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Florence High staff present improvement plan focusing on attendance, graduation rates and test prep
Summary
Florence High School leaders told the Quillayute Valley School District board they have raised freshmen on‑track rates with advisory routines, tiered attendance interventions and incentives, and are rolling out interim testing and teacher‑led ownership of SBA practice to boost Smarter Balanced results.
Florence High School principal Brenda and members of the school's leadership team presented the high school's improvement plan, saying three priorities — attendance, ninth‑grade on‑track rates and Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBA) performance — guide their work this year.
"We brought it up," Brenda said of attendance trends, describing tiered interventions and a weekly review process that has helped chronically absent students begin to show up. The team described advisory routines in which teachers monitor 10–15 students with weekly grade checks, journaling and character‑building activities to foster belonging and regular attendance.
The presentation included specific tactics the school is using: tiered MTSS meetings to identify barriers, weekly grade reports shared with coaches, parent communications, student‑led incentives such as breakfasts and end‑of‑year celebrations, and a trial 'smart pass' electronic check‑out system to track time out of class. "They check out on their Chromebook for bathroom. It monitors how long they're out of the classroom," a presenter said, describing the new pilot (presentation material, SEG 266–276).
On credits and on‑track measures, leaders said one cohort reached an 86% on‑track rate after targeted supports. Jason Richard and other presenters described summer school, credit recovery and expanded internships and CTE pathways to keep students engaged and eligible for graduation.
To lift SBA scores, staff outlined a plan of practice: interim assessments in core classes, practice Smarter Balanced administrations in advisory, professional learning communities focused on essential standards, and teacher ownership of assessments so students are less likely to "click through" digital tests. "We're trying to support them in how to overcome those challenges," said a special‑education representative discussing test anxiety and failure avoidance (SEG 1093–1100).
The school invited board members to interim practice sessions and to a combined college/career/job fair on March 13 that will include technical schools, two‑year and four‑year colleges and local employers. The team asked the board to attend upcoming on‑campus celebrations and said staff will provide follow‑up data as the initiatives unfold.
