Helping ninth graders start strong

The transition from middle school to high school can be daunting. New classes, higher expectations and unfamiliar routines can lead to freshman quickly falling behind. But here in Bethel, a program is helping ninth graders build the skills and confidence they need to succeed. Now in its third year districtwide, the Ninth Grade Success program focuses on helping freshmen stay on track academically, recognizing that a strong start to high school can make a significant difference in a student's chances of graduating. At Spanaway Lake High School, where the program is in its second year, math teacher Whitney Parkin is part of a team working to identify challenges students face and develop better ways to support them. Using data collected from teachers' gradebooks and the state's annual report card, the team monitors student progress and looks for opportunities to intervene. The results have been encouraging. During the program's first year at Spanaway Lake, the percentage of freshmen on track to graduate increased by nearly 10%. But the program is about more than improving numbers. It's about understanding what students need to succeed in a new environment. "As we work through this program, we see that there are skills and areas that sometimes we need to help students be better at, areas that we need to create systems to support students with," Parkin said. For ninth grader Zaiah, that means developing better study habits, staying focused and taking responsibility for academic success. "This year I'm trying to focus on all my classes and making good grades, and having lots of fours and threes on my schoolwork," she said. "I'm trying to focus, put effort in my work, and try to lessen the distractions and try to focus on everything I'm trying to do. I don't want to fail. That's one thing I'm trying to not do. I really want to succeed." Through a partnership with school districts across Washington, Bethel educators are sharing strategies and learning new ways to help freshmen navigate their first year. For Parkin, the goal is to create an environment where students can thrive. "And it's not about changing the students that we have, it's about making better systems to support the students that we have and meeting them where they are," she said.