The Shaker Heights Bridges Program
About
The Bridges Program serves to increase the number of African American students and other under-represented demographic groups in our AP (Advanced Placement) and IB Diploma Program.
We achieve this with a summer session which creates supportive relationships with faculty, new friendships between students and leadership opportunities for participants. Throughout the year, the Bridges cohort meets for monthly lunchtime check-ins; two college visits over the year, regular study sessions, research trips and more exposure to leadership opportunities within Shaker Heights and our larger Cleveland community.
We have both increased the diversity in our classrooms (from Algebra I Honors-AP United States History) as compared to previous school years without the program; we have had our first cohort graduate with acceptances and scholarships at top Universities in Ohio, Tennessee, and Washington, D.C. Once students participate in Bridges, over 90% continue to take courses in the Honors, AP, and IB Diploma Program.
The Summer Bridges Experience is a two week program connected with academic year enrichment at Shaker Heights High School, which began in 2016. The summer program runs 2 weeks in June and aims to develop study skills, enhance students’ mindset for academic progress, and introduce the content for AP and IB Diploma level courses. The year-long Program caters to students in order to foster success and a passion for learning. Students and faculty meet monthly during the school year, enriching learning strategies and techniques for success employed by both groups to increase student success.
Rationale
Our goal for the Shaker Heights Bridges program is to increase student diversity and success in AP and IB Diploma classes, to more accurately reflect Shaker’s diverse population. With the first two years of the program, the percentage of Students of Color participating in AP U.S. History has increased from 15% to 33%. Underrepresented students we wish to support include students who identify as members of racial minority groups. These characteristics are all too often indicative of academic difficulties, and we believe that supporting equity for these groups would greatly increase diversity in the classroom, and bridge any gaps in achievement. Due to systemic and historical mistreatment, it is necessary to attempt to remedy the lack of opportunity for these disadvantaged students. Shaker Heights prides itself on the diversity of its student body, and this program exists to promote the closure of the existing and persistent achievement gap in Shaker Heights City Schools.
Contact Information
Shaunna Bonner - bonner_s@shaker.org
Sharon Craig - craig_s@shaker.org
Joseph Konopinski - konopinski_j@shaker.org
David Peake - peake_d@shaker.org