Berkeley High School (California)

Berkeley High demographics, as of the 2017–2018 school year, out of 3,118 enrolled students:[13]

• 463 (15%) African American or Black
• 7 (0.2%) American Indian or Alaska Native
• 251 (8%) Asian
• 22 (0.7%) Filipino
• 731 (23%) Hispanic or Latino
• 11 (0.3%) Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian
• 1,258 (40%) White, non-Hispanic
• 375 (12%) identifying as two or more races
• 949 (30%) received free/reduced meal, English learners or foster youth
• 884 (28%) received free and reduced price meals
• 177 (6%) English learners
• 652 (21%) fluent English proficient

The achievement gap refers to the academic disparity between certain groups, including African-Americans, Latinos, students whose first language is not English, and students living in poverty, that perform significantly below others.[14] This gap extends beyond the results of standardized test scores and also applies to the disparity between certain groups regarding dropout rates, participation in honors classes and Advanced Placement (AP) exams, and numbers of students admitted to colleges.[15] Due to Berkeley High School's racially, ethnically and socio-economically diverse student population, it has been called the "most integrated high school in America."[16] However an achievement gap continues to exist between the white students and black and Latino students. For example, for the 2017–18 school year, the percentages of white students who graduated with the requirements for the UC application fulfilled was 86%, compared to 40% of black students and 50% of Latino students.[13] In 2015, the graduation rate for English learners was 68%--much lower than any other group.[17] Beyond academics and looking at student performance and behavior, "white and hispanic students are suspended less frequently than African-American students," and black students are much more frequently expelled, drop out, are absent, and/or are enrolled in remedial classes and special education.[17] Regarding post-graduation, "many white and Asian students graduate with honors and attend elite colleges and universities, while few blacks and Latino students follow a similar path."[13]

In 2000, in an attempt to better serve its diverse community and close the achievement gap between white students and students of color, BHS began experimenting with the idea of small schools.[18][19] In 2005, Berkeley High School officially established four small schools and a comprehensive program, Academic Choice.

The small schools that began the 2005-06 school with 240 students were

• The Arts and Humanities Academy (AHA)
• Communication Arts and Sciences (CAS)
• Academy of Medicine and Public Service (AMPS)

In addition to the smaller schools, there are two Comprehensive Learning Communities which compose nearly two-thirds of the student body, between 1000 and 1300 students. Academic Choice (AC) and Berkeley International High School (BIHS) - part of the International Baccalaureate (IB) program as of 2007 - make up this Comprehensive Learning Community.

• Academic Choice (AC)
• Berkeley International High School (BIHS)

Prior to the Fall 2018 school year, upon enrolling at Berkeley High School incoming freshmen immediately chose to join one of the five learning communities that vary in size, academic emphasis and offerings.[20] Taking into account these preferences as well as a student's zip code, a lottery system determined the student's placement in one of the small schools. However, after several years, it was clear that the learning communities model had made little progress in closing the academic achievement gap between students at BHS.[21] A demographic breakdown of small schools from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Report from 2011 to 2012 reported that within AC was 12% Latino students, 19% African American students, and 41% white, and within IB was 11% Latino, 29% African American and 47% white; while within AMPS was 24% Latino, 51% African American and 9% white.[22] Moreover, Green Academy (now discontinued) and AMPS were the learning communities with the most students who scored not proficient in Math and English California Standards Test (CST) scores.

The following demographics data was disaggregated by learning community by the BUSD WASC Self-Study of 2011–2012. Note that Green Academy and Life Academy have been discontinued.

BHS Demographics 2010-2011

The following California Standards Test (CST) data was disaggregated by learning community by the BUSD Department of Evaluation and compares the proficiency rates of Berkeley High School's six learning communities.[23] Note that Green Academy has been discontinued.

