Schools of Opportunity

Schools of Opportunity is a project that aims to recognize public high schools that minimize opportunity gaps with outstanding education.[2] The National Education Policy Center, a non-profit education policy research center, created Schools of Opportunity as a project in 2014.[3]

Schools of Opportunity
LocationBoulder, Colorado
FounderCarol Corbett Burris[1]
CountryUnited States
Launched2014
Websitehttps://www.schoolsofopportunity.org/

Mission

The Schools of Opportunity project gives annual "gold" and "silver" recognition to schools in the United States.[4] The project seeks to recognize those high schools that follow practices such as supporting students' physical and psychological health, having outreach to the community, and having a broad, enriched curriculum.[5] It is built on criteria set forth in the 2013 book, Closing the Opportunity Gap.[6]

The Schools of Opportunity project believes that high quality schools are those that use research-based practices, and that standardized testing mainly reflects the student's learning opportunities outside of school; therefore, the project does not focus on how effective the school is.[7][8] That is, the project illustrates an alternative to ranking systems based on test score, which overwhelmingly reward schools that serve wealthy or cherry-picked student bodies.[9] Schools submit initial applications explaining and documenting why they should be recognized with a reward. Then, after two online reviews and one school visit, the gold and silver recognitions are announced. In order to qualify for recognition, the school must be a public or charter school; it must enroll high school students; at least 10% of the school must qualify for free or reduced priced lunch; the percentage of students with Individualized Education Programs must not fall 2 or more points below the district where the school is located; the school must commit to ensuring all students have access to rich, challenging but supported learning opportunities; and it must be committed to non-exclusionary discipline practices.[10] While designated Schools of Opportunity do not receive extra funding, the directors of the project hope for them to serve as role models for other peers.[11]

Origins

Schools of Opportunity was founded in 2014 in New York and Colorado by the National Education Policy Center and expanded across the United States in 2015.[12] The project has been funded by, among others, the Ford Foundation, the NEA Foundation, and Voqal.[13]

List of Recipients
2015 Recipients[14]
School Reward
Centaurus High School Gold
Fannie Lou Hamer Freedom High School Gold
Grand Valley High School Gold
Jefferson County Open School Gold
Malverne High School Gold
Center High School Silver
Charles D’Amico High School Silver
Durango High School Silver
Eastridge High School Silver
Elwood – John H. Glenn High School Silver
Fox Lane High School Silver
Harrison High School Silver
Long Beach High School Silver
Long View High School Silver
Mapleton Early College High School Silver
Sleepy Hollow High School Silver
Sunset Park High School Silver
2016 Recipients[15]
School Reward
Crater Renaissance Academy Gold
Hillsdale High School Gold
Leland and Gray Union Middle and High School Gold
Rainier Beach High School Gold
Revere High School Gold
Rochester International Academy Gold
South Side High School Gold
William Smith High School Gold
Boston Arts Academy Silver
Cedar Shoals High School Silver
Clarke Central High School Silver
East Rockaway High School Silver
New Vista High Silver
Northwest High School Silver
Oakland International High Silver
Ossining High School Silver
Quilcene High School Silver
Stillman Valley High School Silver
Urbana High School Silver
Washington Technology Magnet School Silver
2017 Recipients[12]
School Reward
Broome Street Academy Charter High School Gold
Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences Gold
Denver South High School Gold
Health Sciences High & Middle College Gold
Lincoln High School Gold
Seaside High School Gold
Hammond High School Silver
William C. Hinkley High School Silver
2018-2019 Recipients[16][17]
School Reward
Casco Bay High School Gold
Clark Street Community School Gold
Native American Community Academy Gold
Pocomoke High School Gold
Salt Lake Center for Science Education Gold
Social Justice Humanitas Gold
Martin Luther King Jr. Early College Silver

References
  1. "Project Leadership | Schools of Opportunity". www.schoolsofopportunity.org. Retrieved 2021-05-15.
  2. "Salt Lake Center for Science Education receives national recognition". ABC4 Utah. 2019-05-31. Retrieved 2021-05-18.
  3. "Schools of Opportunity". National Education Policy Center. Retrieved 2021-05-05.
  4. Strauss, Valerie (November 1, 2016). "This school was on the brink of closure. Here's how it saved itself". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
  5. Strauss, Valerie (2016-09-12). "A new way to honor high schools, without looking at test scores". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
  6. "Closing the Opportunity Gap". National Education Policy Center. Retrieved 2021-06-24.
  7. LaCour, Sarah E.; York, Adam; Welner, Kevin; Valladares, Michelle Renée; Kelley, Linda Molner (2017-09-01). "Learning from schools that close opportunity gaps". Phi Delta Kappan. 99 (1): 8–14. doi:10.1177/0031721717728271. ISSN 0031-7217.
  8. Meltzer, Erica (2018-01-22). "What other schools can learn from two Colorado Schools of Opportunity". Chalkbeat Colorado. Retrieved 2021-05-18.
  9. Welner, Kevin. "The business of rankings: did the US News & World Report make substantial mistakes?". The Conversation. Retrieved 2021-06-24.
  10. "2018 Schools of Opportunity Application" (PDF). Retrieved May 5, 2021.
  11. "7 innovative schools that beat the odds". CU Boulder Today. 2019-05-31. Retrieved 2021-05-17.
  12. Strauss, Valerie (2018-01-22). "Analysis | Here are eight 'Schools of Opportunity' that do extraordinary things for students". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2021-05-05.
  13. "Ll schools receive 'School of Opportunity' honor". Newsday. Retrieved 2021-05-15.
  14. "2015 Recipients | Schools of Opportunity". www.schoolsofopportunity.org. Retrieved 2021-05-21.
  15. Strauss, Valerie (2016-09-12). "The 20 schools that won 2016 Schools of Opportunity awards — and why they were selected". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2021-05-21.
  16. Strauss, Valerie (2019-05-21). "Here are 7 'Schools of Opportunity' that 'show us a way forward'". Washington Post. Retrieved 2021-05-21.
  17. "2018-2019 Recipients | Schools of Opportunity". www.schoolsofopportunity.org. Retrieved 2021-05-21.
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