WASHINGTON – Results on the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) show that Thurgood Marshall Academy (TMA) is the best high school East of the River, and remains one of the top-performing high schools in the District of Columbia.
TMA’s tenth graders took the PARCC exam and outperformed their peers across all subgroups; most notably, on the math portion, students had a 15% gain from last year. The chart below shows the percentage of TMA students who met or exceeded expectations (Level 4+), compared to all high schools city-wide.
“These results are a testament to our students’ hard work and the teachers and staff who prepared them,” said Richard Pohlman, TMA’s Executive Director. “While a great number of our students are on track to graduate college-ready, we continue to focus on ensuring that all of our students have the tools necessary to succeed in college and beyond.”
Each year, more than half of Thurgood Marshall Academy’s incoming students arrive with math and reading skills below grade level; yet by the time they graduate, they are enrolling and attending college at rates far above the District and national averages. For the past 12 years, 100% of TMA’s graduates have been accepted to college. Last year, more than 85% of graduating students enrolled in college within one year of graduation. More than 62% of our graduates successfully complete college within five years, compared to 5% from Wards 7 and 8.
This is the second year for PARCC exams – the Common Core-aligned assessment of K-12 students in English Language Arts (ELA) and mathematics, which replaced the DC CAS. Because it is more rigorous and presents a fuller picture of student learning, PARCC is considered to be a better indicator of college and career readiness for students. Results are scored on a level of 1 to 5; for tenth graders, a Level 4 or 5 indicates they are on track to leave high school college and career ready.
When the District announced the transition to PARCC in 2011, Thurgood Marshall Academy took a number of steps to prepare, including aligning curriculum, instruction, and assessments with the new, more rigorous Common Core standards. “We are so proud of our students’ academic progress – there is much to celebrate,” said Melanie Sala, Head of School. “We will continue to refine our curriculum to meet the needs of all students, and are focusing on areas of growth.”
More information about PARCC can be found at www.osse.dc.gov/parcc.
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About Thurgood Marshall Academy: Founded in 2001, Thurgood Marshall Academy’s mission is to prepare students to succeed in college and actively engage in our democratic society. Thurgood Marshall Academy is an open enrollment public charter high school in Ward 8’s Anacostia. It is one of the highest performing non-selective high schools in the District and serves 400 students. The school upholds Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall’s legacy of equal opportunity through its commitment to providing an excellent education for all students.