“THE BEST WAY TO PREDICT THE FUTURE IS TO CREATE IT.” – Abraham Lincoln

2015 Annual Report Red Clay Consolidated School District Dear Friends of Red Clay,

Thank you for your generous support of Red Clay schools this past year. We accomplished a great deal in 2014–15 and I am thrilled to share our successes in this Annual Report. Some highlights include:

• Seeing the results of our strategic focus on college and career readiness as we cut the dropout rate in half, and increased the high school graduation rate from 78 percent to 90 percent in just four years.

• Making significant performance gains at three high-need schools to exit state support programs and help students and teachers thrive in their classrooms.

• Delivering on our promises from the 2012 Capital Referendum—such as the grand reopening of the Cab Calloway School of the Arts theater—and watching the community turn out once again to support students in the 2015 Operating Referendum.

As we reflect on achievements like these, we also look to the future with stories of inspiring Red Clay alumni featured throughout this report. From a Division I Student Athlete to a second-year medical student to an aspiring TV writer, each of the graduates took a different path to success, with each serving as a reminder of all that is possible with a Red Clay education.

Mervin B. Daugherty, Ed.D. Superintendent

Annual Report by Taylor Green. Photography by Horace Knight unless otherwise noted. 3 board of our EDUCATION PURPOSE

MOTTO STRATEGIC GOALS

Preparing Today for Tomorrow >> Highly Effective Educators >> Early Literacy >> Closing the Achievement Gap >> College and Career Readiness MISSION Kenneth J. Rivera Michael Piccio Adriana L. Bohm >> Parent and Community Engagement DISTRICT C DISTRICT E DISTRICT A Providing the environment, resources and President Vice President commitment necessary to ensure that every student succeeds CORE VALUES

>> High Expectations for All >> Continuous Improvement VISION >> Meaningful Collaboration Red Clay will be recognized as a leader in >> Rich Diversity increasing achievement and improving outcomes for all students Faith R. Newton Catherine H. Thompson Martin A. Wilson, Sr. Kenneth R. Woods DISTRICT F DISTRICT G DISTRICT B DISTRICT D

4 5 readier THAN EVER

<< Secondary schools reached new heights To help students succeed in such in 2014–15 with students exceeding targets advanced courses, Red Clay offered the SINCE NAMING for college and career readiness across AVID study skills class to students taking Red Clay. The district’s dropout rate hit AP or dual enrollment classes for the COLLEGE AND a low of 2 percent, almost half of what it first time. “The higher-level classes not CAREER READINESS was three years ago, while the high school only help students get a head start in graduation rate climbed from 78 percent their college career, which is an obvious A TOP PRIORITY, to 90 percent. benefit, but students also benefit from being involved in a class that offers RED CLAY SCHOOLS Schools saw more students taking college-level content by developing skills HAVE CUT THE advanced coursework. In the first that they will take with them to college,” year of a districtwide dual enrollment said Sam Golder, Director of Secondary DROPOUT RATE program—­a partnership with the University Schools. IN HALF WHILE of and Delaware Technical & Community College—students paid SAT scores climbed in 2014–15 as well. Red INCREASING THE a nominal fee to take college courses Clay increased the percentage of students GRADUATION RATE while still in high school. More than 170 earning a score of 1550 or higher from 39 students enrolled in nine rigorous classes percent in 2012 to 43 percent in 2014. The FROM 78% TO 90% throughout the district, taking advantage percentage of students earning a 1550 in of the opportunity to earn college credits the state was at 19 percent in 2014. IN JUST 4 YEARS. before they graduate high school. Red Clay showed further improvement The numbers of students in AP classes through career readiness programs with also rose in 2014–15 with 1,525 students in an estimated 6,500 middle and high 106 courses (up from 1,324 students in 100 school students enrolled in Career and courses in 2013–14). Technical Education classes and 28 career pathways in place across the district.

6 7 krittika MADADI Second-Year Medical Student, St. George’s University CONRAD SCHOOLS OF SCIENCE, CLASS OF 2011

WHEN I KNEW I WANTED TO BE A DOCTOR: My favorite subject was always math because my mom was a TO MS. BLANCO, math teacher, but I liked the challenge of science. In 4th grade we had an assignment where we had to draw a picture of what “I SAY THANK YOU we want to be when we grow up, and I drew a doctor. My mom FOR SPENDING ALL still has the picture to this day!

THOSE HOURS AFTER WHAT I LOVE MOST ABOUT WORKING IN GERIATRIC MEDICINE: SCHOOL WITH ME AND I love the science behind it, the mystery of it, the challenge, SEEING SOMETHING but more than anything it’s the people. Ever since high school when I started volunteering for Hospice, I’ve always loved SPECIAL IN ME. YOU talking to older patients and hearing their stories. MADE ME A BETTER THE ONE TEACHER I WILL NEVER FORGET: STUDENT IN SO MANY Debbie Blanco, who believed in me so much that she WAYS. nominated me for the Edward Malin Scholarship.

8 9 Business Leaders Play Principal Altogether, 24 Red Clay schools participated in the Principal for a Day of a Day program throughout the month with visits from the following Robert Andrzejewski; Deborah Bagatta-Bowles, YMCA; “Great positive energy” were the words Delaware Technical Rob Belfiore, EDiS Company; Bob Bird, Home Instead Senior and Community College President Mark Brainard used to Care; Mark Brainard, Delaware Technical and Community describe the Thomas McKean HS community during his College; Kevin Broadhurst, Comcast; Dee Cairo, Excel Business visit to the school on October 10. Acting as Principal for Systems; John Fleming, Small Business Administration a Day, Brainard listened to students present the morning Delaware; Michael Freda, EDiS Company, Tony Furr, Delaware announcements, visited the Highlander Cafe for a cup of 87ers; Martha Gilman, Gilman Development Company; Anne coffee and breakfast and followed Principal Brian Mattix into Hogan, Girl Scouts; Rita Hollingsworth, Bank of America; Ralph classrooms and a staff meeting. Kuebler, The Partnership, Inc.; Denny Nealon, Barclaycard US; Michael Schwartz, Legal Shield; Fred Sears, Delaware The Principal for a Day program was first introduced in 1993 Community Foundation; Mark Stellini, Assurance Media; Cheryl to foster working relationships between business leaders Strootman, Costco; Robert Turner, Arthur J. Turner Scholarship and educators. Created by the Delaware State Chamber of Foundation; Peggy Vavalla, DuPont; R. Thomas Wagner, Jr., Commerce, it provides opportunities for business leaders State Auditor; Enid Wallace-Simms, Delmarva Power; Rod Ward, to experience the challenges and rewards of running a CSC; Katie Wilkinson, Fulton Bank; and Kimberly Williams, State school and preparing students to become part of the future Representative. workforce.

