Washington state has recognized 22 schools – including six in Pierce County – for their creativity and new ideas.
The Legislature created the Innovative Schools designation this year, and Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn announced the first round of designees Nov. 18. Winners include:
Bonney Lake High School, Sumner School District.
Clover Park High School, Clover Park School District.
Helen B. Stafford Elementary School, Lincoln Center at Lincoln High School, the Science and Math Institute (SAMI) and the School of the Arts (SOTA), all in the Tacoma School District.
Tacoma had more schools named to the list than any other school district.
Here are descriptions of the schools, based on information provided by the school districts:
Bonney Lake High School is one of 1,200 schools in the nation that operate under the High Schools That Work design.
It encourages students to complete core academic studies as well as courses in an area of concentration, offers work-based learning and study in high-demand career and technical fields.
Teachers work in cross-disciplinary teams. Most students in ninth and 10th grades have a teacher team for their core classes. Teams share the same students and meet regularly to discuss student achievement.
The school-wide student mentor program pairs every freshman and new student with two or three upperclassmen to help them transition into high school. The school recently began to define and teach literacy in different disciplines.
Clover Park High School welcomes ninth graders to its Warrior Academy, a five-week summer program that teaches high school-level study skills. They enroll for the school year in a ninth-grade academy that continues the focus.
In 2010, Clover Park created a school-wide program emphasizing science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). A team-taught algebra class designed for English language learners lets students work without the impediment of a language barrier.
The school is exploring use of a free Internet-based tutorial program. Three days a week, students can stay an extra two hours after school for individualized help with their work.
Helen B. Stafford Elementary School challenges students to demonstrate mastery of skills through performance, projects, technology and the arts, as well as through traditional means.
Stafford employs the arts to broaden student engagement and help level the playing field for English language learners. Teachers may stay with the same students for multiple academic years.
Lincoln Center is a school within a school at Lincoln High School, Tacoma’s most ethnically diverse and highest poverty high school. Lincoln Center works to ensure that every student gains the skills needed to succeed in college.
Lincoln Center students attend school from 7:35 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, attend a summer school program that begins in August, and several days of Saturday school each month.
SAMI emphasizes science and math as central elements in academic achievement and life-long endeavors. SAMI offers advanced training in science and math, along with technology and engineering course work.
It uses its location in Point Defiance Park as an outdoor lab.
SOTA offers advanced arts training, aims to connect students to the larger community and to build a creative learning community in downtown Tacoma.
Students choose from one of nine art majors: dance; theatre; vocal music; traditional music; alternative music; audio recording and song writing; painting and drawing; graphics; photography and video.
In addition to full-time arts teaching staff, the school contracts with adjunct artists, who teach additional classes.
Debbie Cafazzo: 253-597-8635
debbie.cafazzo@thenewstribune.com
