Toms River 'Academy' Aims To Set Freshmen On Successful Path From Day One

When the 361 freshmen in the Toms River High School South Class of 2019 walk through the doors of the high school a week from Thursday, they will find themselves with many of the same challenges facing high school freshmen across the country -- lockers that won’t open, increased academic demands, navigating social changes.

It can be an intimidating time for many teenagers.

Schoolwork that had been a breeze may become a challenge. Social relationships that were in place may be changing. The demands of keeping up at all levels can be overwhelming for some, leaving them feeling isolated and in many cases leading them to drop out of school.

To combat that sense of isolation -- and keep students from dropping out of school -- the Toms River Regional Schools are introducing a Freshman Academy this fall. Superintendent David M. Healy said the program -- which was used in the Matawan-Aberdeen Regional Schools, his former district -- provides close guidance and support for all of the freshmen by building relationships that allow kids who are struggling to be identified and helped before they drop out.

Nationwide, more than 1.2 million students drop out of high school every year, Tony Miller, who at the time was the U.S. deputy secretary of education, said in July 2011 speech on education reform. That is one student every 26 seconds – or 7,000 a day, he said -- about 7 percent.

In the Toms River schools, the dropout rate is below the state target of 2 percent set for every public high school. The N.J. Department of Education’s School Performance reports, which include dropout rate information, show Toms River North has the lowest dropout rate of the district’s three high schools, with 1 percent of its incoming freshmen failing to finish high school. Toms River East’s dropout rate is 1.2 percent, and Toms River South has a dropout rate of 1.6 percent. Districtwide, 65 students dropped out of high school in the 2013-14 school year, according to data from the state Department of Education.

“Freshman year is where they are most likely to fall behind,” Healy said, referring to studies into what causes students to stop attending school, when he announced the program last fall at a Board of Education meeting. Students who fall behind as freshmen -- academically, socially or both -- are at a much higher risk of never finishing school. Providing interventions early can make the difference for a kid teetering on the edge of dropping out, he said.

At a meeting for incoming freshmen and their parents at Toms River South last week, assistant principal Mark Sullivan elaborated on the goals of the freshman academy, saying that a successful high school career starts with that freshman year.

“We want to make sure you are academically prepared and socially comfortable, so you can start your sophomore year without encountering the pitfalls that can cause setbacks,” and eventually lead to students dropping out of school, Sullivan said.

While the “academy” label makes some think the program is only for elite students, Healy said that is not the case. All of the members of the freshman class at each school have been divided into groups, which Toms River South is referring to as Tribes. (At Toms River East, the 380 students have been divided into groups are named after the school colors, and at Toms River North, the 556 freshmen are in groups named for various America’s Cup boats, in keeping with the Mariners’ theme.)

Each tribe is assigned four core teachers, in math, science, social studies and English, and those four teachers all are assigned to the same prep period, Sullivan said. That will enable those teachers to talk about the students in their group, identifying students who may be struggling academically, who aren’t coming to school, who are having social issues -- so they can get them the attention and intervention they need.

The class has one guidance counselor assigned -- instead of the students being split up among advisers by alphabetic groupings -- to keep an eye on the students and ensure they are moving forward.

There also will be assemblies and events designed to help the students not only become more comfortable with their peers but to also to make it so they can’t help but get involved in school activities from the start. And there will be activities designed to help each ”tribe” become more connected and unified, officials said.

“Engagement is almost going to be force-fed,” Sullivan said. “We want to make sure right away that students are engaged ... to take that transition from middle school and make it better.”

At the same time, students are expected to pull their weight -- by attending class, doing their work and asking for help, said Linda Rutter, the guidance counselor for the freshmen.

“Don’t be afraid to come talk to me,” Rutter said. “Communication is the key.”

Parents aren’t going to be off the hook, either, he said, as staff members will be reaching out to make sure they are engaged in what is happening as well.

“Every student will benefit from the increased attention and shared recommendations,” Sullivan said.

Andie Mali, president of the Student Council, told the freshmen they will get out of Toms River South what they put into it.

“If you want to be a part of something unique, something bigger than yourself, you have come to the right school,” Mali said.

Healy said reducing the dropout rate and addressing attendance issues has been a priority since he arrived in the Toms River schools a little over a year ago. With more focused attention on all the students, those issues should be more quickly identified, officials said.

But the bottom line, Healy said, is that graduating high school is an important first step to a successful future. The America’s Promise Alliance, which is working and advocating for school reform, says statistics show that high school graduates are more likely to be employed; make higher taxable income; have better health and longer life expectancy, and are less likely to engage in criminal behavior or require social services.

“This school is built around its students,” said Dave Correll, the voice of the Toms River South football games, the school’s historian and its No. 1 fan and supporter. “You study hard, you do your best, you get involved in school activities, and you will have an Indianific time.”

(Toms River South Principal James Ricotta addresses parents and incoming freshmen at the Freshman Academy orientation program last week. Andie Mali, who is a senior at Toms River South, said students can find many ways to succeed at the school. Credit: Karen Wall)