Stuffing the Bus for Students in Need Delaware Day Kick-Off at North Star Elementary School In August, the and RE/MAX Associates partnered to Stuff the Bus with school supplies for Red Clay Jeffrey W. Bullock, Secretary of State, was on hand to make the students. With a school bus parked in front of Frawley Stadium for announcement and officially kick off the2014 Delaware Day the team’s doubleheader against the Salem Red Sox, fans were Competition at North Star ES. Open to all 4th-grade classes encouraged to donate school supplies and literally stuff the bus in the state, the contest has seen more than 9,000 students with as many supplies as possible. “This partnership is one that enter to compete. we are really excited about,” said Brian Radle, Blue Rocks Director of Advertising Sales. “While back-to-school shopping is in full “The Delaware Day competition is the hallmark of the 4th- swing, we can all take this opportunity to help local students in grade experience,” said North Star ES Principal Jenine Thomas. need, be able to catch one more Blue Rocks game, and have a lot of fun in the process!” Three Red Clay schools earned awards in the competition. From William C. Lewis Dual Language ES, students in Layla Once the bus was stuffed, Blue Rocks mascot Rocky Bluewinkle Cordwell and Gena Cawthray’s classes won the George Read joined RE/MAX agents to deliver the supplies to students. “Red Signer Award and the Artistic Merit Award. Margo Miller, Clay is very appreciative of the opportunity to partner with the teacher at North Star ES, helped her students tie for the Blue Rocks and RE/MAX Associates on behalf of our students,” Gunning Bedford, Jr. Signer Award. Richardson Park ES said Superintendent Mervin Daugherty. “This event will help students in James Bencrowsky, Teresa Coates, Sara Corcoran to ensure that all students have the necessary materials for a and Courtney Kalbach’s classes won the Artistic Merit Award. successful start to the new school year.” 11 honors for EDUCATORS

STEPHANIE ARMSTRONG, ZDROJEWSKI (RICHEY ES) I HAVE EVER SEEN,” SAID DELAWARE GEOGRAPHIC HARRY J. CARMAN AWARD 26 TEACHERS WERE HENRY B. DU PONT MS MEGAN FIORAVANTI, RN, PRINCIPAL OF BRANDYWINE WERE PICKED FOR THE 2014– COLLEAGUE VALERIE HALL, ALLIANCE AND THE FOR OUTSTANDING SOCIAL RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR TERRI EROS NCSN, WAS NAMED THE 2015 SPRINGS SCHOOL, RECEIVED 15 COMMON-CORE FOCUSED WHO JOINED FRIENDS, FAMILY NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR STUDIES ACHIEVEMENT. WORK WITH THE DELAWARE MATTHEW ROBINSON DELAWARE SCHOOL NURSE LOVE2EDUCATE’S 2015 DELAWARE DREAM TEAM. AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS GEOGRAPHIC EDUCATORS. TEACHERS’ INSTITUTE. OF THE YEAR. WITH 18 YEARS CELEBRATING WOMEN IN IN TRANSFORMING THE SPACE MATH TEACHERS KATHLEEN RED CLAY HAD THE HIGHEST HIGHLANDS ES OF EXPERIENCE IN RED EDUCATION AWARD. THE DELAWARE JUST IN TIME FOR THE NEW THE DELAWARE GORMLEY (HIGHLANDS ES) NUMBER OF EDUCATORS NICOLE DIROCCO CLAY, FIORAVANTI WORKED ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY SCHOOL YEAR. ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL AND MICHAEL REITEMEYER PARTICIPATING IN THE ALEXANDRA FEELY AT ALEXIS I. DU PONT HS SUPERINTENDENT MERVIN PRESENTED VICTOR PSYCHOLOGISTS NAMED (JOHN DICKINSON HS) WERE PROGRAM, WHICH PRODUCED KATHLEEN GORMLEY BEFORE TRANSITIONING DAUGHERTY RECEIVED THE LEONARD, SCIENCE TEACHER MIKE PAGE, SCIENCE GABRIELLE KOURY (CAB STATE FINALISTS FOR OVER 55 CURRICULUM UNITS ELLEN MULSHNOCK TO THE MEADOWOOD 2014 NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL AT ALEXIS I. DU PONT HS, TEACHER AT ALEXIS I. DU CALLOWAY SCHOOL OF THE THE 2015 PRESIDENTIAL IN 2014–15. PROGRAM IN 2014–15. AN LEADERSHIP AWARD AT WITH THE 2015 LUTHER PONT HS, WAS AWARDED ARTS) THE 2015 DELAWARE AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN MOTE ES ADVOCATE FOR INDIVIDUALS THE ANNUAL JOBS FOR PORTER EDUCATOR AWARD. A $25,000 GRANT FROM SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST OF MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE BRANDYWINE SPRINGS STELLA EVANS WITH INTELLECTUAL AMERICA’S GRADUATES LOWES HOME IMPROVEMENT THE YEAR. TEACHING. SCHOOL AND DEVELOPMENTAL CEREMONY. EDUCATORS KRISTINE FOR RENOVATIONS TO SONIA SAUNDERS NORTH STAR ES DISABILITIES, SHE IS THE MURPHY (CAB CALLOWAY THE SCHOOL’S NATURE MARK PRUITT (CONRAD KRISTIN BECKER DSNA LIAISON FOR THE TEACHERS DENISE WATSON SCHOOL OF THE ARTS) AND CONSERVATORY. SCHOOLS OF SCIENCE) WAS THE CENTRAL SCHOOL DIAA SPORTS MEDICINE (HENRY B. DU PONT MS) AND JOHN KULESZA (CONRAD SELECTED AS DELAWARE’S MARGARET WATSON RICHARDSON PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE, TIFFANY WYRE (THOMAS SCHOOLS OF SCIENCE) TAYLOR DOMENICI (HERITAGE 2014–15 SECONDARY LEARNING CENTER A JOHNSON & JOHNSON MCKEAN HS) WERE ALSO WERE NAMED THE 2015 ES) WAS NAMED THE 2015 PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR. CONRAD SCHOOLS OF MICHELLE FINEGAN SCHOOL HEALTH LEADERSHIP HONORED WITH JOBS FOR SMARTDRIVE CO-TEACHERS DELAWARE HISTORY SCIENCE FELLOW, A RECIPIENT OF DELAWARE GRADUATES OF THE YEAR. TEACHER OF THE YEAR THE MIDDLE STATES KAREN BROWN RICHEY ES THE CARON INSTITUTE’S AWARDS IN 2014–15. BY THE GILDER LEHRMAN COUNCIL FOR SOCIAL KATELYN CHIOLAN ELLEN SHACKELFORD MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS WARNER ES KINDERGARTEN INSTITUTE OF AMERICAN STUDIES PRESENTED KAREN MONICA CORRIGAN AWARD, A NOMINEE OF THE TEACHERS SUSAN EVELAND TEACHER OMEKA MUMFORD HISTORY. COOPER (NORTH STAR ES) JANET DEAN SKYLINE MS WHITE HOUSE CHAMPIONS (BALTZ ES), CHRISTINE WAS SURPRISED WITH AN WITH THE 2015 COLLINS- MICHELLE HILBECK APRIL HIGGINS OF CHANGE FOR PUBLIC KENNEDY (DELAWARE EXTREME CLASSROOM SONIA SAUNDERS SKINNER AWARD FOR ASHLEY MILLER HEALTH AND PREVENTION COLLEGE PREPARATORY MAKEOVER IN THE EDTV (BRANDYWINE SPRINGS OUTSTANDING ELEMENTARY MICHELLE NORTHSHIELD THOMAS MCKEAN HS AND A 2013 RECIPIENT OF ACADEMY), MELISSA SPECIAL, CLASS ACT. SCHOOL) RECEIVED THE SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHING. ALICIA OLEKSY KATHLEEN FAGAN THE CHRISTIANA CARE TRACY (CONRAD SCHOOLS “OMEKA IS ONE OF THE 2014–15 DISTINGUISHED CURRICULUM SUPERVISOR BARBARA PRILLAMAN STEPHANIE MATSON HEALTH SYSTEM NURSING OF SCIENCE) AND STACIE MOST DEDICATED TEACHERS TEACHER AWARD FROM THE REBECCA REED RECEIVED THE MELISSA TRACY TRAVIS WHARTON EXCELLENCE AWARD.

