For the 2007-08 school year, YVHS has implemented a program specifically for 9th graders-the school within a school program-SWS. This program is designed to provide a very structured setting for 9th graders,who typically suffer from attendance, tardy and discipline referral issues as a group. Based on the CST scores from the previous testing from their 8th grade year, we chose 240 from a class of over 700. A team of eight teachers was then chosen to implement this program within the core areas of World Geography, Science, Math and English. The program operates daily periods 1-4 with periods 5 and 6 as the PE or Elective classes. The staff meets twice weekly, once on Monday to discuss curriculum issues and Friday to resolve student issues such as attendance and discipline.

As a staff we are continually tracking attendance, illness, tardies, discipline referrals etc. This monitoring process is at the heart of a small learning community program such as SWS. The above mentioned data will be included with the April, 2008 CST scores as on-going benchmarks through which we can better adjust the program if need be to ensure continuing success.