What Is SILSA?

About SILSA:

• Named:

One of the Top High Schools In Western North Carolina according to US News and World Report.

• Administration:
  Principal: Dr. Jeremy Gibbs, jeremy.gibbs@acsgmail.net
  Assistant Principal: Stephanie Day, stephanie.day@acsgmail.net
  Counselor: Brandon Smith, brandon.smith@acsgmail.net
  Administrative Assistant: Pamela Washington, Pamela.washington@acsgmail.net
  
  
  

• School History and Vision:
  The school, located on the campus of Asheville High School, provides a unique experience for those who wish to participate in an educational setting that is different from and more challenging than the traditional high school.

 
Originated as part of the North Carolina New Schools Project, SILSA is a redesigned high school that integrates curriculum through a life-sciences theme. The New Schools Project, authorized by the Governor’s Education Cabinet and the Public School Forum, supported our efforts through its custodianship of a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Part of the larger High School Innovation Project, the goal of the North Carolina New Schools Project and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation was to create small, autonomous, rigorous high schools that offer all scholars a demanding, college-ready curriculum, academic and emotional support for their scholars, and preparation for a 21st-century job market that demands communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.

 
SILSA offers scholars meaningful off-campus activities as a part of each semester’s curriculum. The SILSA faculty is committed to offering dynamic, challenging courses that are more rigorous than the typical Honors level courses and feature a Project-Based Learning approach. Our goal is to prepare our scholars to make meaningful decisions about their own learning and future goals and to give them the skills they need to succeed in a rapidly-evolving global economy.

• School Mission Statement:
  SILSA, through rigorous and inquiry-based instruction, cultivates life-long learners who are empowered with the skills and dispositions required for success in the 21st-century.
  
  
  

• School Vision Statement: 

SILSA faculty promises to empower our graduates to develop the skills and dispositions of the seven outcomes.

SILSA’s core instruction is inquiry-based, rigorous, collaborative, 21st century relevant, and anchored in life science themes.

The SILSA community is committed to serving scholars holistically, designing the complete educational experience for scholars through robust relationships and professional collaboration. 

SILSA scholars are engaged and open-minded critical thinkers who proactively seek their personal best on the path to continuous improvement.

School District & Community:
SILSA is one of two public high schools in the Asheville City Schools District. Asheville City Schools serves over 4,400 students through 2 high schools, 1 middle school and 6 elementary schools. The city of Asheville has a population of approximately 89,000 and covers approximately 40 square miles and is located in Buncombe County with a population of approximately 275,000.

• Faculty, Staff and Scholars:
  The staff includes one principal, one assistant principal, one counselor, fourteen teachers, and one administrative assistant. Student enrollment consists of 9-12 grades currently totaling 330 scholars.
  
  Scheduling:
  Our school begins at 8:30am and ends at 3:30pm. We are on a combined year-long and block schedule. SILSA students are cross-enrolled in elective classes at Asheville High School such as Physical Education, Career Technical Education, Arts (Visual, Theatre, Instrumental and Vocal Music, and Dance), World Language, and some Advanced Placement courses.
  
  Athletics:
  Because we share the same campus, SILSA students and Asheville High students participate on the same athletic teams. 

• Arts:
  Because we share the same campus, SILSA students and Asheville High students may participate in the same arts classes and performances (classes, bands, chorus, dance, theater productions). 

• Clubs & Activities:
  Because we share the same campus, SILSA students and Asheville High students may participate in many of the he same clubs & activities.
  
  

• Honors Curriculum:
  All scholars participate in a rigorous-college preparatory curriculum. All academic classes are offered at the Honors level or higher. Scholars are expected to achieve the highest score on our school-wide writing and presentation rubrics by their 12th grade year. They are also expected to revise their four year digital portfolios annually to document their progress over time towards seven graduate outcomes. Our Pathfinder class is a ninth-grade class designed to provide scholars with strategies for academic success.

• Advanced Placement & College Enrollment options:
  The current Advanced Placement courses offered are AP Biology, AP Environmental Science, AP English Literature, and AP English Language and Composition. If their schedule permits, SILSA scholars may cross-enroll in most Asheville High Advanced Placement courses.

 
Due to the state initiative, College and Career Promise, SILSA scholars are able to enroll in any Asheville-Buncombe Technical College (A-B Tech) course for which they meet the prerequisites. Successful scholars will earn college credit (transferable to the UNC system as well as other selected private and state schools with a C or higher). SILSA scholars go on to the college campus to take courses with other college students.

• Leadership:
  Four important leadership organizations in which SILSA scholars have the opportunity to participate in are our Student Government Association (SGA), National Honor Society (NHS), Science National Honors Society (SNHS), and Mu Alpha Theta. Students are elected by their peers to be an SGA representative and are inducted into the NHS based on NHS criteria by a Faculty Advisory Committee. Ninth and tenth grade scholars must complete at least 10 hours of community service per year. Eleventh and twelfth grade scholars must complete at least 25 hours of per year.
  
  GRADING SYSTEM: 

A: 100-90 (4.0)

B: 89-80 (3.0)

C: 79-70 (2.0)

D: 69-60 (1.0)

F: 59 and below

(Honors classes receive a 0.5 GPA boost and College Level classes (AP/ABTech) receive a 1.0 GPA boost.)

Community Agreements and Scholar Responsibilities

At SILSA, we are a part of a community where individuals:

• Respect others and their ideas and communicate in ways that promote a safe, positive learning environment.

• Utilize inquiry to drive the learning process through discussion, exploration, and questioning.

• Understand the expectations for being a productive member of our community and hold each other accountable for meeting these expectations.

• Strive for excellence by persevering and maintaining personal responsibility in academics and interpersonal relationships.

• Identify powerful goals for their learning and development and reflect on their choices and progress toward these goals.

As a Scholar in the SILSA community, I believe that ethical and courteous practices are important to the common good and essential to sound life experiences. I support the following principles as my responsibilities:

• I will respect grading policies and will not be academically dishonest in any way.

• I will assume responsibility for my own actions. I understand that SILSA and AHS rules and regulations are designed for the benefit of all and I will follow them.

• I will demonstrate respect toward faculty, staff, administrators, other scholars, and any visitors or others who may be in attendance.

• I will demonstrate respect toward the physical and intellectual property of others and of the school and all school facilities.

• I will properly use all technological equipment including laptops, cell phones, science probes, calculators, etc. I will abide by the Asheville City Schools Responsible Use Agreement when using computers and the Internet.

• I will participate and contribute to class discussions and activities to the best of my abilities.

• I will not disrupt class nor intrude on other scholars’ right to learn in any way.

• I will extend courtesy, integrity, and good citizenship in my dealings with others and I am justified in expecting the same in return.

SILSA graduate outcomes

The SILSA faculty promises that we will empower our graduates to:

• • Care for themselves, one another, and the Earth;

  • Contribute to their community with collaboration, leadership, and respect;

  • Direct their own learning throughout their lives;

  • Ask good questions, solve complex problems, and think critically;

  • Create meaning from numbers and text;

  • Communicate clearly and elegantly;

  • Use technology ethically and skillfully.