We have accomplished a great deal at Harbor High School this year. Our successes include the addition of learning opportunities for students, partnerships with the community, improved facilities, and a variety of services we provide for students and families.

A focus of our work this year has been on improving student achievement. Recognizing the need for a diagnostic and prescriptive approach to individualized learning, we established a Learning Center. We were also the recipient of a five-year 21st Century After-School Grant, which will provide additional reading and math tutoring, family involvement activities and prevention/recreation opportunities. We will have new summer school options for history, science and the arts. Students will have the opportunity to tour Washington State this summer to learn its history, study the environment while on a voyage with the Lady Washington, or become involved in community arts projects and museum visits. We will also offer English and math classes during the summer.

One of the strengths of Harbor High School is its partnerships with community members. This year, we began a collaboration with Grays Harbor Community College to offer vocational programs to students. The Galway Bay Restaurant became a partner through the Chef Mentorship Program and the Washington State Restaurant/Hospitality Association now provides a certification program for qualifying students. We are also able to refer students for medical, dental and vision services through our partnership with Pacific Health Clinic.

Harbor High School facilities have improved this year, too. Our new Prostart/Hospitality kitchen is nearly complete. The building accessibility and safety project is almost finished, as well. We have remodeled bathrooms, added two new bathrooms, improved flooring and replaced doors with automated ones. The Downtown Program moved to a new, much larger location.

We continued to serve our students and their families. As a result of our open enrollment policy we work with students from Aberdeen as well as other districts. Currently 75% of our students are Aberdeen residents, while 25% reside elsewhere. During the year, we offer five family and school conferences. Our GEARUP program now serves 28 students. Our follow-up survey of Harbor High graduates shows that 88% of last year's graduates are currently working and/or attending post high school programs.

Harbor High School is an alternative high school serving students in grades 9-12. The enrollment was 290 as of October 1, 2002. Currently, 80% of our students qualify for free and reduced priced meals.

As of October 1, 2002, the student enrollment at Harbor High School was made up of 10 percent Hispanic, 75 percent Caucasian, 1 percent African-American, 1 percent Asian and 13 percent Native American.

For Harbor High School, 9th and 10th Grades

Grade 9	NATIONAL	SPRING	SPRING	SPRING
Iowa Test of Educational Development	AVERAGE	2000	2001	2002
READING	50 %	30 %	31 %	28 %
EXPRESSION	50 %	24 %	27 %	24 %
QUANTITATIVE THINKING	50 %	25 %	31 %	25 %
CORE TOTAL	50 %	24%	28 %	22 %
Grade 10	SPRING	SPRING	SPRING	SPRING
WASL	1999	2000	2001	2002
READING	6.4 %	20.5 %	15.6 %	14.8 %
MATH	1.1 %	1.4 %	0.0 %	0.0 %
WRITING	10.6 %	1.4 %	4.7 %	7.4 %
LISTENING	22.3 %	43.2 %	44.4 %	51.8 %
= % OF STUDENTS MEETING OR EXCEEDING THE STATE STANDARDS

The focus of Harbor High's improvement plan for the 2003-2004 school year will be in the areas of improved student achievement in reading and mathematics. Our goals and objectives are below.

Goal 1:

We will increase the percentage of our students meeting standard on the 10th grade Washington Assessment of Student Learning in reading from 14.8% (2002) to 31.1% (AYP calculated using Safe Harbor) by spring of 2004.

To achieve this goal, we will

• Continue Harbor High School's Learning Center to provide a diagnostic and prescriptive approach to individualized learning
• Ensure that students complete 1 credit of English before taking the WASL
• Implement Project CRISS, Step Up to Writing, and Thinking Maps as instructional strategies
• Align instruction based on the essential learning requirements and the review of WASL test results
• Implement specific WASL preparation opportunities for students prior to the test
• Participate in early release days for focused staff development and instructional planning

Goal 2:

We will increase the percentage of our students meeting standard on the 10th grade Washington Assessment of Student Learning in math from 0.0% to 19% (AYP calculated using Safe Harbor) by spring of 2004.

To achieve this goal, we will

• Continue Harbor High School's Learning Center to provide a diagnostic and prescriptive approach to individualized learning mathematics before taking the WASL
• Implement Thinking Maps, applied math, and integration of art and math as instructional strategies
• Align instruction based on the essential learning requirements and the review of WASL test results
• Implement specific WASL preparation opportunities for students prior to the test
• Participate in early release days for focused staff development and instructional planning

The Process of Developing our Plan

The entire Harbor High staff was involved in developing our 2003-2004 School Improvement Plan. This process involved reviewing data, prioritizing concerns, setting goals, identifying obstacles to achieve the goals, studying research and developing a strategic action plan. We reviewed test score information and other data. We also reviewed the following areas; The Nine Characteristics of Effective Schools, Safe and Supportive Learning Environments, Equity Factors, Parent and Family Involvement and Technology. Each of these areas is addressed below.

Characteristics of Effective Schools

Our entire staff meets weekly to collaborate, share, and review our efforts towards ensuring a quality educational opportunity for all our students. Recently our staff decided to review 1 of each 9 characteristics each month and discuss how it applies to our instructional programs and services. To date we have reviewed:

• Clear Shared Focus
• High Standards and Expectations
• Supportive Learning Environment

Next year, our school staff will participate in the early release days to focus on staff development and planning.

Safe and Supportive Learning Environments

Historically our top priority has been to create a nurturing, supportive, and safe learning environment. As students enter Harbor High School, it is our goal to reduce barriers that might interfere with their hopes and goals. Their responses to the following key questions during orientation guide us in designing their unique individualized education plan.

• What do you need to be a successful student?
• How do you want to be treated?
• What frustrates you about school?
• What do you do well?
• What would you like to do better?
• What do you value most?

Currently, in a collaborative effort with students, staff, and community agencies, we are reviewing our services available to students who struggle with significant mental health, addiction and/or medical concerns.

Educational Equity Factors

Our staff has a strong and persistent commitment to providing equal opportunities for all students and removing barriers that prevent success. For example, we reduce the expense barriers to participate:

• No charge for our yearbook
• No charge for prom - includes photos
• Bus passes provided
• All field trip expenses paid

We intend to increase the range of both social and academic activities with our recent award of the Century 21st After-School Grant. Also, an area of future review and consideration will be gender equity.

Parent and Family Involvement

Families are highly valued by our staff and encouraged to play an important role in their child's education in a variety of ways.

• Family participation in the orientation process.
• Family, Student, and School Partnership Agreement signed.
• Opportunities for Family/School Conferences five times per year.
• Student's advisor communicates directly with each student/family on a regular basis.
• Families are surveyed annually to determine their level of satisfaction.
• Upon request families can receive weekly progress reports.

Next year, our 21st Century Grant will provide expanded families activities and offer more ways for families to connect with their child's high school plan.

Technology

The integration of technology into our instructional programs continues to expand. The Daily Student Plan Sheet tracks individually each student's school plan and progress towards their goals. Currently, in addition to our two computer labs, two teachers have received TLP grants that allow students to engage in various technical projects. As we move into next year, it is our hope to implement our school's Student Portfolio System (the 4'P's) with a computerized option.