Freshmen sorted in Academy Houses to raise grad rates

David Douglas has a new academic and curricular system for sorting 9th graders in order to generate more support for incoming high schoolers. 

This new system, called Freshman Houses, has replaced the similar idea of Freshman Academy. These new houses sort all freshmen into one of four houses: Summit, Cascade, Ocean and Timber (SCOT). Each house groups around 150 Freshman, who will share English, math, science, and homeroom teachers which have also been assigned to their house. Students in a house rotate through their core classes with only classmates and teachers in their same Freshman House.

With smaller class sizes, and the same group of students in each core class, teachers may be better suited to help support the transition from middle school to high school. Because each group of teachers are working with the same house of 150 students, teachers are being asked to track their freshmen’s progress, attendance and what might not be working. The administration hopes this more personalized approach will allow more areas for support, and less chances for students in need to slip under the radar. 

The main reasoning behind this change from Freshman Academy to Freshman Houses came down to the need for stronger support with freshman students. According to assistant principal Angie Ortiz-Mcneese, 81% of students who are on track during 9th grade go on to successfully graduate on time, supporting a connection between a strong start and foundation in high school leading to a successful high school career. 

“If they’re having a lot of the same classes I think it’s really great for the community building aspect.” said Summit House math teacher Christine Ardans. “I think as teachers we are still figuring out what houses are and how to better use them to support students.”

All changes come with growing pains, however. “If you’re not in a house with your friend, then you won’t get any classes with them,” said freshman Oliva Enyinwa.