District To Have 2 Gender-Specific Middle Schools

CCS State-Of-The-School Message (Added: October 15, 2009)

Residents hear about Columbus City Schools achievements, plans and challenges Wednesday. (more)

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By: Donna Willis | NBC4i.com
Published: October 15, 2009

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Columbus City Schools’ superintendent talked about the district’s advances and its challenges during a town forum Wednesday.

NBC 4 reported with the FAST FACTS.

Columbus City Schools’ graduation rate has improved, and Dr. Gene Harris had the numbers to prove it.

“In the years since 2001, we have taken graduation rates from 55 percent to 73.9 percent,” Harris said.

Harris talked about innovation while she stood on the stage of the newly renovated South High School.

She talked about how Linden-McKinley STEM School will become the new Linden-McKinley STEM Academy for grades 7 to 12.

The academy will receive a $30 million transformation with newly designed classrooms, the latest in technology, a renovated auditorium, new gym and athletic facilities and modern safety systems.

The school will open in 2011. STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and math.

Harris also talked about big plans for focused schools in fall 2010, including an international high school and two gender-specific middle schools.

The state-of-the-schools message told residents about the district’s continuing challenges, too.

Eighty-two of the district’s schools are in some level of academic improvement, and many of the district’s students aren’t ready for kindergarten.

“I'm not proud of the fact that we have 82 of our schools that are in some level of school improvement,” Harris said.

“We have too many children not ready for kindergarten,” Harris said.

A new get-for-school initiate will begin next year and will focus on 3- to 5-year-olds.

More schools will consolidate to streamline costs, too.

Harris said the goals of 90 percent graduation and world-class students are within reach but only with some real help.

We need great leadership … not just money but time … to get all our students across the finish line, she said.

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