Looking forward to Kindergarten or to First Grade can be both exciting and a little scary. That's all perfectly normal, as it is a major life change. Whatever else is the case, things will be different once school starts.
Both the popular media and some education professionals spend a lot of time talking about school readiness. They want to know about colors and shapes, numbers and letters, pre-reading skills...
My experience is that they are usually barking up the wrong tree. I believe that the issue of readiness is critical but that is comes down to very few questions, none of which have to do with academic or pre-academic knowledge.
Here are my questions:
Can Johnny consistently do as he is asked by an adult who is not his parent?
Does Hannah keep her hands and feet to herself? Always?
Can Mom and Dad endure the separation?
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Education in Its Most Exalted Mood
The Future in Their Hands
Imaginative Education in Action. Learning in Depth Deployed. A New School Grounded in a Long Tradition of Exceptional Achievement. Headed to #1!
Equal Opportunity
The Corbett Charter School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational polices, admissions policies and athletic and other school-administered programs.
Outdoor School 2012!
Corbett Charter School has a proposal on the table for our 6th graders to attend Outdoor School in the Spring of 2012. This opportunity is possible due to the creativity and flexibility of the Outdoor School organization, which has weathered hard fiscal times with tremendous grace over the past several years.
We look forward to a final announcement when we are able to share the times and dates with all of you.
We look forward to a final announcement when we are able to share the times and dates with all of you.
All That You Can Be is Not Enough
"All that you can be" might sound ambitious, but it's not enough. It is, in some respects, an impoverished goal...a call to efficiency and nothing more. It says 'Don't fail to realize your potential.' Your potential, which is presumably fixed, static, perhaps even measurable, but certainly limited. 'Be all you can be' casts you as a resource not to be wasted. 'Don't fail.' 'Be efficient.'
We want to encourage you to become more than that. Much more. Exceed yourself. Overcome your limits. Confound expectations. Surpass the 'standards' of others on your way to doing something really interesting. Create a marvel.
We want to encourage you to become more than that. Much more. Exceed yourself. Overcome your limits. Confound expectations. Surpass the 'standards' of others on your way to doing something really interesting. Create a marvel.
Class of 2011 AP and SAT Results
The Corbett Charter School Class of 2011 was exceptional. How? They just kept beating the odds.
Statewide, odds are that in a class of 19 graduates, 5.3 of them would have attempted one or more AP exams, and 2.66 would have passed at least one. Instead, 11 passed at least one and 5 earned AP Scholar status by passing three or more. In all, members of the class passed 43 exams during their careers.
Then there's the SAT. In Oregon, about 54% of graduating seniors have taken the SAT, and the average score is 1047 for verbal and math combined. Corbett Charter School's Class of 2012 had a participation rate of 89%! Their average score was 1079...a remarkable number with that level of participation.
A score of 1079 is in the 60th percentile, meaning that our average score was in the top 40% of test-takers nation wide. When 89% of your students average in the top 40% of the nation, that's beating the odds.
Great kids, beating the odds. Corbett Charter School.
Statewide, odds are that in a class of 19 graduates, 5.3 of them would have attempted one or more AP exams, and 2.66 would have passed at least one. Instead, 11 passed at least one and 5 earned AP Scholar status by passing three or more. In all, members of the class passed 43 exams during their careers.
Then there's the SAT. In Oregon, about 54% of graduating seniors have taken the SAT, and the average score is 1047 for verbal and math combined. Corbett Charter School's Class of 2012 had a participation rate of 89%! Their average score was 1079...a remarkable number with that level of participation.
A score of 1079 is in the 60th percentile, meaning that our average score was in the top 40% of test-takers nation wide. When 89% of your students average in the top 40% of the nation, that's beating the odds.
Great kids, beating the odds. Corbett Charter School.
Corbett Charter Advanced Placement Passing Rates Jump in 2011
It's no mystery that our practice of enrolling all high school students in AP classes raises eyebrows around the country. This year we got a great confirmation of the wisdom of this practice.
In May, 2011, over half of all of the Corbett Charter School students in grades 9-12 passed one or more Advanced Placement exams! Not only that, over half of the students in each grade achieved this benchmark! Count 'em, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th... 9th grade? Impossible. Except that it happened.
Another way to turn it is that if all of our students carried their May 2011 results to OSU, they would have earned ten years worth of college credit. All for the cost (to the charter school) of about one year of college attendance at an Oregon university. What a remarkable return on our investment and on our confidence in our students.