12 13 heather MIKLES Film and Media Arts Major, Chapman University CAB CALLOWAY SCHOOL OF THE ARTS, CLASS OF 2015

MY DREAM JOB IS: To be a showrunner, which is the person responsible for the I WILL ALWAYS day-to-day operations of a television series. Showrunners wear so many different hats, from preproduction to working “REMEMBER MR. MIKI with the network to being on set with the actors. They get to FOR TAKING THE TIME be involved in every single aspect of the show.

TO SHOW HOW MUCH THE BEST THING ABOUT MY TIME AT CAB WAS: HE CARED. HE WENT The people. The entire faculty was so nurturing and caring and they always pushed me to achieve my best. I know I would not ABOVE AND BEYOND be the person I am today without every single person I met TO SUPPORT ME AND through that school.

MY AMBITIONS 100 BIG SCREEN OR SMALL SCREEN? PERCENT. I have always been interested in television because you really get to know your characters and go into much more depth with them over four or five seasons compared to just 90 minutes of a movie. And with shows like Breaking Bad and Game of Thrones, we’re reaching a golden age in television where it’s being regarded as a high art just like film.

14 15 going GREENER

Red Clay earned three Top Ten Linden Hill Elementary School finishes in the2015 Energy Star was one of only three schools Battle of the Buildings competition. in the state to receive the U.S. IT HAS BEEN High schools ranked 6th nationally Department of Education’s 2015 “A FANTASTIC with an energy use reduction of 11.1 Green Ribbon Schools Award for percent, elementary schools placed reducing environmental impact and EXPERIENCE 7th with a reduction of 10.6 percent costs, improving health and offering WATCHING TEACHERS and middle schools finished 9th environmental education. Using the with a 9.9 percent reduction. Red three pillar model of environmental EMPOWER STUDENTS Clay schools beat the competition responsibility and wellness, Linden by reducing energy use through Hill students and staff have worked TO TAKE OWNERSHIP innovative ideas and hard work. hard to protect and preserve their OF OUR GREEN Nationally, the entire class of environment and learn life lessons competitors saved over $50 million about how to be responsible citizens. INITIATIVES,” in utility bills. Applauding their achievements, SAID LINDEN HILL U.S. Senator Tom Carper said, “I am Red Clay facilities supervisor Keith proud that three Delaware schools ELEMENTARY Redman, teacher Sharon Burkett and were honored with the Green Ribbon SCHOOL ASSISTANT volunteer Gloria Cooke were awarded Schools Award for their efforts to a $56,000 recycling grant from the reduce the schools’ environmental PRINCIPAL NATHAN Delaware Department of Natural impact while teaching students about Resources and Environmental Control environmental stewardship. The steps PALKOVITZ. and the Recycling Public Advisory they have taken can be modeled by Council. With funds from the School other schools not only in Delaware District Universal Recycling Grant but around the nation.” and Low Interest Loan Program, Red Clay purchased recycling bins for classrooms and recycling training materials for students and staff. 16 17 A Vision to Learn Family Author Night A Big Success

A California-based company provided free eye exams and In February, Red Clay kicked off I Love to Read Month with free glasses to elementary school students in low-income seven distinguished authors on hand for Family Author communities throughout the fall. Vision to Learn founder Night at Brandywine Springs School. Children’s book authors Austin Beutner joined Governor Jack Markell, U.S. Senator Peter Catalanotto, Carmen Agra Deedy, Shelley Gill, Kelly Chris Coons and Elena Delle Donne, a Delaware native and Starling Lyons, Jerry Pallotta, Antiono Sacre and Donna WNBA Rookie of the Year for the Chicago Sky, at Shortlidge Washington participated in a panel in which they discussed Academy to distribute glasses to 35 students. the importance of reading before sharing their own stories about what motivated them to become writers. They also The Vision to Learn van continued on to Baltz ES, Marbrook presented snippets of their work to an enthusiastic crowd of ES, Mote ES, Richardson Park ES, Richey ES and William C. several hundred. Lewis Dual Language ES where students were tested and given free glasses if needed. For many students it was their After the presentation, panel members stayed to sign first pair but for some it was a chance to get a stronger books for children who were eagerly awaiting the chance to prescription or replace a broken pair. “It’s like looking meet some of their favorite authors. The night was a huge through a magnifying glass!” said one student. success, with many students asking about next year’s event.

Healthier, Hunger-Free Schools Celebrating Hispanic Heritage

The 2014–15 school year brought a new federally funded William C. Lewis Dual Language ES went all out to celebrate meal program to 19 Red Clay schools. Through the USDA’s National Hispanic Heritage Month. Members of the school’s Community Eligibility Provision program, students planning committee organized a series of informative and attending Alexis I. du Pont HS, Alexis I. du Pont MS, Baltz engaging events to provide rich learning opportunities while ES, The Central School, Forest Oak ES, Henry B. du Pont homeroom teachers helped students research information MS, Highlands ES, John Dickinson HS, Marbrook ES, The about Spanish-speaking countries. Classes learned about Meadowood Program, Mote ES, Richardson Park ES, Hispanic culture through dance and song and Hispanic art Richardson Park Learning Center, Richey ES, Shortlidge projects decorated the hallways throughout the school. Academy, Stanton MS, Thomas McKean HS, Warner ES and William C. Lewis Dual Language ES were able to eat school The week culminated with a grand parade with students breakfast and lunch at no cost to the student or the district. wearing traditional costumes, waving small flags they made in class, and singing traditional songs they learned from As part of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, the their music teacher. program offers a number of benefits including reduced administrative costs in preparing, distributing and Families gathered to see their children perform at the Cool processing annual free and reduced meal applications; Springs Reservoir and parents catered a Hispanic food streamlined meal service; no school meal debt; no overt tasting event where students sampled dishes from different identification of student eligibility; and alternative meal cultures. Students also danced to Latin music courtesy of a options such as Breakfast in the Classroom and Grab & Go. gracious Lewis parent.

18 19 cj JONES Division I Student Athlete & Graduate of Boston College ALEXIS I. DU PONT HIGH SCHOOL, CLASS OF 2010

WHY I AM GRATEFUL TO COACH MARTIN: Tim Martin was my middle school coach and also my mentor. He was very hard on us as players and as students, but it I THANK COACH brought out the best in all of us. He always taught us to try “MARTIN FOR SEEING new things and never give up. He’s the one who told me to try out for the track team and I ended up becoming the state THE TALENT IN ME champion. AND GIVING ME THE THE KEY TO MY SUCCESS: CONFIDENCE I NEEDED My parents played a huge role in my education. They were TO GO OUT THERE AND active in the PTA, helped out on field trips and volunteered at TRY NEW THINGS. school events. They were always there for me at my games and in the house, helping me with my homework. Their support is what got me to where I am today.

MY ADVICE TO STUDENTS OF ANY AGE: Always ask for help and don’t be afraid to take risks. Sometimes failure is the best way to learn.

