Achievements and Challenges

Arlington High School has worked hard to meet challenges and to create an atmosphere where students feel they have a "home" and relationships with adults who know their capabilities and learning needs. When surveyed, students and parents show strong support for the ninth- and 10th-grade house system. Staff members realize the potential of teaming by sharing information about students and working together to provide cross-disciplinary instruction. Arlington shows that personalization is compatible with a comprehensive high school experience. In fact, the St. Paul School District is in the process of implementing SLCs in all seven of their high schools, with the assistance of the Center for School Change at the University of Minnesota and funding support from the Gates Foundation.

Nevertheless, there are challenges Arlington still must meet. It is a relatively new high school that is still establishing some of its traditions and processes. Students voice concern that student activities aren't well established and need more attention. Arlington also has some key challenges based on its demographics. It needs to provide a range of services to assist a student population that is characterized by mobility, relatively low academic success, low family incomes, and limited English proficiency. It needs to further refine the 11th- and 12th-grade focus areas to include more school-to-work experiences and counseling to support students to stay in school and reach appropriately high academic and career goals. There is a need to develop teachers' effectiveness in teaming and in academic areas —including across disciplines, especially among less experienced faculty.

Says Arlington's Curriculum Coordinator Jeff Rissman, "There's also the challenge of keeping staff vibrant with this student mix. These kids bring lots of needs. Yet, here, we get to know the kids and what their needs are. We're set up to find out more about them than in other school models, and that can make a difference."