Clover Park High School Is Finding Success By Starting At the Beginning

Demographics and standards are continually changing, but one thing remains the same at Clover Park High School: a focus on student success – starting from Day One.

That is what Principal John Seaton told the Clover Park School Board during a presentation Monday evening at district headquarters.

Seaton, who has presided over the school of 1,100 students since 2005, said that his staff has made its ninth-grade academies and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) learning key priorities. In turn, the school has seen an increased graduation rate and academic improvements.

In 2001-02, 38.8 percent of students graduated from Clover Park. By 2009-10, the most recent year for which data is available, 78.2 percent were earning their diplomas. The dropout rate has dropped in the same period from 14.1 percent to 3.6 percent.

“Our teachers are teaching better – and teaching more thoughtfully,” Seaton said.

Clover Park is known for an ethnically diverse population – 33 percent of students are Hispanic; 17 percent are black; and 13 percent are Asian/Pacific Islander. More than 67 percent of students receive free or reduced-price meals, and 149 are classified as English Language Learners.

“As stereotypes are created about dealing with higher rates of diversity and poverty (Clover Park’s data) runs counter to that,” Seaton said. “Our teachers are clearly adapting to a changing environment.”

That starts early on, as Clover Park’s introduction of academy-style learning for freshmen has been met with success.

“You move from one environment to another and the stakes are so much higher,” Seaton said of the transition from middle school to high school. “Everything counts – the credits count.”

The ninth-grade experience begins over the summer with the five-week Warrior Academy, where students essentially learn how to learn in high school.

“We’ve created the summer camp that they may not have had,” Seaton said, explaining that in addition to academics, the students participate in Cross-Fit training and other activities.

Since 2008-09, the number of freshmen earning one “F” has decreased from 165 to 80 this year, and the number of students earning three failing grades is down from 78 to 44. Additionally, 43 percent of freshmen earned an “A” or “B” in English during the fall semester this year, and 42 percent earned the same marks in Social Studies.

“For every ‘F’ a ninth-grader gets, it’s a 20 percent decrease of whether they will graduate on time,” Seaton said.

However, a focus on science continues, with 28 percent of freshmen having failed that class during the fall, and just 27 percent earning an “A” or “B”. The trend is similar across all grade levels, with 28 percent of students passing the state science assessment, well below the state average of 49.9 percent.

More than 72 percent of Clover Park students passed the state reading assessment last year, and 79 percent, the writing exam. However, in End of Course math exams, 58 percent passed the year 1 (algebra) exam, and 50.9 percent, the year 2 (geometry) test.

“We don’t see enough young men and women who are graduating with the science or math skills to be successful in post-secondary education,” Seaton said.

Now, every ninth-grader takes a technology and robotics class.

“If you don’t instill that interest early on, they’re not going to pick it up later,” he said.

Seaton also noted that the learning environment has changed for the better. In 2007-08, 274 freshmen received short-term suspensions, 24 were expelled and 16 were suspended long term, compared with 100 short-term suspensions, seven expulsions and 14 long-term suspensions in 2010-11.

Contributing to the changes are grade check-ins eight times a year; a focus on organizational skills; appropriate dress and behavior; and increased parent contact.

A source of pride for the school was being selected as one of 22 Washington State Innovation Schools in 2011.

Clover Park’s ongoing challenges include the mobility of its student population; participation in curricular activities; parent awareness of the college and post-secondary application process; and attendance and interventions.

The former is tied both to military deployments – the school serves McChord Field and some of Fort Lewis – and the economy. Many families at Clover Park are not homeowners, Seaton said, and as their financial situations change, they are forced to move.

Seaton was commended for the opening of his presentation, in which he proclaimed: “I love Clover Park High School. It’s as simple as that.”

Board Vice President Marty Schafer said that he appreciates when people say that they enjoy their job and the people they work with.

“Thank you for your passion and your love for the people you serve,” he said.