20 21 our DISTRICT

ON TRACK TO GRADUATION

ON TRACK IN 9TH GRADE FOUR-YEAR GRADUATION RATE (CLASS OF 2014) Percent of 9th graders earning the credits necessary to be Percent of students who graduate from high school on track to graduate from high school in four years within the traditional four-year timeframe

DISTRICT 93.1% DISTRICT 90.3% STATE 89.9% STATE 84.4%

FIVE-YEAR GRADUATION RATE (CLASS OF 2013) SIX-YEAR GRADUATION RATE (CLASS OF 2012) Percent of students who graduate from high school Percent of students who graduate from high school within five years within six years Cab Calloway Innovators Named Future Health Professionals Place DISTRICT 85.2% DISTRICT 85.6% Best in Nation First in State STATE 81.1% STATE 81.3%

In February, a student team from Cab Calloway School of the In March, students from the Conrad Schools of Science HOSA Arts was named Best In Nation in the Verizon Innovative organization took top honors in the state competition for App Challenge, a national competition in which students Future Health Professionals. Seniors Laura Alexander, Kaitlyn develop a mobile application concept to address a specific Delaney, Madison Gearhart and Rachel Nowocin earned first need in the school or community. place with a video called Concussion Discussion.

Comprised of students Emily Bravo, Joy Lyn, Javon Kitson, Airing on EDtv, YouTube and the morning announcements Minji Kong, Julia Menardy, Adam Udovich, and advisor Steven at Conrad, the PSA aims to educate the public about Field, Team Avocado developed an app called VirDoc (Virtual preventing, recognizing and treating concussions. The team Doctor), which allows users to dissect and interact with presented their video at the HOSA National Leadership subjects without having to actually cut into an animal or Conference in Anaheim, California, in June. cadaver. Students Jennifer Hayes, Sarah Kautz, Samantha Stocksdale At the surprise announcement, team members received and Molly Wisniewski also competed at the state level, Samsung tablets and a $20,000 grant for their school to taking second place in a very close HOSA Bowl final round. develop STEM-related programs. As one of only eight teams The Rare Disease Day event team of Alexis Bradley and Ana across the nation to receive the award, they were also given Perez was awarded third place for research on Idiopathic an opportunity to work with Master Developers from the Infantile Pyoderma Gangrenosum. MIT Media Lab and present at the National TSA Conference in Dallas. “Today you’ve made parents proud, teachers proud, students proud, and most importantly, you’ve made Delaware proud,” said Verizon Sales Manager Brad Schultz.

22 23 BIOTECHNOLOGY our BUSINESS & BANKING COMMUNICATIONS COMPUTER SCIENCE CULINARY ARTS & HOSPITALITY DIGITAL MEDIA PROGRAMS DRAFTING & DESIGN EARLY CHILDCARE EDUCATION ENGINEERING RED CLAY STUDENTS HAD ACCESS TO IB MATHEMATICS FAMILY & CONSUMER SCIENCE MORE ADVANCED OFFERINGS THAN EVER IB PHYSICS GRAPHIC DESIGN WITH 1,294 STUDENTS ENROLLING IN AT IB SPANISH HEALTHCARE LEAST ONE AP OR IB CLASS. IB THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE MARKETING AP ART HISTORY IB VISUAL ARTS NURSE ASSISTANT AP BIOLOGY PERFORMING ARTS AP CALCULUS AB & BC 244 STUDENTS PURSUED COLLEGE PHYSICAL THERAPY AP CHEMISTRY CREDIT THROUGH DUAL ENROLLMENT PLANT & HORTICULTURAL SCIENCE AP CHINESE LANGUAGE & CULTURE PROGRAMS WITH DELAWARE RADIO & TV BROADCASTING AP COMPARATIVE GOVERNMENT & TECHNICAL AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE, ROBOTICS POLITICS THE UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE AND TEXTILE DESIGN AP COMPUTER SCIENCE . VETERINARY TECH AP ENGLISH LANGUAGE & ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY COMPOSITION BUSINESS OUR MOST POPULAR AFTERSCHOOL AP ENGLISH LITERATURE & COLLEGE MATH & STATISTICS ACTIVITIES WERE: COMPOSITION COMPOSITION & RESEARCH ART CLUB AP ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE CRIMINAL JUSTICE ATHLETICS AP EUROPEAN HISTORY CRITICAL READING & WRITING BAND & CHORUS AP ITALIAN LANGUAGE & CULTURE ECONOMIC ISSUES & POLICIES BEST BUDDIES AP HUMAN GEOGRAPHY ENERGY & SUSTAINABILITY BRICKS FOR KIDS AP LATIN ENGLISH COMPOSITION I CHESS CLUB AP MACROECONOMICS FIRST YEAR EXPERIENCE DRAMA CLUB AP MICROECONOMICS HUMAN HEREDITY & DEVELOPMENT FFA AP PHYSICS I, II & C MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY GIRLS ON THE RUN AP PSYCHOLOGY NUTRITION HOMEWORK CLUB AP SPANISH LANGUAGE & CULTURE PHILOSOPHIES OF LIFE LEGO LEAGUE AP STATISTICS RENOVATION & CONSTRUCTION MATH LEAGUE AP STUDIO ART DRAWING SOCIAL & CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS SOCIOLOGY NUMBERS BEE AP U.S. HISTORY ODYSSEY OF THE MIND AP WORLD HISTORY CAREER PATHWAYS REACHED ROUGHLY ROBOTICS IB BIOLOGY 6,500 MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL SCIENCE OLYMPIAD IB CHEMISTRY STUDENTS IN 2014–15. STUDENT AMBASSADORS IB ENGLISH ACCOUNTING TUTORING IB FRENCH ANIMAL SCIENCE VIDEO CLUB IB HISTORY OF THE AMERICAS AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY YEARBOOK CLUB IB MATHEMATICAL STUDIES BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE

24 25 our DISTRICT

ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE & GROWTH

PROFICIENCY IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS PROFICIENCY IN MATHEMATICS Percent of students who are on grade level in Percent of students who are on grade level in English Language Arts Mathematics

DISTRICT 47.0% DISTRICT 37.4% STATE 50.4% STATE 36.0% NATION 46.6% NATION 36.4%

PROFICIENCY IN SOCIAL STUDIES PROFICIENCY IN SCIENCE Percent of students who are on grade level in Social Studies Percent of students who are on grade level in Science

DISTRICT 43.6% DISTRICT 56.0% STATE 41.6% STATE 46.1%

GROWTH IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS GROWTH IN MATHEMATICS The relative academic progress that students are The relative academic progress that students are demonstrating in English Language Arts demonstrating in Mathematics

DISTRICT DISTRICT Wilmington University Brings Mandarin Chinese Classes Study

Early College to Alexis I. du Pont Abroad in Hangzou STATE STATE High School Jake Borns (Alexis I. du Pont HS) and Zachary Black, Madison In the fall, Red Clay and Wilmington University signed an Northshield, Xander Opiyo, Fidel Rodriguez, Sean Sullivan agreement to launch an Early College Academy at and Jianni Thornton (Conrad Schools of Science) were Alexis I. du Pont HS in the 2015­—16 school year. among 20 students chosen by the Delaware Department of Education to study in China expense-free, thanks to a In a partnership that will offer Wilmington University classes partnership with the Wanxiang Group, China’s largest auto to high school students, the Early College Academy differs parts manufacturer. from other dual enrollment programs in that students will follow a scripted sequence of classes for their four years of For one month in the summer, the students studied at high school, allowing them to earn enough credits to enroll the company’s facility in Hangzhou, where they took daily as a sophomore at Wilmington University. language classes to further their Mandarin Chinese skills. They also visited local schools, participated in cultural “Schools throughout the state are offering dual enrollment activities, toured sites of science and technology companies classes, but this brings it to another level,” said Alexis I. and developed a multimedia presentation about their du Pont HS Principal Kevin Palladinetti. experience, which they presented to state officials and business leaders upon their return.

