• Category 1

    Selected in 2016

  • Grades: 6 - 12
    School Setting: suburban
    Town Population: 0
    Student Enrollment: 593
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 19.7%
    White/Caucasian: 53%
    Hispanic: 13%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
    Asian: 14%
    Native American: 0.3%
    Other: 0%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:28
    % Reduced Lunch: 40%
    % ELL Learners: 0%
    Founded: 2005
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Jaime Zapico
  • CONTACT:
    701 Churchill Parkway
    Avondale, LA 70094
    504-838-2249
    jaime.zapico@jppss.k12.la.us
Patrick F Taylor Science and Technology Academy
Avondale, LA
We provide a rigorous learning environment that assures college-readiness, while fostering leadership and encouraging community involvement.
Describe the most successful activity your school has initiated to strengthen ties to your community.
The faculty at Taylor believes that along with academic success it’s also important for students to participate in community service as part of their education. Taylor has organizations in middle and high school including National Junior Honor Society, National Honor Society, Key Club, 4H, and Coastal Roots where service is required for membership. Though students are not required to join clubs, many choose to belong because they like the idea of giving back, even students who have little themselves. Students raise money or ask for donations to support causes like the local food bank and The Eliminate Project. Yet, it is the projects where they go out into the community that have the most impact. NHS adopts a family for the holidays, and raises money, shops, and wraps gifts to help those afflicted by AIDS. Coastal Roots grows and plants seedlings in Louisiana wetlands to help preserve the coastline. Key Club participates in local Halloween events to help children celebrate safely.
What is the single most important factor in the success of your school that others could replicate?
Besides students and their love of learning, the single most important factor that others could replicate would be a faculty and staff who have bought into the mission of the school. Everyone at Taylor believes they are part of the success story, and they are! The administrative staff is known for including student input in making decisions or planning events. The secretarial and custodial staff are around to support students in a variety of ways (change for water, lost items, a needed hug, or an ear that will listen and not judge). Teachers, counselors, and librarian all hold the expectation that each student is college bound, and these staff members work hard to prepare students for the next step. Faculty are willing and often eager to run after school camps or tutoring sessions to help struggling students or those who want more. The adults at this school see each other as integral to the success of each student and populating the school with adults like these has bred success.
Describe the program or initiative that has had the greatest positive effect on student achievement, including closing achievement or opportunity gaps, if applicable.
The school’s mission is to provide a rigorous learning environment that assures college-readiness, while fostering leadership and encouraging community involvement. Students not only need to be academically prepared, but also able to think critically with strong problem solving skills. There is a focus on writing across the curriculum from middle to high school. Writing is an essential skill in all content areas at all grade levels, as well as a talent that will serve students throughout their life. Students at Taylor are assessed on these skills separately in a program called School Wide Learning Outcomes (SWLO). Teachers will grade student work on seven different SWLOs that include oral and written communication, critical thinking, content, technology, work ethic, and collaboration. In this way, assessment can be used to give teachers a picture of the whole child not just how well they take tests.
Explain how Title I funds are used to support your improvement efforts.
The school’s plan has two focal points. In middle school, writing is the focus. English teachers use the same approach to teach writing that applies to narrative and research writing styles. Student writing is assessed with a common rubric in each content area. Under targeted assistance, struggling students were identified by their teachers. These students were offered after school, small group instruction to further develop basic grammar skills to be tied to their writing styles. In high school, the focus over the last 3 years is to increase student ACT scores. The graduation rate is 100% with 100% being accepted to a 4 year university. To assist students in financing their education, we focused on raising students’ ACT scores. Selection of students was based on Plan and Explore scores, using these as indicators of future ACT scores. This year AP Saturday Camp has added. The AP teachers will offer an intense Saturday morning program to prepare students for the rigorous tests.
Describe how data is used to improve student achievement and inform decision making.
At Taylor lessons are data driven. Using data from high stakes tests (LEAP, Explore, Plan, etc.), district benchmark tests, and teachers, courses are determined; content is scaffolded; and interventions are designed. Data led to scheduling English III in a double block to improve EOC scores. Title 1 funds were used to hire a part time certified teacher to work on writing with middle schoolers. After school ACT tutoring for high school students is available. Additionally, academic interventions school-wide are now addressed with an hour a week devoted to remediation across content and grade levels. Other interventions include parent conferences when students don’t turn in assignments or have low grades as well as Homework Support. Data showed an increase in failing students due to low work ethic. Students are not allowed not to turn in homework. If an assignment is missing, a student is required to attend daily Homework Support until the assignment is complete.

Stats
  • Category 1

    Selected in 2016

  • Grades: 6 - 12
    School Setting: suburban
    Town Population: 0
    Student Enrollment: 593
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 19.7%
    White/Caucasian: 53%
    Hispanic: 13%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
    Asian: 14%
    Native American: 0.3%
    Other: 0%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:28
    % Reduced Lunch: 40%
    % ELL Learners: 0%
    Founded: 2005
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Jaime Zapico
  • CONTACT:
    701 Churchill Parkway
    Avondale, LA 70094
    504-838-2249
    jaime.zapico@jppss.k12.la.us