a very important focus on the foundation's intermediate campus, especially when students will spend three hours a day in various reading and writing classes.
The school uses the "guided reading" course to divide students at different reading comprehension levels into different groups and assign different books to challenge their skill levels.
Lisa Pope is a writing teacher at a middle school.
The Pope said she was moved by the Foundation's opposition. the-
The board promised to give students access to higher education and the freedom she gained in teaching.
"What I like most about school is the commitment that we have to meet with students on their personal level," Pope wrote in an email interview . ".
"As a teacher, I was not kept in a box;
I am free to create and innovate.
Wes said he was excited about the future of the Foundation College, although the hard work will continue.
"We do this because we love our children and we want to see them succeed and have the opportunity to be like kids in West Windsor or Princeton.
"These are the opportunities that Trenton students absolutely deserve," said Wes . ".