Memphis school excels in math, science, finance and technology.... http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/sep/25/ridgeway-faces-test-of-its-academics/
Ridgeway High School examined for international study program By Jane Roberts (Contact), Memphis Commercial Appeal Thursday, September 25, 2008 Today and Friday are not test days per se at Ridgeway High School, but how they unfold will determine if the school opens next fall as an internationally acclaimed all-star. Visitors from the International Baccalaureate program -- which awards a globally recognized diploma -- are on campus this week, looking over the facilities and taking a read of the climate through visits with students, parents, the superintendent and members of the Board of Education. "Parents are very excited," said Lischa T. Brooks, assistant principal at Ridgeway. "When we asked for five to six parents to sign up, we received 35 who wanted to participate in discussion." If Ridgeway passes the site test -- the last hurdle in a three-year application process -- it will be one of two schools in West Tennessee offering an international diploma. The other is Shelby County-run Germantown High School, approved in February. This fall, about 100 students enrolled from schools outside Germantown's traditional feeder pattern, a sign of the attractiveness of the program, said Linda Keller, coordinator for Germantown's program. "It's serving to attract some people back to public schools. We had some paying tuition to attend city schools; some of those have come back to us." Besides making it possible for students to sometimes waive their freshman year in college, the program also means students planning to live abroad can enroll in foreign colleges more easily. "The learning is focused on skills employers and people worldwide have said they want our students to know when they finish high school," Brooks said. If Ridgeway is admitted to the program, it will become one of four new optional schools in Memphis City Schools. As part of his $15 million plan to increase efficiency and achievement in MCS, Supt. Kriner Cash intends to beef up the focus on optional schools by next fall, adding programs focused on public safety, banking and finance, and science, technology, engineering and math. While admission requirements vary based on school focus, optional schools are almost always more academically rigorous and with stricter attendance rules, said Linda Sklar, head of optional schools for MCS. "They have brought many parents back into public education," she said. "If the neighborhood school is not meeting your child's needs, we're happy Memphis City Schools has other choices." Of the 209 public schools in the city, 33 have optional programs, including schools that emphasize college prep, fine arts, aviation and communication careers. Ridgeway will not know its status until spring, but if it is approved for the program, an international diploma would give juniors and seniors 240 hours of study over two years in languages, math, sciences and history. Students also would complete 150 hours of community service and a 4,000-word thesis in an area of interest. "Professors at the University of Memphis have told me that they plan to live in Europe and want their children to be able to attend college," Sklar said. "This would open that door." The work, including papers and research, is graded by a network of affiliates around the world. "Because a lot of the work is evaluated externally, it will have to be done at a very high level of proficiency," said Jim Long, Ridgeway principal. But he's quick to add that the program is not designed only for students with high IQs. "The word we keep hearing is 'motivated.' We're looking for kids who have the ability to persevere ... and are willing to work to establish a standard of excellence." -- Jane Roberts: 529-2512 --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Memphis Freethought Alliance" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/memphisfreethoughtalliance?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
