CENTER HIGH CENTER 26 JT
CENTER HIGH CENTER 26 JT
IMPLEMENTATION LEADS TO SIGNIFICANT GAINS IN STUDENT OUTCOMES
Center High understands that health and wellness skills are integral to academic and lifelong success .
Center High collects and utilizes a variety of data sources . These data drive the Unified Improvement Planning process ( UIP ) and goals are created to guide efforts that develop and implement systems that better meet the academic needs of students . For years now , the data have pointed to focusing on the social , emotional and physical needs of students in order to increase academic success . Because of this , a health-related goal has been included in the UIP , which has elevated the importance of school health , guided decisions , and garnered consideration in budget decisions . Under this goal , strategies have been outlined around : quality physical and health education for all students ; physical movement ; nutrition ; and , socioemotional wellness .
Students are included in the UIP process . In fact , students analyze the Healthy Kids Colorado
Survey ( HKCS ) data . This year , they noticed the low level of parental support . Center High administration began implementing personal home visits as well as folders to send home that include information about what the school is offering in terms of after-school programming , mentoring , health initiatives , etc . Parent engagement has gone from 30 % to almost 79 % of parents in activities .
The goal and objectives alone have not made the impact , however . Center High School is working to provide the needed resources to students . They received a grant for an additional counselor and implemented an advisory program . They are working to effectively teach health education to all students and in doing so , aid students in connecting choices they make now to their future opportunities ( e . g ., teen pregnancy , drug and alcohol use , etc .). This intentional effort to connect to student ’ s future goals led to significant improvements . In 2004 , 20 % of students went to post-secondary education or joined the military . In 2016 , graduation rates were up to 93.3 %! Dropout rates are down , graduation rates are up and more young people are seeing a vision for their future . At same time , HKCS data show decreased substance abuse rates and county data shows a statistically significant drop in teen pregnancy .
Center High is having a direct impact on their youth . The school is a six-time Healthy School Champion . Prominently and proudly displayed in its hallways are its winner banners . “ Champion ” is part of its identity .
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