Sabis Charter School Earns Honors
Springfield Republican
By Natalia E. Arbulu
November 20, 2003
Boston-based think tank has identified Sabis International Charter School as one of eight urban schools in the state on its way to closing the achievement gap at the high school level.
In its latest report titled "Head of the Class: Characteristics of Higher Performing Urban High Schools in Massachusetts," the Center for Education Research and Policy at MassInc. highlights the achievements of schools that have improved student performance in districts with high concentrations of low-income and minority students.
Sabis was the only school from Western Massachusetts to receive the designation.
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The report identifies University Park Campus School in Worcester as the only high performing urban school serving secondary students in the commonwealth.
Researchers paid site visits to schools and analyzed a variety of indicators, including attendance and dropout rates, college plans, and Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System test scores to draw their conclusions.
Center executive director Paul Reville said many urban high schools fail to meet the needs of lower-income and minority youth.
"This challenge should command the immediate attention of policymakers and researchers," Reville said in a statement accompanying the report.
Thomsen will participate in the think tank's conference in Boston today discussing how to improve urban high schools.
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"We've got high expectations but we truly try to not let anyone slip through the cracks and the kids know we care about them," Thomsen said.
Springfield Schools Superintendent Joseph P. Burke said Sabis has created a successful model that gives students and parents regular feedback on student performance in relation to state standards.
The district will soon seek to create a modified version of that model by reporting student performance on a quarterly basis.
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