WASC Evaluation Commends AHS for Improvement
ELTON HO
Copy Editor
DENISE TIEU
News Editor
In 2012, WASC renewed AHS’ accreditation for six years in addition to one day of revisitation. After visiting and evaluating AHS again in March, the Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACS WASC) commended the school for increasing student achievement and improving on critical areas identified in the last evaluation.
“I’m very proud of being a Moor. Our teachers have worked hard to address the WASC goals to continually address the need of all students. Our students have been wonderful in being a part of this process that helps us move forward as a school and community,” WASC Chair Nancy Padilla said.
To evaluate the school’s progress, the WASC representatives talked to administrators and met with a diverse group of students, selected from every grade level and from different groups on campus, including academic teams, student government, athletics, performing arts and more, according to ASB President Kristie Sham.
In their report, WASC noted the continued professional training for Common Core Standards and for new teaching strategies that involve deeper levels of thinking.
“[The WASC leader] commended faculty for utilizing improved instructional strategies, and more specifically, for decreasing the amount of lecture and for increasing the amount of higher order thinking activities where students are more engaged in their learning,” AUSD Assistant Superintendent Gary Gonzales said.
The visiting committee also concluded that AHS has made efforts to close the achievement gap among subgroups and remains committed to meeting instructional needs for all students. Over the last three years, students who are Hispanic and/or socioeconomically disadvantaged have made consistent gains in CAHSEE scores. In order to aid at-risk students for college preparation, AHS has included the Moor College Prep program on campus.
AHS implemented various strategies to meet these goals, including after-school CAHSEE preparation for struggling students, peer modeling through the student-led AP Ambassador program and A-G coaching presentations.
“I feel proud. [The commendations] are reflective of how amazing our students and community are,” Principal Duane Russell said.
AHS has also worked hard to improve the representation of subgroups in school programs. Students who are English Language Learners, Hispanic and/or in Special Education have been encouraged to play a greater part in school-wide activities, such as joining various clubs and participating in school events. Through Honors/AP Night and the freshman AP Human Geography course, AHS has exposed more students to higher level curriculum. ASB has also expanded schoolwide representation in student government by opening up more ASB officer positions and holding monthly legislative meetings with homeroom representatives.
“Although AHS does as much as it can to motivate us, I think having a student’s perspective on things will help. Having meritable upperclassmen should help put into perspective how crucial it is to maintain good grades,” AP Ambassadors member Samantha Han said. “Another issue is that students are not informed about all that AHS has to offer. It should be absolutely mandatory for bulletins to be read during fourth period.”
Though WASC has commended AHS for improving on areas identified in the last evaluation, WASC recommends that AHS continue to work on reaching out to underrepresented groups on campus.
“We have made strong progress since the last WASC evaluation in trying to increase outreach and access to opportunities. We have a long way to go, but with the help of faculty, we can work to have students truly engaged with what our school has to offer. What’s important is that our students [should] have a genuine motivation for what they’re interested in,” Sham said.