Southwest and Central Union High Schools
Central Union High School District - El Centro, California
Number of teachers: 177
Student population: 2,118
- 84% Hispanic
- 12% Caucasian
- 2% African American
- 2% Asian
- 33% English learners
- 48% Free or reduced-price lunch
During the 2000-2001 school year, administrators, academic coaches, and teachers at Southwest and Central Union High Schools began collecting and analyzing classroom practices data using Teach for Success. Following each observation, an academic coach gave the teacher specific feedback, coaching the teacher on strategies to improve instruction.
By 2005, the Report of Findings from Year Two of the California Best Practices Study identified Southwest High School as one of the most successful California high schools due to its use of classroom observation data as well as student achievement data based on common assessments to improve long-term impact of these practices. In 1999, the school's API was 526, and in 2006, it jumped to 667. In addition, Southwest High School has met all of the requirements for Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP).
In 2007, Central Union High School was selected as a California Distinguished School because it had substantially higher performance than predicted. As indicated by similar California schools with a ranking of 9, Central Union students are performing above the levels of their peers in similar schools. In addition, Central Union students in all subgroups are meeting or exceeding AYP goals.
Teach for Success still continues at both schools today.