Percent of students "proficient or above" in Math and English California Standards Test (CST) scores

A policy exists surrounding students who wish to be placed in IB or AC (the most rigorous of the small schools) that guarantees them a spot in one of those small schools if they don't list any other choices. "The majority of white students and Asian students who come into school don't choose the small learning communities, they only choose IB or AC" and this policy hasn't been removed because parents have fought against students having to be placed in a small learning community if they did not want them to.[17] Segregation among students is another possible explanation for the persistence of the achievement gap. A BHS teacher said that "freshmen often will decide their learning community based on stereotypes within the school."[20] "Much of the segregation occurs during the nonstructural part of the school day: before and after school, during lunch and between classes."[16] Segregation inside schools is directly influenced by segregation outside of school, and in Berkeley white students are more reported to be from middle and upper-middle-class families living the Berkeley hills while minority students are more reported to come from lower income families in the more flatland neighborhoods.[24]

In 2015, administrators began discussions about reorganizing the high school.[25][26][27] The Berkeley Redesign Project involved teachers, staff, students and parents. The first major change was to switch to a "universal 9th grade," in which freshmen will be placed in core groups of 120 students, with the choice of learning community beginning in tenth grade. This is intended to counter the occurrence of freshmen choosing their learning community based on stereotypes within the school and give them the opportunity to learn what the communities are like first-hand before they decide which one to join by creating a "randomized and intentionally heterogenous collection of students who would share a core group of teachers" that monitor the students and make sure none slip through the cracks.[20] Originally slated to start in the fall of 2017, the program began in the fall of 2018.[28] These core groups, called hives, are composed of about 120 students who share 4 teachers in their core subject areas: Math 1 (or Advanced Math 1), Physics 1, English, and Ethnic Studies/Social Living. Students also get to choose two electives. "At the end of ninth grade, students then have the opportunity to rank one of the five learning communities at Berkeley High School for their 10th-12th grade education."[29] After the BHS lottery process and upon being placed into a learning community, students are required to fulfill each learning community's unique academic requirements and are able to choose additional courses from individual departments, like African American Studies, Math, Performing and Visual Arts, Physical Education, Science and World Language.[30] If students prefer a more flexible and individualized education, they have the option of Berkeley Independent Study (BIS) as an alternative to the traditional classroom environment.

More ideas addressing the achievement gap include implementing an additional period strictly for advising so as to provide not just academic support and guidance with course selection, but social and emotional support as well—especially with regards post-graduation plans. One worry, however, is the fact that because academic disparities among racial and socioeconomic groups are established in elementary and middle school, these programs aimed at closing the achievement gap at BHS won't make that much of a difference.[20] The argument is then made for elementary and middle schools to make similar efforts in order to reduce those disparities more early on. To add, the development of interactive feedback loops would give districts the potential to continuously measure effectiveness and then implement alterations or modifications to its programs.[31] A 5-year reform by the Bay Area School Reform Collaborative (BASRC) stresses the importance of adequate professional development for teachers to ensure they are fully prepared to implement school-wide programs for positive change, including teachers being treated as active learners through trainings and workshops and being empowered as professionals by each other and teacher educators.[32]

Berkeley High School has been rated by several independent organizations. It currently receives a rating of 8/10 by GreatSchools, which utilizes test score, college readiness, course offering, equity, and discipline data to evaluate schools. It receives a grade of A+ by Niche, which utilizes public data and user reviews.

• African American Studies Department[33]
• Academic Choice Advisory Council[34]
• Athletics: basketball,[35] badminton, crew,[36] cross country,[37] football,[38] women's lacrosse,[39] men's lacrosse,[40] track and field[41]
• BHS Athletic Fund[42]
• Computer Technology
• ESL/ELL
• English and World Language
• History
• JSA[43]
• Mathematics
• Journalism, which produces the locally prominent school newspaper, the Berkeley High Jacket[44]
• Physical Education
• PTSA[45]
• Science
• Special Education
• Visual and Performing Arts: Jazz Ensemble [46]
• Youth & Government[47]