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Lowry High principal outlines expanded dual-credit, CTE and special-education transition programs
Summary
Lowry High School Principal Sean Taylor told the board the school is expanding dual-credit courses with Great Basin College, using incentives to reduce chronic absenteeism and boosting work-based learning for students on IEPs with federal grant support.
HUMBOLDT COUNTY — Sean Taylor, principal at Lowry High School, presented the school’s academic programming, attendance interventions and career-technical education results to the Humboldt County School District board on March 28.
Taylor highlighted a partnership with Great Basin College that has produced more than 90 completed college courses through the partnership and currently has 11 students enrolled in a dual-pathway program combining a high school diploma and an associate degree. Taylor said one student is completing a certified nursing assistant program and several students earned passing scores on workplace readiness and CTE content exams.
"We're fortunate to have such a good partnership with GBC right across the street where we're able to offer numerous dual credit choices for our students here at Lowry High School," Taylor told trustees during the presentation.
Taylor described his school's multi-tiered system of support (MTSS) focused on chronic absenteeism, citing incentives such as extended lunches and campus-wide rewards tied to attendance goals. The MTSS team also case-manages students close to chronic-absence thresholds to intervene before referrals to truancy advisory boards or court.
He reported completion of 328 CTE tests during the recent testing window and said the school’s graduation rate reached 95 percent last year. Taylor also described a federal grant that has allowed Lowry to expand special-education transition programming, including a school-based enterprise that makes and sells dog treats, a PACE lab offering hands-on job boxes, and community internships. He said 15 special-education students currently have community work placements during school periods.
Taylor said the school maintains after-school tutoring and Saturday school for students needing credit remediation and highlighted annual testing such as the ACT and WIDA; staff are awaiting full state reports on those exams. Chelsea Odums was credited for leading MLL (multilingual learner) professional development.
Trustees asked about reading comprehension and long-term English learners; Taylor said the school runs "fundamentals of English" classes for students scoring lowest on WIDA and has emphasized writing and vocabulary in professional development.
Taylor concluded by noting extracurricular successes and on-campus safety work, including active-shooter training and the recent installation of a lockable man gate to replace an unsecured turnstile.
The presentation was informational; no board action was required on the report.
