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How Does New West High School Address Student Risk Factors?
Every aspect of children's lives affects their ability to learn and succeed in school. Wells (1990) identified a variety of circumstances that often place students at risk. She lists student-related, family-related, school-related, and community-related factors. While any one factor–or even several factors–does not necessarily prevent a student from being successful in a district’s traditional high school program, these factors do identify the potential that a student may drop out (Frymier & Gansneder, 1989).
The table below presents an extensive list of risk factors and New West High School’s response to those factors. Our dedicated staff strives everyday to continually improve our program to meet the needs of our students, their families, and our community.
School-Related Risk Factor | New West High School’s Response |
Conflict between home/school culture | On-site student success coordinator Scheduled family conferences twice annually |
Ineffective discipline system | Clear, consistent expectations and discipline system communicated to and supported by students and their families |
Lack of adequate counseling | On-site counselor |
Negative school climate | Positive climate based on positive student-teacher and student-student relationships |
Lack of relevant curriculum | Individual Learning Plans for all students. Personalized instruction Identified career pathways for all students Financial literacy instruction Social-emotional learning instruction |
Passive instructional strategies | Engaging instruction and teachers |
Inappropriate use of technology | Appropriately limited use of educational technology No student phones allowed during school hours |
Disregard of student learning styles | Individual Learning Plans for all students Personalized instruction |
Retentions/Suspensions | No retention/suspension Restorative Justice practices |
Low expectations | Appropriately challenging expectations for every student |
Lack of language instruction | EL building coordinator (Shared with BHS) |
Community-Related Risk Factor | New West High School’s Response |
Lack of community support services or response | On-site Student Success Coordinator to connect families with community supports Community support presentations built into the school year |
Lack of community support for schools | Demonstrated high level of community support for New West High School |
High incidences of criminal activities | Strong support from the Johnson County Attorney’s office Weekly meetings with the Johnson County Attorney |
Lack of school/community linkages | Community presentations built into the school year. Support for student internships and other school-to-work experiences |
Student-Related Risk Factor | New West High School’s Response |
Poor school attitude | Positive climate based on positive student-teacher and student-student relationships |
Low ability level | Individual Learning Plans for all students Personalized instruction |
Attendance/truancy | Positive climate based on positive student-teacher and student-student relationships Regular communication with families 4+ day school week / Friday school Strong attendance policy |
Behavior/discipline problems | Clear, consistent expectations and discipline system communicated to and supported by students and their families |
Pregnancy | On-site student success coordinator On-site Student Success Coordinator to connect families with community supports Community support presentations built into the school year |
Drug abuse | On-site counselor On-site Student Success Coordinator to connect families with community supports |
Poor peer relationships | Orientation for all students at the beginning of each school year Peer relationship skills revisited throughout our year-long “Essential Skills” program Positive climate based on positive student-teacher and student-student relationships |
Non-participation | Engaging instruction and teachers Connections between school and career |
Friends have dropped out | On-site Student Success Coordinator to connect families with community supports Positive climate based on positive student-teacher and student-student relationships |
Illness/disability | On-site Student Success Coordinator to connect families with community supports Individual Learning Plans for all students |
Low self-esteem/self-efficacy | Orientation for all students at the beginning of each school year Self-efficacy skills revisited throughout our year-long “Essential Skills” program On-site counseling |
Family-Related Risk Factor | New West High School’s Response |
Low socioeconomic status | On-site Student Success Coordinator to connect families with community supports On-site counseling |
Dysfunctional home life | On-site counseling Self-efficacy skills revisited throughout our year-long “Essential Skills” program |
No parental involvement | New West parent-teacher organization |
Low parental expectations | On-site counseling Self-efficacy skills revisited throughout our year-long “Essential Skills” program |
Non-English-speaking home | EL building coordinator (Shared with BHS) |
Ineffective parenting/abuse | On-site counseling Self-efficacy skills revisited throughout our year-long “Essential Skills” program Strong support from the Johnson County Attorney’s office Weekly meetings with the Johnson County Attorney |