Falls Publishes Quality Profile
On Sept. 15, school districts throughout Ohio released a comprehensive, community-oriented companion to the Ohio School District Report Card.
Called a “Quality Profile,” the report includes additional accountability measures that better define a high-quality education and are not included in the state’s report.
Chagrin Falls Schools has placed its report on its website homepage under “Quick Links.”
The Quality Profile examines the elements, including results on standardized testing measures, of a quality public education, as defined by residents of the community.
It’s content is divided into six categories: academics, arts, student leadership and activities, fiscal stewardship, parent and community involvement, and student services.
“Public schools should be a reflection of the values and expectations of the local community,” said Superintendent Robert Hunt. “The profile allows us to annually engage the community in a conversation about how we define quality at Chagrin Falls. This profile should include the information our community wants to know about their schools.”
Over the last several years, participating districts have been surveying residents to determine factors they value in their child’s education that are not measured on the state report card. The result is an expanded report that describes, in detail, the programs and values of their school system.
Chagrin Falls Schools will utilize the recently developed Strategic Plan Advisory Council to annually provide input into information that should be included in the Quality Profile.
Now in its second year of development and being released statewide for the first time, the Quality Profile is supported by the Alliance for High Quality Education, an education consortium that works to improve educational opportunities for students and to speak for member districts on matters of educational policy and funding.
CFHS Students Shine
Of the 1.5 million entrants, some 50,000 with the highest PSAT/NMSQT Selection Index scores (critical reading + mathematics + writing skills scores) qualify for recognition in the National Merit Scholarship Program.
In September, these high scorers are notified through their schools that they have qualified as either a Commended Student or Semifinalist.
More than two-thirds (about 34,000) of the approximately 50,000 high scorers on the PSAT/NMSQT receive Letters of Commendation in recognition of their outstanding academic promise. Commended students are named on the basis of a nationally applied Selection Index score that may vary from year to year and is typically below the level required for participants to be named semifinalists in their respective states.
Although commended students do not continue in the competition for National Merit Scholarships, some of these students do become candidates for special scholarships sponsored by corporations and businesses.
Chagrin Falls High School students that received recognition in the 2015 National Merit Scholarship Program include Patrick Donley, Andrew Ganger, John Ganger, Sophia Gielink, Jon Karyo, Matthew Kohn, Abigail Meil, Andrew Moran and Devon Riegel.
About 16,000 students, or approximately one-third of the 50,000 high scorers, are notified that they have qualified as semifinalists. To ensure that academically talented young people from all parts of the United States are included in this talent pool, semifinalists are designated on a state representational basis. They are the highest scoring entrants in each state.
NMSC provides scholarship application materials to semifinalists through their high schools. To be considered for a National Merit Scholarship, semifinalists must advance to Finalist standing in the competition by meeting high academic standards and all other requirements explained in the information provided to each semi-finalist.
Chagrin Falls High School students that have been named semifinalists in the 2015 National Merit Scholarship Program are Jon Karyo and Andrew Moran.
College Application Boot Camp
On Aug. 28, the CFHS seniors participated in a focus day that jump-started their senior year and the college application process.
The morning began with a presentation by English teacher Dr. Shannon Beach delineating the senior “Capstone” research project and a college application overview by high school counselor Jennifer Newton.
Students completed a graduation audit and took an interest survey using their Chromebooks.
The rest of the day was devoted to work sessions for students to focus on a variety of tasks, including fine-tuning their resumes, editing their college essays, filling out college applications and consulting with the high school counselors.
The day culminated in the Performing Arts Center with a skit on proper college interviewing techniques.