NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release:
May 23, 2007
ScholarCentric’s Success Highways Drop-Out Prevention Program
Selected by Denver Public Schools 9th Grade Academy
Intensive learner-centered classes to create a powerful and supportive learning environment for ninth grade students transitioning to the high school environment
DENVER – May 23, 2007 – ScholarCentric is pleased to announce that Denver Public Schools have selected Success Highways as a central part of its 9th Grade Academy curriculum. With math and literacy classes at the core of the 9th Grade Academy, the overarching goal is to assist students in developing the resiliency skills needed to successfully transition to the high school environment. Because of the 1:15 teacher/student ratio, the 9th Grade Academy also will encourage the development of enriching relationships with fellow students and school staff, which has been shown to contribute to student success. The Success Highways program is designed to reduce the drop-out rate between grades 8 and 9 by targeting students in middle school and junior high.
Success Highways, ScholarCentric’s flagship product, has been proven to improve attendance, increase grade and test scores, and assist in building students’ academic confidence. Denver Public Schools will be using the program's written exercises, classroom interactions, and unique assessment tools to allow students to explore their current lives, motivators, actions, and goals. “DPS first became interested in the Success Highways curriculum because of the solid research and results behind it,” states Alex Sanchez, DPS spokesperson. “The flexibility of the program was a further selling point, since the 9th Grade Academy is only two weeks and we had a lot of material to cover. The teacher’s guide and workbooks allowed our staff and students to hit the ground running.”
Steve Weigler, ScholarCentric CEO, is enthusiastic about DPS’ choice of Success Highways for the 9th Grade Academy. “We know that many teachers have been working hard to integrate academic success and life skills into their curriculum, but until students become emotionally invested themselves, drop-out risk remains high,” he states. “Success Highways takes the load off the teachers by providing students with a potent tool for empowering them to see the relevance of education, graduating from high school, and achieving academic and life success.”
About ScholarCentric
ScholarCentric is a K-12 educational publishing company focused on helping students stay in school and achieve academic success. The company’s flagship product, Success Highways, is an innovative, research-based program designed to help transition middle and high school students into the higher grades and develop the skills they need to learn the rigorous coursework required to achieve a high school diploma. With Success Highways, students stay in school, score higher on achievement tests and prepare for future education. This innovative program is aligned with state standards and was developed from the results of 15 years of research at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and a seven-year pilot in an urban school district. For more information, visit www.ScholarCentric.com.
About Denver Public Schools
The mission of the Denver Public School district is to provide all students the opportunity to achieve the knowledge and skills necessary to become contributing citizens in society.
The Denver Public Schools serve approximately 73,000 students in a metropolitan area with a population of more than 450,000. The district is comprised of 151 total schools: 73 elementary, 15 K-8, 17 middle, 14 high, 19 charter and 13 other. The school district employs some 7,500 individuals, including approximately 95 administrators in the central administration offices, and covers approximately 200 square miles.
For more information, press only:
Carol Ann Waugh, VP Marketing, cwaugh@scholarcentric.com
ScholarCentric
2406 W. 32nd Ave., Suite C
Denver, CO 80211
www.ScholarCentric.com
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