Text Box: Student Development         Since all students are continuing to develop cognitively, SFHS asked the question, what systems might it create to support growth?  Answer: Engage in High  Schools That Work initiatives, offer tutoring, flex schedules, recruit students back into school, offer an 8-9 acceleration program, create a writing center. Relationship Building               Foundational to building trust in a school, is building trust relationships.  The challenge was how to create a system that supported this. For SFHS, that meant deprivatizing practice through Smaller Learning Communities, 8th grade transitions, parent online access to grades and attendance, an advisory program, an Administrative Liaison, a JAG Counselor, Behavioral counselors, and community mentors.

Text Box: South Florence High School (SFHS) in Florence, SC has improved graduation rate 21.8% in four years through focusing on systemic changes that are designed to build trust. School initiatives are best divided into four categories: professional development for staff, second-chances for students, student development, and relationship building.  Professional Development for Staff SFHS set a goal of building capacity in adult and student learners, both as individuals and as members of a community. To support this goal, school staff has participated in trainings in Cognitive CoachingSM, Adaptive Schools, 16 Habits of Mind, Ruby Payne, Multiple Intelligences, curriculum integration with arts, technology, and service learning. 

Text Box: Second-chances for Students South Florence High School believes that the phenomenon known as “readiness to learn” occurs at all ages, not just pre-school.  8.5 Bridge Program, credit recovery, attendance recovery, exit exam remediation, begin-again classes, and summer school provide flexible opportunities to meet students when they are affectively and cognitively ready to move forward toward their goals of promotion and graduation.

Text Box: Florence School District One

Text Box: Florence, SC

Text Box: Www.fsd1.ORG/SOUTHFLORENCE

 

2005-06

2006-07

2007-08

2008-09

Graduation Rate

58.1

74.4

74.9

79.9

Ninth Grade Promotion

81%

90%

91%

95%

# of Drop Outs

85 (5.4%)

42 (2.7%)

21 (1.3%)

47 (2.9%)

Attendance

95.2%

95%

95%

95.1%

Student Population

1560

1563

1535

1577