Unity Reed High School was spotlighted in a recent communications piece of the PWCS partnership with EOS (Equal Opportunity Schools). Here is an excerpt of the story published by the county as part of "2023-24 School Year - Learning and Achievement for All" (linked in full above):
The partnership between Equal Opportunity Schools (EOS) and Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) is designed to increase all students’ access and opportunity to participate in rigorous academic environments such as Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE), Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and Cambridge courses.
The program is open to all PWCS students, with a vested interest in targeting underrepresented students. It has been expanded this school year to include all 13 high schools. To provide a comprehensive understanding of students’ academic positioning and emotional connection to coursework, the high schools conducted surveys to evaluate student participation in advanced courses and measure their sense of inclusion with these classes. The survey also included questions to identify potential barriers to enrollment in advanced courses, such as availability of peer support, study partnerships, and previous invitations to enroll in such courses.
From their responses, the EOS program generated insight cards to uncover students’ college and career aspirations, concerns and fears regarding taking advanced courses, identified trusted adults at the school, and more. With this understanding of students’ interests, goals, and challenges, educators can better provide the resources students need to be successful.
Additionally, students were asked to name at least one adult at the school they trust and/or can go to for study support. The role of the “trusted adult” in the program is an adult in the building the student is comfortable talking to and who is familiar with the student’s profile from their survey responses. The “trusted adult” talks to the student to build a relationship and have conversations with the student to explore what advanced courses interest them and will consider registering for in the upcoming school year. Once enrolled in an advanced course, the “trusted adult” continues to have encouraging conversations with the student to ensure they realize their full potential.
Katherine Hodgson, IB and specialty programs coordinator at Unity Reed High School, shared, “We found that a prevalent but invisible barrier is expecting students to have the self-advocacy skills needed to enroll in advanced courses or seek out help when needed. Instead of relying on students to demonstrate this self-management upfront, we see it as an important skill to build within our classrooms.”
Jayden Adigwe, senior at Unity Reed High taking IB/AP classes for the first time this year, reflected on his experience, “I really don’t know why I didn’t take advanced classes before this year, I just never really heard about them. Or maybe I did but I never got involved. Last year as a junior, I rose up enough in my classes that my teachers talked to me and said I should be in IB. In my IB classes, I have to be more strategic about my time and more thoughtful about what I’m learning, but I know I’m getting a better understanding of what is coming in the future. I’m learning time management and better teamwork and I really like that.”
