ST. LOUIS COUNTY — No one failed a class at Hancock High School this year. However, no one has ever gotten straight A’s.
Principal David Williams said students will not receive grades or percentages in each class, but will be evaluated on their work habits and engagement, as well as their academic work in a cycle of “feedback, reflection, and revision.”
The burden of proof is on the student to demonstrate that they have mastered the skills and concepts necessary for graduation. Every day they self-assess what they know and what they still need to learn.
“It’s changed the way I approach my work,” said Brooke Barfield, who has been teaching English at Hancock for 21 years. “I’m thinking about what I want them to do, not what I want them to do. Instead of making me feel like a number, every little thing is progress.”
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Williams said the goal is continuous learning, a “grit and growth mindset” that empowers students to succeed.
When Williams arrived at LeMay High School last fall, more than half of the seniors were not scheduled to graduate. There were also many fights. The principal said parents and teachers wanted change.
The new learning philosophy is more common in New England, where Williams previously helped two schools transition from the letter grade system. Students will still be ranked on a 4.0 scale, but the indicators will be Beginner, Progressive, Proficient, and Advanced. This reduces the stigma of ‘bad’ grades and allows students and parents to better understand where they are on the learning spectrum.
This year, a small group of students will meet with their advisor every Monday morning to discuss their needs for the week. They participate in 45 minutes of ‘targeted learning time’ each day and receive additional support and enrichment in a range of subjects. They traded traditional discipline for a restorative model of reflection and community service. This could mean mopping the floor instead of a suspension.
Disciplinary actions were cut in half and tardiness reduced by 60%. Williams said there have been no fights at the school this year.
On Monday, a freshman class of 100 gathered at the Beaumont Scout Reservation in High Ridge for team-building exercises such as rock climbing and archery. This day of adventure was supposed to be the beginning of their high school careers, but the first day of school in August was too hot for outdoor activities.
Kenny Wolfe graduated from Hancock High School in 2004. On Monday, he helped teach archery as the district executive for Greater St. Louis Regional Council Scouting, which hosts a new field trip program called Discovery Base in Beaumont.
“It’s really great to be invited to give back to the school you grew up in,” Wolff said.
Armond Telford, 14, said she loved the activity day because it was “not about school work”. Emma Case, 14, said her freshman class “was having fun, but they didn’t realize how bonded we were.” Students alternately described climbing the tower as “easy,” “fun,” and “terrifying.”
Most of the Hancock Place School District’s 1,300 students qualify for free or reduced lunch, a symbol of poverty. Still, Hancock ranked 32nd out of 455 high schools in Missouri last year in test scores based on family income level, according to U.S. News & World Report. But Principal Williams told students to forget about demographics. They could be the best compared to any school.
The culture change has “brought a lot of positivity into our school,” said Mr. Barfield, the English teacher. “Maybe we’re not the best, but we’re getting better.”