Long-range Plan

WALNUT HILLS HIGH SCHOOL

LONG RANGE PLAN

GOALS FOR 2021-2026

GOALS:

Curriculum

1. Maximize the value of a WHHS education for all graduating students.

Disciplines and Grades

A. Continue to ensure equal opportunity for academic success by establishing high expectations in all levels of all courses. Departments will ensure that students in all classes understand the prerequisites for advanced study.

B. Continue to establish high standards for writing, reading comprehension, and speaking across the curriculum.

C. Continue to quantify success at all levels by using disaggregated data on predetermined groups of students (gender, ethnicity, seventh grade enrollment, etc.).

D. Continue to enhance vertical teaming in each Department. Progression from college preparatory to accelerated and AP courses should be clear to students.

Students

E. Continue to encourage enrollment and commitment to AA and AP courses. Evaluate criteria for inclusion in the Honors program as well as the revised Honors arrangement of two groups at each level started in 2018-2019.

F. Continue to infuse the practice of uniform study techniques and skills (i.e. test taking, outlining, note taking, bibliography, research papers, etc.) throughout all grades and subject areas. Delineate uniform practices and expectations as part of the vertical teaming process.

G. Continue to require common assessments, portfolios, alternative assessments, etc. for academic courses. Tests should clearly measure adopted WHHS

standards and curriculum. Departments will review, analyze, and interpret results to improve teaching practices.

H. Continue to provide seventh, eighth and ninth grade coordinated planning and instruction in grammar through the English and Latin Departments.

Programs

I. Continue to maintain a study skills proficiency standard to determine which

incoming students in grades 7-9 require additional preparation for achieving success.

J. Create a summer study skill course for students new to Walnut hills in grades 8-12.

K. Continue to document articulation and alignment of curriculum within and across disciplines.

L. Continue to ensure that Fine and Performing Arts continues to be a quality component of a Walnut Hills liberal arts curriculum.

2. Continue to revisit the definition of a “classical education” and use this definition to guide curricular decisions.

3. Continue to be a national leading college preparatory school by providing an exemplary Advanced Placement program. Expect all graduating students to take at least one AP course. Continually monitor the existing program and explore new courses to meet the changing demands of higher education and the world. Expand AP Research across multi-disciplines. Require all AP students to take the nationally administered AP examinations in order to receive AP credit.

4. Continue to investigate adding influential, impactful world-wide languages to the Modern World Languages and Culture Department.

5. Continue to research methods for expanding a STEAM, and related courses, curriculum pathway.

6. Continue to utilize university partnerships to implement dual credit courses into the schedule to expand the range of student access to college credit prior to graduating from high school.

Teaching

Relating to Students

1. Continue to research innovative and best practices to provide a greater array of pedagogical approaches and to better meet the needs of the 21st century student.
2. Continue to evaluate and set appropriate student workload. Ensure challenging and consistent course requirements so that all students are prepared for the next level of work.
3. Continue to prepare students for success on standardized tests by incorporating test taking strategies and practice questions into the curriculum of WHHS courses and resources.
4. Identify students new to Walnut Hills in grades 8-12 and monitor progress throughout the year with periodic check-ins on induction process, wellness, and study skills.
5. Continue to incorporate and model necessary study skills for success with accelerated college preparatory curricula.

Departments

6. Continue to facilitate vertical and horizontal teaming throughout the departments regarding common course standards and their implications for the Walnut curriculum.

7. Continue to utilize teacher mentoring. Walnut Hills High School, working through Administration and Department Chairs, will use mentoring to foster greater assistance for teacher improvement for seasoned and novice teachers, and will encourage teacher collaboration to share best practices. Investigate utilizing outside resources. 8. Continue to improve teacher readiness to teach challenging curricula, such as AP and Honors courses, by supporting staff content area training.

School-wide Initiatives

8. Continue to promote a climate of full cycle assessment that honors critical reflection on disaggregated data analysis and provides a strong basis for shared decision making, goal attainment measurement, and that supports all segments of the school with clear evidence that informs key decisions.

9. Continue to strive for a greater racial balance on the faculty and gender balance in departments to be in line with the diversity of the student population and the mission of the school.

10. Continue to increase cooperation and collaboration within and between departments.

Facilities

1. Continue work on exploring options and advocating for solutions for enrollment so that total enrollment matches the facilities.
2. Continue to explore options to utilize the building in different ways to meet the needs of the student body, faculty, and support programs.
3. Create and communicate a viable plan for assessing buildings’ maintenance and repair issues on a scheduled basis. Prioritize and monitor ongoing progress.
4. Continue to update Facilities Wish List with specific projects and costs.

Marketing

1. Maintain a strategic, comprehensive recruiting program. Reach out to all qualified students throughout the greater Cincinnati area. This includes working closely with feeder schools to encourage students to attend Walnut Hills as well as advertising throughout the area.
2. Continue to expand the opportunities for recognizing and rewarding students, staff and alumni for significant contributions leading to innovation and excellence in performance by creating a system to get good news out both internally and externally through all media outlets.
3. Increase “Stakeholder” Communications. Provide a fall and spring “State of the School” report from the Principal concerning AdvancED and Long Range Plan progress to all students, faculty, staff, parents, alumni and CPS. Review achievements and solicit feedback for input to the ongoing planning process.

Support Services/Administration

1. Continue to identify and develop professional development opportunities addressing “Best Practices in Teaching” that support the mission and vision of the school and meet the needs of faculty, staff and administration in helping students achieve excellence.
2. Continue to develop a strategy that ensures all faculty members have a larger degree of input into the governance process so that all voices have a chance to be heard.
3. Continue to ensure that the school’s vision is actually guiding the teaching and learning process by looking at disaggregated data to determine if all students are learning at the same rate.
4. Continue to survey recent WHHS graduates currently in college and assess the “added value” of a classical education program on student success after a Walnut Hills experience and share results with stakeholders.
5. Expand exit interviews to include all departing students, staff and faculty and share results where appropriate.
6. Continue to expand tutoring and mentoring networks.
7. Continue to investigate opportunities for collaboration with the Evanston neighborhood and the wider Cincinnati community.
8. Continuously seek to enhance our ability to connect students with the college of their choice through work of the Counseling Department, College Information Center (CIC), Writing Center, WHHS Alumni Foundation, etc.