In concert with national efforts to build up and maintain academic standards of student learning, South Arbor Academy employs the National Heritage Academies Curriculum, a recently released standard of learning designed to graduate 8th grade students at the 60th percentile of academic performance—an achievement level ensuring success at the college level. What is the impact of this curriculum combined with South Arbor’s no excuses approach to education? During the 2007-2008 school year, South Arbor had 86% of our students achieving or surpassing a national norm academic growth target, placing South Arbor at the 98th percentile among schools across the nation. This target is established using the Northwest Education Association’s Measures of Academic Progress standard testing process. Norm growth targets based on a norm study comprising over a million students defines academic growth expectations. South Arbor also was third among the 229 Michigan Charter Schools on the Michigan MEAP assessment. The bottom line: Students are learning more and at a greater pace at South Arbor Academy.
Ypsilanti's South Arbor Academy students are provided every opportunity to excel to their greatest potential. How? One important way is the use of Math and Language Arts Achievement Levels to create classrooms where teachers are able to work with students at their own instructional level, not beyond it—missing instructional needs and creating frustration, nor below it —limiting possible development and creating boredom. Students enter a fluid instructional program based on their current achievement level and advance to the next through classroom instruction which meets their individual needs.
The 2008-2009 school year also saw the South Arbor Community of students, parents, teachers and staff achieve the recognition of National Heritage Academies’ School of the Year. This award is a result of the collaboration, hard work, and common vision of excellence which create a powerful Culture of Success that we have together created at South Arbor. Our students are challenged, engaged, supported and succeeding through our common, daily commitment to their learning needs.
South Arbor also received NHA’s Eagle Awards for Parent Engagement, Academic Proficiency and Academic Growth. The Parent Engagement Award acknowledges those schools with over 60% of parents indicating a ‘Highly Satisfied’ response to the Overall Satisfaction query in our 2008 Parent Satisfaction Survey. 63% of South Arbor parents expressed being ‘Highly Satisfied’ with our program. The Academic Proficiency Award is earned by leading a percentage of students to achieve at or above the grade level norm in Reading and Math above an exemplary percentage expected for similar schools. Based on schools similar to South Arbor, this award required 94% of students at or above grade level in Math and Reading—we attained 95%. The Academic Growth Award was received by our achieving a level of student learning growth which placed South Arbor at the 90th percentile among schools nationwide. The real message these awards communicate: South Arbor Academy students are learning at a level far surpassing national and regional norms.
In the 2008-2009 school year, South Arbor Academy was once more awarded as School of the Year by National Heritage Academies.
To see how your elementary or middle school child can benefit from a superb Ypsilanti charter school, visit South Arbor Academy today. |