26 27 autumn CARTER Executive Director, California Common Sense THE CHARTER SCHOOL OF WILMINGTON, CLASS OF 2007

WHAT I WOULD SAY TO STUDENTS WHO ARE STRUGGLING IN SCHOOL: Each of us has strengths. Identify and cultivate your strengths, and IN MS. LOBER, use them to enrich some area of your life or the lives of those in your “ community. Also, find a passion and pursue it diligently. When we I FOUND A MENTOR, work to excel where we are passionate, it becomes easier to approach A ROLE MODEL AND areas that are naturally more challenging for us. A CASE STUDY IN WHAT I LOVE ABOUT MY JOB: HOW TO OFFER AND I love that my job is different every single day and that I work with a team that is passionate about our work. As a think tank focused ELICIT PASSION. on long-term state policy challenges and solutions, we have the opportunity to think about the future. But on the flip side, we’re also fighting to cut through the politics of today that often keep us stagnant or falling behind.

MY FAVORITE QUOTE: “Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat.” — Theodore Roosevelt, 1899

28 29 NORTH STAR ES WAS 15-YEAR-OLD MULTI- HERITAGE ES, NORTH STAR ES GOMEZ (JOHN DICKINSON STUDENT OF THE YEAR, EMILY ES), LEA FROST (NORTH more awards and NAMED ONE OF THE TOP INSTRUMENTALIST PYERCE AND SKYLINE MS TRAVELED HS), DAQIRA LANCASTER- BRAVO (CAB CALLOWAY STAR ES), SOWMYA JANAKI 50 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS LATEEF OATES (PIANO TO MICHIGAN STATE NAVARRO (ALEXIS I. DU PONT SCHOOL OF THE ARTS) WAS (DELAWARE MILITARY IN THE NATION BY MAJOR AT CAB CALLOWAY UNIVERSITY TO COMPETE AT MS) AND VALERIA SMITH RECOGNIZED AS A STEM ACADEMY), ELLEN MCINTYRE THEBESTSCHOOLS.ORG. SCHOOL OF THE ARTS) HAD THE 2015 ODYSSEY OF THE (JOHN DICKINSON HS) TOOK RISING STAR, JENNIFER (HENRY B. DU PONT MS), THE HONOR OF PERFORMING MIND WORLD FINALS. TOP HONORS. IN WRITING LOPEZ (THOMAS MCKEAN SAREENA MODI (NORTH STAR HONORS 14 SENIORS WERE NAMED AT THE 2014 GOVERNOR’S IN ART, AWARDS WENT TO HS) WON THE ATHLETICS ES), SHAYLA MODI (HENRY 2015 SECRETARY’S AWARDS FOR THE ARTS. THE CHARTER SCHOOL CAMERON JONES (RICHEY ES) AWARD, NICOLE MEJIA (CAB B. DU PONT MS), ADARSH SCHOLARS IN RECOGNITION OF WILMINGTON’S MATH AND SARVAGNYA KOMPELLA CALLOWAY SCHOOL OF RAMAMURTHY (LINDEN 33 HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS HENRY B. DU PONT MS AND OF THEIR ACADEMIC TECHNOLOGY TEAMS FROM MODELING TEAM PLACED IN (CAB CALLOWAY SCHOOL OF THE ARTS) WON THE LIVE HILL ES), ETHAN SEIFERT FROM CAB CALLOWAY THE CHARTER SCHOOL OF SUCCESS, SCHOOL ALEXIS I. DU PONT HS, CAB THE TOP 5 PERCENT IN THE THE ARTS). UNITED COMMUNITY SERVICE (HERITAGE ES), AUTUMN SCHOOL OF THE ARTS, WILMINGTON WERE STATE LEADERSHIP AND CALLOWAY SCHOOL OF THE NATION FOR THE 2014–15 AWARD, JAIRO RODRIGUEZ SHAHAN (HERITAGE ES), THE CHARTER SCHOOL OF CHAMPIONS IN THE 2015 COMMUNITY SERVICE: ARTS, THE CHARTER SCHOOL MOODY’S MEGA MATH 3 ROBOTICS TEAMS FROM (CAB CALLOWAY SCHOOL OF AARUSH SUDAMALLA (NORTH WILMINGTON AND JOHN SCIENCE OLYMPIAD. ALEXIS OF WILMINGTON, CONRAD CHALLENGE. THE CHARTER SCHOOL OF THE ARTS) WON THE ARTS STAR ES) AND GREGORY DICKINSON HS WERE I. DU PONT HS, BRANDYWINE ALEXIS I. DU PONT HS SCHOOLS OF SCIENCE, JOHN WILMINGTON AND JOHN AWARD AND VICTOR ROJAS TOALA (HERITAGE ES). CANDIDATES FOR THE SPRINGS SCHOOL, CAB CHRISTA DIEHL DICKINSON HS, HENRY B. THE DELAWARE COMMUNITY DICKINSON HS PLACED AT (THE CHARTER SCHOOL OF 2015 U.S. PRESIDENTIAL CALLOWAY SCHOOL OF THE JEREMY SOJA DU PONT MS AND THOMAS FOUNDATION AND THE FUND THE 2014–15 DIAMOND STATE WILMINGTON) WON THE STEM THE EMBASSY OF SPAIN SCHOLARS PROGRAM BASED ARTS, CONRAD SCHOOLS MCKEAN HS COMPETED FOR CHILDREN’S LITERACY FTC CHAMPIONSHIP. AWARD. NAMED WILLIAM C. LEWIS ON THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF SCIENCE, DELAWARE CAB CALLOWAY SCHOOL AT THE 2015 STATE TSA PRESENTED RED CLAY DUAL LANGUAGE ES IN ACADEMICS OR THE ARTS. MILITARY ACADEMY AND OF THE ARTS CONFERENCE. SCHOOLS WITH 60 LITERACY 6 ALEXIS I. DU PONT HS 3 RED CLAY PLAYWRIGHTS THE 2014–15 NATIONAL CHRISTINA STIEBRIS AND SKYLINE MS ALSO COMPETED ZOEY GREEN GRANTS WORTH OVER STUDENTS WERE NAMED WERE SELECTED AS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OF ROHITH VENKATARAMAN AND PLACED IN THE TOP 10 IN ERIN MILLER THE 2014–15 SMARTDRIVE $76,000. WINNERS WERE TO THE 2014–15 JUNIOR FINALISTS IN THE 2014–15 THE YEAR FOR ACADEMIC WON THE PRESTIGIOUS THEIR EVENTS. STUDENTS OF THE YEAR BALTZ ES, BRANDYWINE BOARD OF THE DELAWARE DELAWARE YOUNG EXCELLENCE. AWARD, NAMING DAVID THE CHARTER SCHOOL WERE KRISTIAN HRISTOV SPRINGS SCHOOL, FOREST ASSOCIATION OF TEACHERS PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL: BROWN AND CHERYL VALEDICTORIANS DEREK OF WILMINGTON (CAB CALLOWAY SCHOOL OAK ES, HERITAGE ES, OF ENGLISH, THE STATE HANNAH BIENER AND STANTON MS EARNED POTOCKI AS THEIR MOST BISCHOFF (CONRAD SCHOOLS OWEN PORTH OF THE ARTS) AND PHOEBE HIGHLANDS ES, LINDEN HILL AFFILIATE OF THE NATIONAL CHARLES TEAGUE (THE SECOND PLACE IN THE FOOD INFLUENTIAL TEACHERS. OF SCIENCE), HELEN CEPEDA MILES WANG BALASCIO, DESIA RANSOM ES, MOTE ES, NORTH STAR COUNCIL OF TEACHERS OF CHARTER SCHOOL OF BANK OF DELAWARE’S FIRST- (THOMAS MCKEAN HS), ERIN AND PLEASANT WILLIAMS ES, RICHARDSON PARK ES, ENGLISH: CHAIR CALANN WILMINGTON) FOR THEIR EVER SCHOOL BREAKFAST 76 RED CLAY STUDENTS FROM MILLER (CAB CALLOWAY CONRAD SCHOOLS (ALL OF CONRAD SCHOOLS RICHEY ES, SHORTLIDGE EDWARDS, VICE CHAIR ERIN WORK, “ED AND COOP,” AND CHALLENGE FOR ITS EFFORTS ALEXIS I. DU PONT HS, ALEXIS SCHOOL OF THE ARTS) AND OF SCIENCE OF SCIENCE). ACADEMY, WARNER ES AND MURPHY AND JUNIOR BOARD DYLAN LANG (CAB CALLOWAY TO INCREASE CHILDREN’S I. DU PONT MS, BRANDYWINE DAVID XU (THE CHARTER DEREK BISCHOFF WILLIAM C. LEWIS DUAL MEMBERS OLIVIA EASTBURN, SCHOOL OF THE ARTS) FOR ACCESS TO BREAKFAST. SPRINGS SCHOOL, CAB SCHOOL OF WILMINGTON) ALEC TRAN CONRAD SCHOOLS OF LANGUAGE ES. MADELINE GEIST, MATTHEW “DARKNESS: A HAPPY SAPPY CALLOWAY SCHOOL OF THE WERE FEATURED IN 6ABC’S SCIENCE FRESHMAN MEGAN MCLEAN AND JACOB PETIT DE EXTRAVAGANZA!” ALEXIS I. DU PONT HS, CAB ARTS, THE CHARTER SCHOOL ANNUAL BEST OF THE DELAWARE MILITARY JONES PLACED FIRST IN RED CLAY STUDENTS EARNED MANGE. CALLOWAY SCHOOL OF THE OF WILMINGTON, CONRAD CLASS. ACADEMY THE STATE IN THE 2014–15 SEVERAL AWARDS IN THE 13 STUDENTS WERE HONORED ARTS, THE CHARTER SCHOOL SCHOOLS OF SCIENCE, JOHN ELLEN DUDZINSKI DISABILITY HISTORY AND 2014–15 DSEA HUMAN AND RED CLAY HIGH SCHOOLERS IN THE DELAWARE PTA’S OF WILMINGTON, CONRAD DICKINSON HS, HENRY B. BRANDYWINE SPRINGS JAMES TRENTHAM AWARENESS MONTH POSTER CIVIL RIGHTS CONTEST. EARNED A NUMBER OF 2014–15 RECOGNITIONS SCHOOLS OF SCIENCE, HENRY DU PONT MS, SKYLINE MS SCHOOL RECEIVED A 2015 CONTEST. FOCUSING ON THE THEME OF HONORS IN THE 2015 CONTEST FOR THEIR WORK B. DU PONT MS AND SKYLINE AND STANTON MS RECEIVED SUPERSTARS IN EDUCATION JOHN DICKINSON HS HEROES WHO INSPIRE, SUDHA HISPANIC STUDENT IN DANCE, FILM, LITERATURE, MS DOMINATED THE 2015 MICHAEL C. FERGUSON AWARD FOR A 7TH-GRADE HABIBULLAH ASLAM STUDENTS FROM CAB ANILKUMAR (CAB CALLOWAY RECOGNITION PROGRAM: MUSIC, PHOTOGRAPHY AND DELAWARE MATH LEAGUE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR THEIR BUSINESS NETWORKING EMILY RAGAN CALLOWAY SCHOOL OF THE SCHOOL OF THE ARTS), JULIA MICHAEL BRANT (CAB VISUAL ARTS: ESHA BOLAR COMPETITION WITH 13 FIRST OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE EVENT IN WHICH STUDENTS ARTS, THE CHARTER SCHOOL BOUTON (JOHN DICKINSON CALLOWAY SCHOOL OF (LINDEN HILL ES), MARIANNA PLACE FINISHES, 13 PERFECT ON STATE ASSESSMENTS IN SHOWCASED BUSINESS THOMAS MCKEAN HS OF WILMINGTON, CONRAD HS), ERICA CAMPUZANO THE ARTS) WAS NAMED CAMPBELL (HERITAGE ES), SCORES AND 17 TEAM AND MATH AND READING. PLANS AS FUTURE HELEN CEPEDA SCHOOLS OF SCIENCE, (ALEXIS I. DU PONT MS), SAUL OUTSTANDING HIGH SCHOOL ABIGAIL CUSHING (HERITAGE INDIVIDUAL AWARDS. ENTREPRENEURS. JESSICA GRIFFITH

