My 4 years of high school was great. Ballou High School Ballou High School 3401 4th St SE, Washington, DC 20032. there were a lot of great teachers, who were very fun and involved with students and didn't just consider it a job. Every morning they remind us that our purpose is to "get your credits and go". she also had several race involved complaints. The principal at Ballou High School has been removed from her position as the district looks into a scandal surrounding last school year's graduation. That is what it was," says former Ballou teacher Brian Butcher about the graduation of 164 students despite poor academic performance and only sporadic attendance. "It means nothing." We've started with gathering feedback from students, families, community members, and educators from Ballou High School and our feeder schools to shape our vision and priorities for Redesign. Ballou High School, in Washington, D.C.'s Southeast quadrant, is located in one of the city's poorest neighborhoods and has struggled academically for years. Performance & security by Cloudflare. When we asked Ballou teachers about the issues students are dealing with that make it difficult to attend school, they acknowledged the reality. Potomac State College of West Virginia University. But I am going to go ahead and do what I have to do because nothing feels better than going home to your family who look up to you. [14] As of the summer of 2017, all 170 members of the graduating class of 2017 were accepted to universities; an additional 20 students had August graduations scheduled. of students agree that they feel safe at their school. Compare Ballou Junior High School to Other Schools bjh.puyallup.k12.wa.us (253) 841-8725 of students and parents agree that the teachers genuinely care about the students. The teachers we spoke with say they feel the system ultimately reduces academic rigor, serving no one in the end. "[They said] 'Just give him a D,' because they were trying to get him out of there and they knew he wouldn't do the makeup packet.". Update me when new information is published on this school's profile. Students are there to learn, but aren't necessarily thinking about the future. Provides auto-suggestions when entering text. I made many friends. hide caption. Ballou High School in Washington DC - SchoolDigger "You saw kids walking across the stage, who, they're nice young people, but they don't deserve to be walking across the stage," Butcher says. Niche requires Javascript to work correctly. Next . Ballou is not only a great learning environment, but students and teachers as well as the others on the staff team have put together many exciting social events to reinforce friendships and have fun. How are you connected to . Brokenborough, who taught music, was one of several teachers who received low evaluations after the 2016-17 school year ended and were let go for various reasons. This work ensures that every student develops a postsecondary plan and that they each receive targeted supports and opportunities for them to actualize that plan. Restorative Practices and Trauma-Informed Instruction. Students are more focused on what's going on this weekend. In June, 164 students received diplomas. Ballou STAY High School is a public, alternative school located in WASHINGTON, DC. of students and parents agree that the teachers give engaging lessons. Ballou offers many academic programs including honors and AP courses, grade-level academies . Meet our Faculty - Ballou High School She says her students were often chronically absent, but the gym was always full. Average salary for all teachers within the district. tests. Ballou High School was close to home, walking distant. We spoke with 11 current and recent Ballou teachers and four recent Ballou graduates, and we reviewed hundreds of attendance documents, class rosters and emails that show many students graduated despite chronic absenteeism. Ballou High School is a public school located in WASHINGTON, DC. The high school credited its college-prep classes and a school-wide campaign to apply to college. Williams says she tried to push back, but she often had 20 to 30 kids in one class. D.C. Public Schools wouldn't tell us who gets a bonus, but teachers we spoke with did say the possibility of such a large bonus increases the pressure on teachers to improve student numbers. School district leaders, including Wilson, defend the use of makeup work, arguing they want to give students "multiple opportunities" to show they understand material. In 2016, only three percent of Ballou HS students had proficiency in D.C. reading standards according to D.C. tests. [8] In November 2017, it came to light that Ballou's administration had graduated dozens of students despite high rates of unexcused absences. It was overall a good experience. They received low teacher evaluations after the 2016-17 school year ended and were let go for various reasons. Using real-world case studies in the classroom where students are presented with challenges from companies, making learning relevant and applicable to future career experiences; Establishing a new Information Technology/Computer Engineering pathway that prepares students for high-demand careers; and, Investing in healing-centered practices for students and adults to support social-emotional development. Ballou , a documentary film, follows the talented Washington, DC, Ballou Senior High School Marching Band, as they overcome their negative environment filled with guns, drugs, and violence, and uplift the community with music, dedication, and personal sacrifice. Teachers at Ballou are not only great teachers, but relate to the students, and make school fun and attractive. Records show half the graduates missed more than three months of school, or 60 days. ". of students and parents agree that the teachers adequately lead and control the classroom. Another Ballou graduate also says teacher turnover was the biggest problem at the school. Average ACT composite score out of 36, as reported by Niche users from this school. Not seriously at all. Many of their classrooms now have long-term substitutes. Many students at Ballou roam the halls rather than go to class. Niche ranks nearly 100,000 schools and districts based on statistics and millions of opinions from students and parents. That can make it extra hard to show up to school every