Parkway is a very multicultural high school (grades 9-12) located in Center City in Philadelphia, PA. This public school is a small high school with less than five hundred students, creating a “caring community”. Hailing from different parts and backgrounds in the city of Philadelphia, various ethnic groups compose the student body including African-americans (~50-60%), Asians/asian Americans, Hispanic/Hispanic Americans, and Caucasians. The majority of students (even in individual classrooms) are minorities. On the other hand, the staff is mostly Caucasian and mostly male.
Parkway’s mission statement and diverse environment give me an indication of what students will learn to develop an understanding of during their years at Parkway (1: developing exemplary citizens or specifically responsible citizenship, 2: encouraging rich relationships among the groups, conflict resolution/peer mediation classes, 3: “understanding and appreciation of diversity are critical in a global society”, 4: “students learn at different rates and in different ways”, 5: “lifelong learning is essential for success in a changing society”). Because Parkway is a special admissions public high school (magnet school), students’ hopes and goals are to achieve academically, and be motivated and committed to ultimately attend college or some institution of higher education or career.
The kinds of assessment practices in place are independent/group projects (short term, long term), formal tests/quizzes, group work in class (which students evaluate each other), class participation, homework, written assignments, oral presentations, and the state standardized tests. Good work is considered coming to class, participating and being engaged in the activity, and actively and responsibly doing the work expected to get credit. I think the characteristics of good work in groups exemplify the high expectations are for the students. Such characteristics include communicating/sharing, cooperating, respecting opinions, coming prepared, being open-minded, following directions, patience, getting the job done, keeping focus on the task. In Jack’s class in particular, there is also an emphasis not only on the content of the material, but more importantly the process of learning is very important in considering good work.