30 31 STUDENTS FROM CAB ATHLETICS - EMMA THOMAS WESLEY JONES 155 RED CLAY MUSICIANS ALL-STATE SENIOR IAN GOODWIN SHINBEE PARK CALLOWAY SCHOOL OF THE ALL-STATE - BROOKE TRAVIS - NORFOLK STATE UNIV. MADE IT INTO ALL-STATE WOMEN’S CHORUS BRENDAN GREEN SYDNEY PROCAK ARTS, CONRAD SCHOOLS OF CROSS COUNTRY - BOYS JUWAN MORROW BANDS AND CHORUSES IN ALEXANDRA BISHOP JONATHAN HAIMOWITZ BRIAN RUETHER SCIENCE, FOREST OAK ES, - KEVIN MURRAY TENNIS - BOYS - LEHIGH UNIV. 2014–15. LYDIA COLE BENJAMIN HESS EMILY SHUMOSIC LINDEN HILL ES, MARBROOK - KIERAN TUNTIVATE, - BRETT SAUNDERS KEYZIA DELCOLLO ELENA HU NATALIE SYLVA-BROWN SOCCER ES, NORTH STAR ES AND CO-RUNNER OF THE YEAR ALL-STATE JUNIOR COLLEEN FLICKINGER PJ KAIN ARTHUR WANG TENNIS - GIRLS DAVID RHOADES SKYLINE MS EXCELLED AT CHORUS LOUISA GONSECKI DANIEL KENNAN DERIAN WILLIAMS FIELD HOCKEY - KELLIE CARLSON - GEORGIA SOUTHERN UNIV. THE 2015 NUMBERS BEE. RUBY ANDERSON EMILY MARTIN SARAH KLABUNDE EMILY WOOD - PAIGE DIGUGLIELMO - NEHA DIVI MEGAN MCCORMICK COMING IN FIRST PLACE JAIME BAKER LYNDIE MOE MATTHEW KOHAN BEN XING - DARA SPAVLIK - GEORGE WASHINGTON WERE SHRAVAN BALAJI, RYAN BARRELL AMBER PICARD JOANNA LEE TRACK & FIELD - BOYS UNIV. ALL-STATE SUSHMA BOYAPATI, DANIEL WYNTER BARTLEY EMILY POLECARO TARA LENNON FOOTBALL - ELIJAH AGWU MADDIE SHOCKLEY JAZZ ENSEMBLE LEE, ADITYA MUDGAL, AADHI SOPHIA BLOCK SANSSKRUTY RAYAVARAPU LAUREN MARTIN - QUADREE HENDERSON - KIERAN TUNTIVATE, - LIU BROOKLYN JOHN BOUNDS NARAYAN AND RISHITH ALYSSA DIMAIO KAITLYN SMITH MAYLIS MELENDEZ PLAYER OF THE YEAR NATALIE SYLVA-BROWN RAMAMURTHY. TRISTAN DONOVAN MADISON MIGLIORE GOLF REPRESENTING RED CLAY ALL-STATE SENIOR MOLLY ERDMAN MIYU MUDALAMANE NORTH STAR ES, HENRY B. - ESTHER PARK TRACK & FIELD - BOYS AT THE 60TH ANNUAL MIXED CHORUS ALL-STATE ORCHESTRA ZACHARY FINN KIRSTEN SCHOCK DU PONT MS, HERITAGE ES, INDOOR DFRC BLUE-GOLD ALL-STAR RACHEL DHAR IAN ALEJANDRO EMMA-LEE FURROWH MICHAEL SHEEN LINDEN HILL ES AND SKYLINE - GIRLS - KEVIN MURRAY FOOTBALL GAME WERE AARONREY EBREO ZOE BARA ANDREA GALLIMORE YUNSIK SHEEN MS COMPETED AT THE 2015 - ALEXANDRA MASH - STEFANO PINEDA QUADREE HENDERSON AARON FRESOLONE CHITRAKSH BHATT ALENA GEARING ZACHARY SIMONDS DELAWARE GEOGRAPHIC BEE - KIERAN TUNTIVATE (ALEXIS I. DU PONT HS), REBECCA HEINZ HUI-HSUAN CHEN JINAY JAIN KOFI TEMENG WITH TOM MROZ (HENRY B. SOCCER - BOYS JALEEL HEYWARD (THOMAS MICHAEL HEMPHILL HANNAH CHO JACQUELYN JANOCHA VASITA VOVVETI DU PONT MS) TAKING 2ND - JIM CONNOLLY TRACK & FIELD - GIRLS MCKEAN HS), JUWAN ELLIE HOCKING BRENNA HALLIGAN LILLIAN JANOCHA ERIN WALKER PLACE IN THE STATE. - DAVID RHOADES - NICOLE HARRIS MORROW (DELAWARE LUKE KOVAL EDDIE HUANG JOSHUA JONES ALEX YE MILITARY ACADEMY), WILLIAM LANDIS CHRISTINA KIM PJ KAIN ALEXANDER YOU STUDENTS FROM CAB SOCCER - GIRLS TRACK & FIELD - GIRLS MATTHEW OLIVER (THE DYLAN LANG GRACE KIM EMILY KING JONATHAN ZHANG CALLOWAY SCHOOL OF THE - PAIGE DIGUGLIELMO INDOOR CHARTER SCHOOL OF DANIELLE MARTIN SHARON KUNG JACOB KLINE ARTS AND HENRY B. DU - KAITLYN SIBERSKI - ANNA NOWAK WILMINGTON) AND DARYL NOLAN MOSS ALL-STATE SENIOR BAND RYAN LAW CARNELL LOFTON PONT MS TOOK HOME 20 SMITH (JOHN DICKINSON HS). RAHUL NAIDOO IAN ALEJANDRO RENEE LI MARGARET LOUDEN GOLD KEYS AND 28 SILVER SOFTBALL VOLLEYBALL EMI OKA HANNAH BEINER BRYCE MCDOWELL RYAN MCGUIRE KEYS AT THE 2015 REGIONAL - ERIN ANDERSON - OLIVIA DIMAIO, 2014–15 DIAA STATE RACHEL RAGAN JOHN BOUNDS KATE MINKER DYLAN MONCREIF SCHOLASTIC ART AND - ALEXIS NOVOTNY PLAYER OF THE YEAR CHAMPIONS IN FRANCISCO RIOS- ANDY CHEN DANIEL PARK QUINN MURPHY WRITING AWARDS. AT THE - SYDNEY FULTON SPORTSMANSHIP RODRIGUEZ MATTHEW COMOLLO ALEXANDER TAM KEVIN NANA SINKHAM NATIONAL COMPETITION, SWIMMING - BOYS - VICTORIA TAYLOR - ALEXIS I. DU PONT HS BRANDON SIMEONE JOSHUA GROSS ANDREW VOGTS GABRIEL NOVAS AVANI YATAVELLI WON A - HENRY ROGATZ - THE CHARTER SCHOOL OF COLIN HORGAN JASMINE WANG LUCIA PASTOR SILVER MEDAL. - BRETT SAUNDERS 7 TALENTED RED CLAY WILMINGTON ALL-STATE JUNIOR BAND OWEN HUGHES JESSICA WANG SARAH RAGAN - CONNOR SWEENEY ATHLETES PARTICIPATED IN - CONRAD SCHOOLS OF MARGARET BOUNDS MICHAEL LAN JACK WERB SARAH ROSSI MIDDLE SCHOOLERS - MARK WELLBORN NATIONAL SIGNING DAY. SCIENCE CONOR BRADIGAN EZRA LEE ZIHAN WU SWETHA SANKAR RYAN O’MALLEY (CONRAD - KYLE WESTON - THOMAS MCKEAN HS OLIVIA BRUBAKER VIVIAN LO BENJAMIN XING MARISSA SMITH SCHOOLS OF SCIENCE) AND GRACE BUCKALEW KATHERINE LONG CATHERINE YU REGAN HIDALGO ANNA STEIN ALEX SATINSKAS (SKYLINE SWIMMING - GIRLS CHRISTINA CHEN MATTHEW MCLEAN ALBERT YUAN - WILMINGTON UNIV. KIERAN TUNTIVATE (THE JORDYN STROMAN MS) WON THE SPIRIT AWARD - CAITLYN BLAKE ANGELA CHO ROBERT MCLEAN KATHRYN ZANG CHARTER SCHOOL OF JACK TAYLOR AT THE 2014 STUDENT MOCK - ALICIA DIAZ DENNIS CHU NATHANIEL MCQUEEN YANJIN ZUO FOOTBALL WILMINGTON) WAS SELECTED PHILIP WETZEL ELECTION CONVENTION AT - LILY DUBROFF VICTORIA DENG JACK MECCA QUADREE HENDERSON AS GATORADE’S PLAYER OF ELISE WILLIFORD LEGISLATIVE HALL IN DOVER. - MADISON NORTHSHIELD JUSTIN FISHER ISMAEL MELENDEZ - UNIV. OF PITTSBURGH THE YEAR FOR DELAWARE ALLISON ZIEGLER - TESSA SLOCOMB BOYS CROSS COUNTRY. SIDDHARTH GANGRADE SAM MINKER

