WHS-School-Performance-Participation-Report-2017

This was mainly due to the large number of students who received long-term 10 day suspensions, due to a drug incident, during the 2015-2016 school year, which accounted for the high numb

Weston High School provides students with the opportunity for a rigorous education with a variety of avenues to

perform at a high level This report summarizes the high achievement and excellent outcomes of our students

* New Department of Education Ethnic/Race Codes

Student Attendance Report

2016-2017

*Data taken from Q1-Q3 only, full year data in Infinite Campus was unavailable for this year

*** The new Infinite Campus system records attendance data in a way that we are unable to separate out Tardy to School data We are working with the company to see if we can input our data in a way that will allow us to track Tardy to School data

Student attendance is based on the number of full days a student is present at school out of the 180-day

school year Within the school year, students’ attendance to class is also monitored The Weston High School daily absence rate decreased during the 2016-2017 school year by 62% Though we are unable to provide a

‘Tardy Daily Average’ for 16-17, the number of detentions given due to tardies has decreased in recent years, from 246 in 12-13 to 137 in 2016-17, (a detention is given after a student is late 3 times and for each

additional tardy) This decrease would indicate that the new policy implemented in 13-14, which allows any student who does not have a first block class to arrive late to school without accruing a tardy, has decreased the number of tardies The number of cuts decreased in 2016-2017 This was in part due to the June 2016

graduation of a small number of students who cut frequently The N-Rule warning system also contributed

The number of detention assignments along with the number of out-of-school suspensions measures our student

discipline In the 2016-2017 school year, we had a slight decrease in the number of detentions assignments and number

of students receiving detention However, there was a marked decrease in the number of students involved in infractions that resulted in a disciplinary consequence of suspension This was mainly due to the large number of students who received long-term (10 day) suspensions, due to a drug incident, during the 2015-2016 school year, which accounted for the high number that year

MCAS Data 2016-2017

The state of Massachusetts requires that all High School students pass a comprehensive test in English Language Arts, Mathematics and Science (Physics, Biology or Chemistry) to graduate Weston High School has an excellent pass rate for students taking the MCAS tests The areas shaded in grey indicate an achievement level of “Passing” as laid out by the DESE

Another critical piece to the MCAS tracking are the students who have not taken the test during the typical

implementation The typical testing dates are as follows:

Grade 9: Physics, June Grade 10: ELA & MATH, March – May

There are many reasons that a student may not take the MCAS during the testing window, such as illness or other extenuating circumstances Additionally, for students (sophomores, juniors and seniors) new to the district, if they are coming from out of state, out of the country or from a private school, they will not have had an opportunity to take the MCAS at the typical implementation and will need to be included in the next year’s November retest Typically, all Weston High School students take the Physics MCAS and pass their science requirement For those who do not pass,

they feel most comfortable taking Often, it is Biology, as it fits in best with our senior science elective curriculum

Extra-Curricular Participation –Fall 2017

2018 2016/ 2017 2015/ 2016 2014/ 2015 2013/ 2014 2012/ 2011 2011/ 2010 2010/ 2009 Comments Number of

Active Clubs

taken September-AprilNumber of

*Numbers exceed population due to duplicate membership in more than one club Club participation numbers are

determined by rosters submitted annually by club advisors; numbers reflect average number of students in

attendance at weekly meetings

2016/2017 Highlights from the Extracurricular Program

 Best Buddies

The roster of club participants varies week to week We have a list of 100 or so email addresses of students who signed

up to receive information about club meetings I would say that on average, there are approximately 20-30 additional

students who consistently show up to the Best Buddies Activity Blocks

Club Summary: Best Buddies is designed to be an all-inclusive “friendship club” The goal is to foster true and lasting

friendships with students who are diagnosed with disabilities A typical Activity Block consists of fun, pre-planned

crafts, games, or other activities Student officers do most of the planning, and the activities they choose are aimed to be

inclusive to the students with special needs who participate in Best Buddies Outside of Activity Block, the Buddies plan

and attend various events Last year, the Best Buddies went on outings to pick apples, attended high school sports

events, walked/ran at a Best Buddies 5k race, held a holiday Yankee Swap, and ran a booth at Spring Fling This year,

students organized a trip to Launch outside of school and we are preparing for our annual Yankee Swap in December

Best Buddies has a bulletin board in the hallway where other members of the school can find information about

upcoming events Officers and faculty advisors meet on the first Monday of every month before school

 Pumpkin Festival

Advisor: Brenda Hagan

Planning for the WHS Pumpkin Festival started last spring with interviews for the planning committee The Planning

committees were broken down into subcommittees: Food, Entertainment, Auction, Pumpkin Carving, Kids Activities,

Catapult, Publicity, Welcome Table, and General Volunteers Each subcommittee was let by a student chair or co-chairs

