Education
As the first new high school built in several years, many unorthodox ideas were suggested. After many of the ideas were criticized the school district requested parental input on the direction of the school's curriculum and held meetings around the city to show their plans for the curriculum. School officials wished to create a balance of college prep classes and vocational programs. The school was planned as and is now a citywide magnet school with no attendance boundary. An emphasis on technology was integrated into the plans for the school.
Arlington offers language classes in French and Spanish. The school also participates in the University of Minnesota's College in the Schools program. Advanced Placement classes are also offered. Arlington uses a teaching program called "Small Learning Communities". These smaller learning communities separate particular student interests into different areas of the school. They provide goal- or interest-oriented learning. Freshmen and sophomores are separated into "houses" of smaller learning groups. Upper classmen follow specified career paths. Originally the school was opened with four focus areas; liberal arts, medical and environmental sciences, informational technologies and communication and policy-making and government but beginning with the 2008-2009 school year those career paths will change.
In October 2007, the school received a three-year, $6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to help transform the school. The grant will be used to create a "Bio-Smart" school for grades 11-12. The money will be use for hiring additional staff and adding more high-tech equipment and supplies to the school's "extensive" existing facilities. Students will choose between three career pathways: bioengineering and technology, bio-business and marketing or biomedical and health sciences. Students will take elective classes related to their pathway as well as core classes, such as math and English. The grant was sought to help reinvent the school. Arlington has the lowest test scores and highest concentration of poverty for Saint Paul Public Schools. In addition, the school has been described as an "academically struggling high school". As a result of not meeting Adequate Yearly Progress as a part of No Child Left Behind Arlington faced restructuring. However, the school's restructuring is already underway with the biotech program.
Read more about this topic: Arlington Senior High School
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