day. of students and parents agree that students at this school are competitive. When it comes to attendance, teachers say many students are in the building, but they just don't go to class. Repeatedly having the same conversation about dozens of students was exhausting. The provision of prerequisite skills for students who planned technical training or employment immediately after high school. Percentage of AP students who pass at least one AP exam. of students and parents agree that clubs and organizations get the funding they need. School of Mathematics, Science and Technology. Near the end of a term, Williams says, students would appear, asking for makeup work like worksheets or a project. "But we also know that students learn material in lots of different ways. With Marion Barry Jr., Chuck Brown, Lewis Franklin, Denyce Graves. Most Diverse Public Middle Schools in Washington, Best Public Middle School Teachers in Washington, Most Diverse Public Middle Schools in Seattle Area, Best Public Middle Schools in Seattle Area, Best Public Middle School Teachers in Seattle Area, Best Public Middle Schools in Pierce County, Best Public Middle School Teachers in Pierce County, Most Diverse Public Middle Schools in Pierce County, Niche requires Javascript to work correctly. It has 242 students in grades 9-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 12 to 1. An investigation by WAMU and NPR has found that the school's administration graduated dozens of students despite high rates of unexcused absences. That is what it was."[15]. "It is possible for a student to have 30 days when they are absent from school, but that doesn't constitute 30 days of absences from the course," Spence says. My last school was very competitive and very stressful and Ballou became the exact opposite of it. overall the school out of ten, would probably be a 7.5-8. the school is pretty secure as well but not too secure to the point where you feel trapped. That need for an income made school even less appealing, "I felt at a point around getting toward winter, I ain't have to be there no more," she remembers. PTSA LSAT Alumni Honors and Recognitions 2021-Recognized as an Authorized Testing Center for Microsoft Office Specialist Program 2020-Academy of Computer Engineering & IT is designated a CompTIA Authorized Partner Academy 2020-Academy of Automotive Service & Repair is designated a NAF Model Academy Please contact your school district to verify school assignment for your child. [i] Three months ago, that praise turned into criticism after NPR and WAMU 88.5 conducted an investigation of Ballou's attendance records. It was July 13, 2010. On paper, these students were taking the same class twice. Niche ranks nearly 100,000 schools and districts based on statistics and millions of opinions from students and parents. If teachers pushed back against these practices, they say, administration retaliated against them by giving them poor teacher evaluations. Update me when new information is published on this school's profile. At the current pace of change, it will take decades to close the gap for our students furthest from opportunity. She believes she was unfairly targeted and has filed a grievance through the teachers union. Ballou High School - Washington, DC Ballou (2008) - IMDb That's setting that kid up for failure just so you can showboat you got this graduation rate.". Ballou is a part of the District of Columbia Public Schools. Many we spoke with say they didn't realize what was happening until they saw students whom they had flunked graduate. A 17-year-old boy of Oxon Hill, Maryland was arrested for killing 16-year-old Taniya Jones, of Brandywine, Maryland on Saturday. Butcher, Brokenborough and Williams no longer work at Ballou. One current teacher says, from the perspective of a black teacher teaching predominantly black students, graduating these students is an injustice. Student-Teacher Ratio may not be indicative of class size. If you would like to cash in your LiveSchool points for swag, there are two options available to you! The counselors and administrators are here to help and we have the one responsibility of reaching out for help or assistance; then they take it from there. Based on racial and economic diversity and survey responses on school culture and diversity from students and parents. "I'm not going to say I always went to class or I always was a good student because I wasn't," he says over the phone from his dorm room. Average salary for all teachers within the district. This is the percentage of students that scored at or above proficiency levels on their state reading/language arts assessment test. Attention to the development of students overall well-being and social-emotional development. June 25, 2021 at 1:47 p.m. EDT Ballou High School seniors line up and head inside Audi Field for their commencement ceremony Wednesday. They believe they were unfairly targeted and have filed complaints through the local teachers union. Because states calculate graduation rates differently, use caution when comparing this data to data from another state. What is that doing to that child? [14] The high school credited its college-prep classes and a school-wide campaign to apply to college. So we've started to recognize that students can have mastered material even if they're not sitting in a physical space.". The school is very good and would recommend. Ballou High School, located in inner-city Washington, D.C., is often associated with violence and academic failure. The school is located in one of Washington, D.C.'s poorest neighborhoods and has struggled academically for years with a low graduation rate. For months, the school received national media attention, including from NPR, celebrating the achievement. But only 16 enrolled this fall. The argument was, if the student tried to make up the missed work or failed, it would most likely be impossible to pass with a zero on the books. No one passed the math test. DCPS School. Design and implement effective teaching and learning experiences in a safe and engagingenvironment with empathy and community support services. Students skipping other classes would congregate there, she says, and her requests for help from administrators and behavioral staff to manage these students were often ignored. Because states calculate graduation rates differently, use