(see roster at end) All volunteers were required to raise at least $50 and come to either clean up or set up Higher-level

volunteers, like committee members and co-chairs, attended several planning meetings and were involved in obtaining

all the event materials and coordinating the performances and volunteers

Students worked tirelessly through the spring, summer, and fall to plan activities, book performances and gather

materials, and solicit Auction donations The result was a fantastic event, which was held on October 14 of this year

The event offered games ranging from bean bag toss to cookie decorating, as well as live performances Two of the

Weston High School a cappella groups, the Town Criers and the Pralines, sang an assortment of songs and

medleys The band Oakland featuring seniors Robert Sheiman and Alex Friedman had their set interrupted by light rain

but carried on playing classic rock hits by the Grateful Dead, Rolling Stones and more In addition to live entertainment,

there were several other student-run activities throughout the day The raffle and silent auctions brought in money, as

well as the food and merchandise for sale Student volunteers also ran food and game stations, including a miniature

petting zoo

The town-wide event raised $22,000 for Camp Sunshine, a camp that supports children diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses Through these funds, the Weston community will help continue this organization for many years to come This money will go directly toward making a difference in the lives of children suffering terminal illnesses as well their families in coping with the toll of the terminal illness

 Student Council

Advisor: Erin McCarty

Student Council’s 2017 Spring Fling was an amazing day of dunk tanking, moon bouncing, and learning about local community groups Children were able to participate in a variety of activities including an obstacle course and arts and crafts The WHS Student Council was able to donate $8,100 to Camp No Limits Additionally, approximately $800 was also personally donated to Camp No Limits by those in attendance at the event

Currently, the WHS Student Council is actively working to provide a place for students to talk about issues that arise in the school and how to deal with them This year, we have had numerous discussions on how to improve the school community and promote a culture of kindness within the high school

From the various fundraisers we organize, to the day to day interactions, Student Council provides a way to not only lighten the mood of students through events, but also provides opportunities for students to maintain their well-being and provide an environment that promotes collaboration as the group strives to make the school a better place

 Computer Science Team

Advisor: Dan Gabriner

Weston came in third at the Providence College Contest in 2017

 BuildOn Club

Advisor: Danielle Cooper

Last year the club’s biggest success was bringing therapy dogs to the school before the holiday break As we head into this year, the club is looking forward to bringing therapy dogs twice, working with Student Council to organize a Kids Rec Night in the spring, and orchestrating March Madness for the High School

 Theater Company Highlights 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 (so far)

Advisor: John Minigan

Last November, Theater Company presented Shakespeare’s As You Like It in front of three large and enthusiastic

audiences Their work together included “on location” rehearsals in the woods as well as our usual process

In January of 2017, Theater Company presented the one-act play That Thing You Do With Your Tongue by local

playwright Robert Murphy at the Emerson College Theater Festival All three actors in the production won acting awards and the student director received an award for excellence in directing

In March of 2017, Theater Company wrote and performed the original play The Undiscovered Country We also hosted the Massachusetts Theater Celebration of seven schools and performed The Undiscovered Country at the celebration

Five of our student actors won awards for their performances, and their techies won awards for lighting and sound design

Later in March, they performed The Undiscovered Country at the Mass Collaborative Festival At that event, three

actors received awards for their performances, and their techies won awards for costume design, lighting design, and sound design, and the entire writing/acting ensemble won a special judge’s award for the creation of the play In addition, Weston won the coveted Stage Manager’s Award as the most positive, effective, and professional of the nine schools participating

In May, Theater Company performed the epic Les Misérables in front of a packed houses More than 70 students

worked on the production

In June, Theater Company held its annual “Act V” event—an evening including an end-of-year dinner and

performances—at the Weston Rec Center

Also in June, many Theater Company members participated in the Ether Day June Academy course co-taught by Erica Cole and John Minigan, researching the first uses of ether as a surgical anesthetic, in preparation for the first production

of the 2017-2018 year

In October, Theater Company presented Ether Day, an original play commissioned by the Anesthesia History Society

and devised by the cast, at the Ninth International Symposium on the History of Anesthesia in Boston Theater

Company also presented the play at Weston High

Later in October, members of Theater Company traveled to Boston’s Opera House to see a production of the Broadway

musical Fun Home and participate in an exclusive post-show conversation with the music director and members of the

cast

In November, Theater Company presented the Ten-Minute Play Festival, a collection of twelve short plays by seven award-winning Boston playwrights, directed by 11 students The plays were presented in an intimate setting on the Weston High Stage, with most of the Boston playwrights in attendance

As November ends, Theater Company is currently casting for this year’s winter play, to be devised by the acting ensemble, and preparing for this year’s participation in the Emerson College Festival and this year’s spring musical,

Godspell

In September, Theater Company was nominated to represent the best in American high school theater at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland in 2019

(They will not pursue a slot due to the expense and time involved, but "it is an honor just to be nominated"!)

