Change happens: Thurgood Marshall High School

Last July I predicted great change at Thurgood Marshall High School:

I predict that within 3 years, Dayton’s Thurgood Marshall High School will be a school of first choice, much like the vaunted St. Ivers (I mean Stivers). And, I’ll be surprised if the parents of the students attending don’t know it as soon as this school year begins. The question will be: How long will it take for perceptions to change- and the word to get out.

via A man with a plan: David Lawrence, Principal Thurgood Marshall HS.

I took some flak in the comments, with it being made clear that the school hadn’t met any of the State Standards.

Year one, the school has now met one: 10th Grade OGT Writing. They met their “Adequate Yearly Progress” and were one point away from being rated “Adequate.” Now, I’m sure there are some of you that say a “Continuous Improvement” grade isn’t good enough, but, as the saying goes in hockey, you win games one goal at a time.

And while it’s nice to try to quantify results with nice neat little numbers, I doubt that these numbers relate at all to the changed atmosphere in the halls at Thurgood. It’s not just the new principal, or the new school building- there was a trip to State for the basketball team, and some outstanding students being recognized for, gasp, academic achievement.

There is no instant silver bullet solution to education, much as there is no silver bullet to bring jobs and prosperity to Dayton, but, having leaders with a plan is a great first step.

While 79 of 120 on the performance index may not seem like a big jump- it’s the first jump. Congratulations to Principal David Lawrence, his staff and all the students who have been working hard to prove the haters wrong.

Let’s watch what happens next year.

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