32 33 Science Teacher Tami Soltow pressure not to do well. When I finally told him that I just Named Red Clay’s Finest wanted my friends and the boy who sat next to me to like me, he said these words I will never forget, ‘Tami, you are Tami Soltow, science teacher at Alexis I. du Pont HS, was smart and cannot change that. Why would you want to? You named the 2015 Teacher of the Year for Red Clay. “I am can help others but don’t hurt yourself.’” a teacher, then attorney, now a teacher again who never lost her love for teaching and was influenced back into the Tami was honored with her peers and fellow building-level classroom. My first influence was my 8th-grade science Teacher of the Year winners Maurice Baptiste, Jody Beck, teacher, Mr. Ronald DeMuro,” Soltow said. Alice Beckman, Maggie Brady, Sonja Cicconi, Allyson Cohen- Sherlock, Nicole Domski, Kathleen Gormley, Sean Griffin, “One Friday after a test was passed back, Mr. DeMuro pulled Kathleen Hamilton, Lauren Irwin, Equetta Jones, Courtney me aside and asked why I was doing so poorly in class. I Kalbach, Cathie Kennedy, Leigh Longenecker, Erin McCloskey, gave him several untrue reasons and he simply asked me if Erin Metrinko, Cindy Morris, Jenna Parke, Sarah Pohlman, I knew that girls in the 7th and 8th grades often have lower Holly Schnittger, Amy Smith, Marie Solum, John Thompson, grades in math and science classes because they feel peer Kendra Todd-Dixon, Melissa Tracy and Justine Wood.