It is their 13th nomination in the past 13 years

Advisor: Samson Luu

Administratively, the club now has a Wayland advisor after 2+ years They have also identified roles and

responsibilities, creating different subcommittees Each subcommittee can potentially have many additional volunteers Given the unique nature of the collaboration with Wayland, the group is currently working on determining a time for all of them to meet, both Wayland and Weston The next few meetings will be focused on outreaching and event planning

 Asian Student Union

Advisor: Angela Lee

The students are very proud of their Asian Pacific American Heritage Assembly that they presented last year There was also an article written and published in the local newspaper about the event by club member, Grace Wang

 Student Ambassadors Program

Advisor: Gretchen Gugliotta

At Weston High School, our Student Ambassadors act as mentors, facilitators, and more than anything else, friendly faces and a support network for students new to Weston High School The Ambassadors are made up of a select group

of sophomores, juniors, and seniors who apply to be a part of the program and can commit fully to our meeting/event schedule Over the course of the year, Student Ambassadors participate in the following activities:

 Attend a one-day summer training in August

 Attend meetings during Activity Block, especially in the fall and spring

 Check-in with their assigned new students on a weekly basis

 Provide tours for prospective families a few times each year

 Participate in ninth grade orientation the day before school starts

 Plan events to help new students acclimate to Weston High School

 Give tours to 8th graders and parents in June as they begin to transition to the high school

High School Athletic Participation

2005/ 06

ATHLETIC NOTABLES:

Fall 2017

Golf - D3 MIAA State Runner-Up/D3 North Sectional Champions (4 yrs in a row)/DCL Small Champions (4yrs in

a row)

Girls Volleyball - MIAA Tournament Sectional Quarterfinalist

Girls Soccer - DCL Small Champions (4 yrs in a row)/MIAA Tournament Sectional Quarterfinalist

Boys Soccer - MIAA Tournament

Boys & Girls Cross Country - B & G State Qualifiers

Girls Crew - State Public High School Champions

Winter 2016/17

Girls Swim/Dive - Division 2 State Runner-ups

Boys Basketball - MIAA Tournament D3 North Sectional Quarterfinalist

Boys Indoor Track - DCL Small Champions

Spring 2017

Boys Tennis - MIAA D3 State Champions

Girls Tennis - MIAA State Tournament Qualifier

Baseball - DCL Small Champions/MIAA Tournament Qualifier

Girls Lacrosse - DCL Small Champions/MIAA Tournament D2 North Quarterfinalist

2017 College Admission and Testing Overview

Weston High School students continued to have strong college acceptance choices and earned high acceptance rates Many students were admitted and committed to an Early Decision school, while others were able to choose from several colleges after receiving acceptances from Early Action and Regular Decision schools With the help of Naviance, School Counselors continue to encourage students to make realistic and suitable choices when they apply to colleges The department has seen success in helping students to consider an

increasing number of appropriate “likely” schools and universities that are less competitive but fit students’ criteria for a college Students have continued to apply in greater numbers to schools beyond those to which most of our students have applied in the past This is due in large part to efforts and encouragement put forward

by counselors In the 2016-2017 academic calendar year, 177 students (out of 181) enrolled in 108 different colleges and universities These schools are in 26 states, the District of Columbia, Canada, and Scotland This

continuing trend reflects that our students are branching out to find colleges/universities that are best suited for them It also means that students are expanding their horizons by going in greater numbers to colleges outside of

our traditional New England/New York area Members of the class of 2017 reported in their Guidance Senior Exit Survey that 52.6% will be attending their first-choice institution and 24.9% will be attending their second choice Thus, 77.5% of our students are attending their first or second choice schools

Electronic application submission is almost universal, as the number of colleges that require paper transcripts are few For students, the Common Applications is by far the most commonly used, followed by institutional applications and only a few Coalition Applications or other systems Naviance allows us to send application materials through the eDocs system While this improves efficiency, it also makes it easy for more students to apply to numerous schools This may cause them to apply to more schools than is necessary or beneficial This causes more work for the students, counselors, teachers, and colleges, a greater sense of confusion and

miscommunication, and most importantly, will result in an increasing number of negative responses to student

applications The Class of 2017 submitted 1819 applications to colleges The trend to apply in early admissions programs continues to rise One hundred and fifty-seven students (88.7%) applied in the fall under some type

of “early” application Of these, 91 enrolled in an early acceptance school – 58.0% of early applicants and 51%

of the entire class Seventy-five students (47.8% of early applicants) applied Early Decision I or II, and 37 students (21% of the entire class) are attending Early Decision schools

