Hammond High Named National School Of Opportunity

COLUMBIA, MD — The National Educational Policy Center has named Hammond High School a National School of Opportunity. The center, which is a nonprofit based out of the University of Colorado in Boulder, aims to recognize schools that have made strides to close the achievement gap. To be considered, institutions submit an application demonstrating how they have worked to make progress on this front.

Approximately 34 percent of the students at Hammond High School in Columbia are considered disadvantaged. The student body includes nearly 1,300 students. Of those, fewer than 5 percent were considered limited English proficient and more than 10 percent receive special education services, according to the Howard County Public School System.

Hammond was recognized by the Schools of Opportunity judges for its engaging approach that has helped all students challenge themselves. To encourage everyone to take higher level courses, the school eliminated lower-track classes as prerequisites and offered summer "Step It Up" workshops to help prepare students for increasing difficulty.

This measure helped increase the number of African-American students enrolling in Advanced Placement courses, according to the Howard County Public School System.

Hammond has also reported increases in graduation rates among three groups from 2010 to 2016:

• Among African-American students, the graduation rate increased from 80 percent to 92 percent.
• For Hispanic students, the graduation rate increased from 81 to 95 percent.
• Students with special needs went from a 56 percent graduation rate to an 80 percent graduation rate.

Initiatives that Schools of Opportunity judges said contributed to closing achievement gaps at Hammond High School include support groups for African-American boys and extended-day programs with transportation that allow for participation in Hispanic Heritage Club, algebra boot camp, mentoring, homework assistance and college awareness programs.

“Hammond’s recognition as a School of Opportunity helps us communicate how our efforts to challenge students, support teachers and connect with families create engaging learning opportunities and solid preparation for higher education,” Hammond High School Principal John DiPaula said in a statement.

Here are the schools that made the cut this year. The National Education Policy Center announced the Schools of Opportunity winners on Tuesday:

• Broome Street Academy Charter High School in New York, New York
• Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences in Chicago, Illinois
• Denver South High School in Denver, Colorado
• Health Sciences High and Middle College in San Diego, California
• Lincoln High School in Lincoln, Nebraska
• Seaside High School in Seaside, California
• Hammond High School in Columbia, Maryland
• Hinkley High School in Aurora, Colorado

Six high schools were designated gold Schools of Opportunity for excellence in at least five critical areas, with at least three of them exemplary, while Hammond and Hinkley were honored as silver schools, meaning they excelled in four criteria, with at least two categorized as exemplary, The Washington Post reported.

These are the 10 areas that schools must be able to show they have excelled in to be designated a School of Opportunity:

• Enrichment opportunities that are broadened to reduce disparities based on grouping (required)
• School culture that promotes diversity, takes equitable approach to discipline (required)
• Assessments that measure learning in a variety of ways
• More time for learning during the school year and summer
• Support for teachers as professionals
• Language minority student service that builds on strengths and correctly identifies needs
• Parent/community engagement
• Support for special needs students
• Culturally relevant, challenging curriculum
• Physical/mental health services

“Hammond exemplifies our Strategic Call to Action by providing equitable learning experiences so every student can be successful,” Howard County Public School System Interim Superintendent Michael J. Martirano said in a statement. “This award illustrates that great things happen when we open access to enrichments, challenge students appropriately, and back them up with the supports that help them succeed.”

Photo courtesy of the Howard County Public School System.