A Path Forward for Priority Schools Early Childhood Program Earns Stars for Success In January, the Red Clay Board of Education approved improvement plans for Highlands ES, Shortlidge Academy and Red Clay marked a milestone in its journey to excellence as Warner ES, three schools identified asPriority Schools by the the Early Childhood Program at Richardson Park Learning Delaware Department of Education. Based on a “community Center earned a Level 4 achievement rating from Delaware campus” model, the plans call for Shortlidge to serve grades Stars for Early Success. K–2 and Warner to serve grades 3–5 beginning in the 2015–16 school year. This change will allow the district to concentrate By setting the quality rating that guides Delaware families services and supports for students in the two schools. seeking the best program for their children, Delaware Stars helps early learning programs shine and sends a message of The campus model is the most sweeping change in the commitment to high-quality education for young learners. improvement plans, which were developed by stakeholders at each school. Teams held planning sessions and public Programs can achieve up to five stars as they commit to, information meetings throughout the fall before presenting improve and maintain quality. The 2014–15 school year is their plans in December. Covering a number of ways to Richardson Park Learning Center’s first year partnering with raise student achievement and address the needs of the Delaware Stars. whole child, the plans include strategies such as extended instructional time, an infusion of new technology, small group learning, increased training for staff and a partnership with the University of Virginia’s Partners for Leaders in Education.

34 35 brent HALL Radio Production Major, Kent State University THOMAS MCKEAN HIGH SCHOOL, CLASS OF 2014

MY PERSONAL HERO: My mom. As a teacher, she taught me the value of an education. MY MOM ALWAYS “PUSHED ME TO BE MY THE ONE TEACHER I WILL NEVER FORGET: My elementary school teacher, Jill Szymanski, had the biggest BEST IN EVERYTHING impact on me. One of the most important things she did was I DID, THE WHOLE WAY make us practice writing every single day. For someone going into English communications, I’ve got to say that’s where it THROUGH SCHOOL. starts, and I thank her for that. WHATEVER I LEARNED IF I HAD TO DESCRIBE THOMAS MCKEAN HIGH IN CLASS, SHE SCHOOL IN ONE WORD, IT WOULD BE: REINFORCED AT HOME. Extraordinary.

36 37 A GRAND REOPENING

THE CAB CALLOWAY SCHOOL OF THE ARTS THEATER HAD ITS GRAND REOPENING IN OCTOBER, FOLLOWING A 12-MONTH CLOSURE TO ALLOW FOR EXTENSIVE RENOVATIONS AND ENHANCEMENTS TO THE AUDITORIUM, STAGE AND SEATING. THE NEW THEATER WAS CHRISTENED BY A HARD HAT EVENT FEATURING CURRENT STUDENTS, ALUMNI AND A PERFORMANCE BY INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED PIANIST ETHAN BORTNICK.

THE RENOVATED SPACE FEATURES NEW SEATS, NEW CARPETING, ENHANCED CEILING AND AISLE LIGHTING, MORE LEGROOM, A NEW SCREEN, DIGITAL PROJECTION AND A STATE-OF-THE-ART DIGITAL SOUND SYSTEM.

>> THE NEW THEATER IS ONE OF SEVERAL PROJECTS THAT WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY TAXPAYER SUPPORT IN THE 2012 CAPITAL REFERENDUM. PHOTO BY EDIS.

38 39 our DISTRICT

OUR BUDGET DISTRICT EXPENDITURES OUR EMPLOYEES OUR TEACHERS

OPERATING BUDGET $218 MILLION STATE/LOCAL OPERATING 76% TOTAL NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES 2,249 BEGINNING TEACHER SALARY $42,774

TUITION 9% INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICE 62% TEACHERS 1,118 BACHELORS 57%

OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE 11% DEBT SERVICE 5% INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT 260 MASTERS 42%

ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS 7% FEDERAL PROGRAMS 5% MAINTENANCE 195 DOCTORATE 1%

SUPPORT SERVICES TO STUDENTS 5% NUTRITION 4% SECRETARIES 189 FOOD SERVICES 4% MATCH TAX 1% FOOD SERVICE 179 ACADEMIC FACTS STUDENT TRANSPORTATION 4%

PUPIL SUPPORT 149 OTHER 4% SOURCES OF REVENUE NUMBER OF GRADUATES 1,237

ADMINISTRATORS 124 INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT 3% LOCAL 38% GRADUATES ATTENDING COLLEGE 87%

PER PUPIL EXPENDITURE $12,368 STATE 55% LIBRARIANS 19 SCHOLARSHIPS OFFERED $34 MILLION

2014–15 TAX RATE 1.771 FEDERAL 7% OTHER 16 AVERAGE SAT SCORE 1504

OUR STUDENTS ETHNIC DISTRIBUTION OUR SCHOOLS TOTAL AP & IB ENROLLMENT 2,600

TOTAL ENROLLMENT 18,046 AFRICAN AMERICAN 22% TOTAL NUMBER OF SCHOOLS 31 AP EXAMS SCORING 3+ 68%

AMERICAN INDIAN 0.2% ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNER 10% ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS 16 AP SCHOLARS 397

ASIAN 6% LOW INCOME 34% MIDDLE SCHOOLS 7 TOTAL DUAL ENROLLMENT 275 HISPANIC/LATINO 24%

SPECIAL EDUCATION 12% HIGH SCHOOLS 7 NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY MEMBERS 529 MULTI-RACIAL 2%

SCHOOL ATTENDANCE RATE 94% WHITE 45% OTHER SCHOOLS 4 NATIONAL MERIT RECOGNITIONS 102

Data for latest year available. Sources: Delaware Department of Education District Profile, RCCSD FY15 Final Budget, RCCSD Office of Communications and guidance departments. 40 our SCHOOLS

ELEMENTARY Richardson Park ES HIGH Anna P. Mote ES Richey ES Alexis I. du Pont HS Austin D. Baltz ES Warner ES Cab Calloway School of the Arts Brandywine Springs School William C. Lewis Dual Language ES Charter School of Wilmington Delaware College Preparatory Academy William Cooke Jr. ES Conrad Schools of Science Evan G. Shortlidge Academy MIDDLE Delaware Military Academy Forest Oak ES Alexis I. du Pont MS John Dickinson HS Heritage ES Brandywine Springs School Thomas McKean HS Highlands ES Cab Calloway School of the Arts OTHER Linden Hill ES Conrad Schools of Science First State School Marbrook ES Henry B. du Pont MS James H. Groves Adult Education HS North Star ES Skyline MS Meadowood Program Stanton MS Richardson Park Learning Center

42 43 This report was produced by the Office of the Deputy Superintendent. View the report online at www.redclayschools.com

Red Clay Consolidated School District 1502 Spruce Avenue, Wilmington, DE 19805 302.552.3700 • www.redclayschools.com