caution when comparing this data to data from another state. in 2023-24 9-12. Getting through the Covid 19 period was challenging being on virtual and doing schoolwork from home. It is calculated using the reported number of students and full-time equivalent teachers. She would refuse: There are policies, and if students did not meet the attendance policy, there was nothing she could do to help them. hide caption. Ballou High School in Washington, D.C., DC It has 636 students in grades 9-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 12 to 1. Currently, this information is unavailable. To be considered in school, students have to be there 80 percent of the day. "The elephant in the room is how these kids are getting through middle school and getting through high school," says a current Ballou teacher, speaking anonymously. Compare Ballou High School to Other Schools profiles.dcps.dc.gov/ballou+high+school (202) 645-3400 3401 4TH ST. "It is expected that our students will be here every day," said Jane Spence, chief of secondary schools at D.C. Public Schools. Schools that create a positive culture help all students thrive. I did virtual and finished my classes fast. "They're not prepared to succeed," says Morgan Williams, who taught health and physical education at Ballou last year. Ballou STAY High School in Washington, D.C., DC There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. An investigation by WAMU and NPR has found that the school's administration graduated dozens of students despite high rates of unexcused absences. "The tardy bell is just a sound effect in that building," says Brokenborough. Niche requires Javascript to work correctly. According to class rosters, 13 percent of Ballou graduates were enrolled in the same class twice during the last term before graduation. A low evaluation rating two years in a row is grounds for dismissal. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. New Applicants in 2023-24 All. It Is To Be, It Is Up To Me.I Am Powerful Beyond Measure. P: (202) 645-3400. All of our main purpose is to get our missing credits and move on to the next phases of our lives. She also served as the teachers union building representative, responsible for handling teacher grievances and ensuring the school follows the district's teacher contract, among other duties. According to state test scores, 5% of students are at least proficient in math and 5% in reading. Frank W. Ballou Senior High School is a public school located in Washington, D.C., United States. [7] during Fall 2009. Ballou has produced several DCIAA City Champions and many NCAA Scholarship Athletes[citation needed]. Two months before graduation, only 57 students were on track to graduate. Ballou HS principal removed during graduation scandal investigation Provides auto-suggestions when entering text, Best High Schools for Athletes in District of Columbia. of students and parents agree that students at this school are athletic. I don't want to. D.C. coronavirus vaccination clinic at Ballou graduation draws no Teachers say that even if students earn less than a 50 percent on an assignment, 50 percent is still the lowest grade a student can receive. Ballou High School uses approaches such as community building circles, peace circles, conferencing, and restorative mediations, restorative practices to address the root cause of student behavior. Please. 6 talking about this. "What am I going to keep showing up to this for a substitute for? Its some many different program and clubs you can join and its new building so its a beautiful school. Ask the school what its doing to help students who are behind. Learn about the, Students who are unprepared for college-level work may find themselves in. The teachers actually want you to succeed. In 2017, all 189 students in Ballou High School's senior class applied to college. of students and parents agree that students at this school are creative and artsy. Morgan Williams, a former physical education and health teacher at Ballou, says she often had students on her roster whom she barely knew because they almost never attended class. Playing by the game can have financial benefits. Ballou High School Williams says the lack of expectations set up students for future failure: "If I knew I could skip the whole semester and still pass, why would I try?". ", "I came to school when I wanted to," she says. Credit recovery is increasingly used to prevent students from dropping out, but critics argue credit recovery courses rarely have the same educational value as the original course and are often less rigorous. GreatSchools is the leading nonprofit providing high-quality information that supports parents pursuing a great education for their child, schools striving for excellence, and communities working to diminish inequities in education. (Bill O . She says her teacher is very helpful and that they even started looking for employment in multiple salons. The story follows Jennings's efforts to attend an Ivy League university despite his troubled upbringing. Measure of students enrolled in at least one AP math class. This school hosts grades 7-9. Kate McGee/WAMU The current senior class is also working toward a 100 percent college acceptance rate this year. Cultivate and empower socially engaged leaders for college, career, and global success. Curriculum. best practices of College Success Award winning schools. 1998-2023 GreatSchools.org All Rights Reserved. Ballou High School? hope this helped :). The following elementary schools feed into Ballou: Garfield, Hendley, M. L. King, Leckie, Malcolm X, Patterson, Simon, and Turner. It was the first time the high school's entire senior class had applied to college. "It means nothing. Many successful high school students end up in remedial math courses in college. "That's passing the buck and totally unacceptable, especially from a leadership standpoint.". It was a clear, warm night and he was surrounded by screaming family and friends snapping photos and cheering. About Niche; Niche Data; Careers; Blog; Claim Your School; Contact Niche; Progress 8 percent. Menu. DC . Ballou Junior High School B Overall Grade Public 7-9 PUYALLUP, WA 4 reviews Back to Profile Home Ballou Junior High School Rankings Niche rankings are based on rigorous analysis of data and reviews.
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