Paul Robeson High School
Paul Robeson H.S., "Where Dreams Become Reality," is a general high school encompassing grades 9-12 located in Chicago's south side Englewood Community. The school's population of 1,300 students is 100% African-American. Robeson shares a seven acre campus with Parker Elementary School and Kennedy-King Junior College.
Robeson is a member of the Coalition of Essential Schools and has, over the last seven years, implemented the following:
- Nine Common Principles
These principles serve as the guiding force behind the school's improvement plan and various reform initiatives.
- Block Scheduling
Class periods are 100 minutes long and students take three academic classes for each twenty week semester. Teachers are provided with a common planning period.
- Cognitive Coaching and Critical Friends Group
Faculty are provided with collaborative team opportunities to share, reflect, and improve upon their instructional practices.
The school's engagement in the Inquiry Initiative involves the entire staff to participate and focus on:
- Teaching and Learning
To improve students' learning, Reading and Writing Across the Curriculum (RAC/WAC) has been incorporated. Students are given undisturbed (Sustained Silent Reading) time for recreational reading. Monthly reading tests are also administered.
- Student Progress and Achievement
Bimonthly vocabulary writing activities are given to students. They are reviewed by an outside external team. In addition, other national and local assessments are administered yearly.
- Learning Community
To make staff development activities more meaningful to teachers, Cognitive Coaching and Critical Friends Group were adopted. Both have provided opportunities for increased faculty collaboration, reduced isolation of teachers, and improved interdisciplinary communication.
Another vehicle utilized (administered to faculty and students) was "The School Improvement Self-Study Survey." The results will be used for baseline data and future school improvement planning.
For more information, please contact:
James Breashears, Principal
Paul Robeson H.S.
6835 S. Normal
Chicago, IL 60621
773-535-3800
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