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School Context Vanessa Brown |
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| Many of the teachers at Germantown High School have taught there for their entire teaching careers. Several teachers and staff members attended the school during its “glory days” of high student enrollment, high student achievement, athletic programs, marching bands, vibrant student government, choirs and choruses, academic, vocational and technical course offerings. Those teachers are now retiring or preparing for retirement having watched the school shift from “glory to the near grave” as a combined result of unconscionable budget slashing, high unemployment, drugs, housing pattern shifts and system wide neglect. | Several teachers & staff members attended the school during its “glory days"... |
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student body is predominantly African American. There are 1% Latino and
perhaps .5% Asian and .5% Caucasian. Most students have scored at basic
or below basic on national and local standardized tests. While it is not
considered a Title I school, most students are from low to low middle-income
families. Our freshman class has experienced a retention rate of over 50%
for 4 years in a row.
Under the
leadership of its fourth principal since I arrived in ’93, the school
has purchased a research based whole school reform model called Talent
Development. It is hoped that this program will guide Germantown forward
to its dreams of new “glory days." |