Weston High School students continued to fare extremely well in the college application process as 98.3% are

continuing their formal education at four or two-year colleges, universities or preparatory schools Of those,

96% are attending four-year institutions, 2.3% are enrolled at two-year colleges, while the remaining three

students (1.7%) are doing a gap year or joined the work force The College Board’s College Handbook (55th

edition, 2018) lists colleges by level of selectivity Colleges considered most competitive admit fewer than 50%

of their applicants Ninety-six students (54%) enrolled in schools from that list this year This success is a

product of hard work on the part of students, their commitment to academics and their demonstrated strength in

a multitude of co-curricular activities It also reflects teachers’ and staff's commitments to our students, and students’ overall preparation by the Weston Public Schools

Advanced Placement Program

Weston continues to offer a strong Advanced Placement curriculum to our students Last year, 271 Weston students took AP exams Of those, 107 were seniors, 105 were juniors, 50 were sophomores, and 9 were

freshmen In total, 504 AP tests were administered in the following areas:

 In the 2016-2017 academic year, our high school program included the following AP courses Students in

these courses were required to take the AP exam in May, unless noted

In English: English Literature and Composition,

In Math: Calculus AB, Calculus BC, Statistics*, and Computer Science,

In Science: Biology, Chemistry, Physics C: Elect & Magnetism, and Physics C: Mechanics,

In History: World History^, United States History^, and European History^,

In Languages: French Language, Spanish Language, Spanish Literature, and Latin^

In Music: Music Theory

* Seniors were not required to take the AP Statistics exam

^ Students in AP History courses and AP Latin were not required to take the AP exams

 In addition, individual students independently prepared for and took the following AP exams:

Chinese Language and Culture

Outcomes: Our students continue to distinguish themselves on the AP examinations For the 2017 AP cycle,

87.5% of our students scored 3 or better, slightly higher than the performance from 2016 (See tables XI-XIII.)

Further, our students earned the following Advanced Placement Awards:

 AP Scholar Award (score of three or higher on three AP exams) – 36 students (20 seniors and 16

juniors) earned this recognition in 2017

 AP Scholar with Honor Award (average grade of 3.25 on all AP exams and grades of three or higher on four or more exams) – 11 students (9 seniors and 2 juniors) earned recognition in 2017

 AP Scholar with Distinction Award (average grade of at least 3.5 on all AP exams taken and grades of three or higher on five or more exams) - 40 students (38 seniors and 2 juniors) earned this recognition in

2017

 National AP Scholar Award (students earning an average grade of four or higher on all AP exams

taken and grades of four or higher on eight or more of these exams) – 12 students (12 seniors) earned

recognition in 2017

AP Report Summary for the 2016-2017 Academic Year

 504 AP tests were administered

 271 Weston High School students took the tests

 87.5% scored three or above

 36 students earned an AP Scholar Award

 11 students earned an AP Scholar with Honor Award

 40 students earned an AP Scholar with Distinction Award

 12 students earned an AP National Scholar Award

Executive Summary for the Class of 2017

 1819 applications

 591 Early applications were submitted

 157 students (88.7%) applied early; of those, 91 enrolled in an early acceptance school (58%)

 51% of the entire class enrolled in an early school, with 21% enrolled in an Early Decision school

 75 students applied Early Decision I or II; of those, 37 enrolled in the Early Decision school

 177 members of the Class of 2017 will attend 108 post-secondary institutions These schools are in 26

states, the District of Columbia, Canada, and Scotland

 96.0% enrolled in a 4-year university/college

 2.3% enrolled in a 2-year institution

 69% enrolled in a private university/college

 54% enrolled in “most competitive college” category

 75% took the SAT Reasoning Test

 67% took the ACT

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Table I Placement Statistics – Class of 2017 16

Table II Placement Statistics of the Class of 2017 Compared With Statistics for the Ten Previous Years 16

Table III Schools and Colleges Attended by the Class of 2017 17

Table IV Competitive College Admissions Competitive Colleges Attended by the Class of 2017 18

Table V Colleges Attended by Students in The Middle 50% of Class of 2017 19

Table VI Colleges Attended by Students in The Middle Fifth of Class of 2017 20

Table VII A Ten-Year Comparison of Public vs Private 4-Year College Attendance 20

Table VIII Local and National SAT Test Scores with Comparisons of Number of Tests Taken Locally Versus Number Taken Nationally 21-25 Table IX SAT Score Distribution – 2017 and Ten Previous Years Weston High School-National comparison 26

Table X ACT Score Distribution – 2017 and Nine Previous Years Weston High School-National-State comparison 27

Table XI 2017 AP Results 28

Table XII 2017 AP Gender Breakdown 30

Table XIII 2017 AP Ten Year Breakdown 31