In May, 2011, over half of all of the Corbett Charter School students in grades 9-12 passed one or more Advanced Placement exams! Not only that, over half of the students in each grade achieved this benchmark! Count 'em, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th... 9th grade? Impossible. Except that it happened.
Another way to turn it is that if all of our students carried their May 2011 results to OSU, they would have earned ten years worth of college credit. All for the cost (to the charter school) of about one year of college attendance at an Oregon university. What a remarkable return on our investment and on our confidence in our students.
Corbett Charter Board Meeting
4:00 on July 19th, 2011 in the High School Library
The agenda will include organizational items, election of board officers, a review of student achievement, enrollment/registration update and a financial report.
The agenda will include organizational items, election of board officers, a review of student achievement, enrollment/registration update and a financial report.
Enrollment!
DON'T WORRY IF YOU MISSED THE ENROLLMENT PARTIES!!!
Many thanks to those who were able to make it to the enrollment events. It was very helpful toward our efforts to prepare for next year. If you were unable to make it, no problem. We will do it again in mid August. Keep an eye on the web site.
I will also be providing enrollment forms for those who have time to drop by the high school library between Monday and Thursday, from 9 to noon, over the next two weeks. There won't be a party, and we will be busy with math students, but you are welcome to come and get your paperwork out of the way.
Thanks again to those who made it in.
See you again soon!
Many thanks to those who were able to make it to the enrollment events. It was very helpful toward our efforts to prepare for next year. If you were unable to make it, no problem. We will do it again in mid August. Keep an eye on the web site.
I will also be providing enrollment forms for those who have time to drop by the high school library between Monday and Thursday, from 9 to noon, over the next two weeks. There won't be a party, and we will be busy with math students, but you are welcome to come and get your paperwork out of the way.
Thanks again to those who made it in.
See you again soon!
New National Ranking...Number 3 in the Nation!
New Phone Numbers
As the result of a money-saving conversion, Corbett Charter School has new digits!
Corbett Charter School 503 261-4221
Elementary Office 503 261-4242
Rachel Dolkas 503 261-4233
Sheri Dunton 503 261-4250
Alyssa Reed Stuewe 503 261-4256
Lindy Sims 503 261-4247
Middle/High School Office 503 261-4226
Lukas Houck 503 261-4203
Jenny Robertson 503 261-4208
9th Grade Teachers
Tiffany Hedger 503 261-4212
Katie Swanson 503 261-4227
More to follow
Corbett Charter School 503 261-4221
Elementary Office 503 261-4242
Rachel Dolkas 503 261-4233
Sheri Dunton 503 261-4250
Alyssa Reed Stuewe 503 261-4256
Lindy Sims 503 261-4247
Middle/High School Office 503 261-4226
Lukas Houck 503 261-4203
Jenny Robertson 503 261-4208
9th Grade Teachers
Tiffany Hedger 503 261-4212
Katie Swanson 503 261-4227
More to follow
Summer Math Nine to Noon High School Library
Summer math this year is exclusive to those 8th and 9th graders who are completing Pre-algebra, Algebra I and Algebra II. It is 'clean-up' time.
Eighth graders must have a teacher recommendation.
It is a drop-in session from 9 to 12 noon, Monday through Thursday. You may arrive and depart any time during the window.
No-one is allowed in the building who is not participating in the program. All business.
No food, no drinks, no gum, no hats in the library...
This schedule will continue through the end of July, with the following 'blackout' dates:
NO SUMMER MATH the week of June 20th.
NO SUMMER MATH July 4th.
Eighth graders must have a teacher recommendation.
It is a drop-in session from 9 to 12 noon, Monday through Thursday. You may arrive and depart any time during the window.
No-one is allowed in the building who is not participating in the program. All business.
No food, no drinks, no gum, no hats in the library...
This schedule will continue through the end of July, with the following 'blackout' dates:
NO SUMMER MATH the week of June 20th.
NO SUMMER MATH July 4th.
Two More Hits and Two Home Runs
A member of Corbett Charter School's Class of 2011 just received notification of a full scholarship to Dartmouth College! (Yes, THE Dartmouth!) Another has had the same offer from University of Portland! Full scholarships to great schools aren't easy to come by, and we are immensely proud of these graduates-to-be.
Two members of the Class of 2012, meanwhile, have distinguished themselves by scoring among the top 3% of the 1,500,000 Juniors who took the PSAT this past October. They are the running for the National Merit Semifinalist competition, the first step toward the National Merit Scholar award. We wish them all the best as they attempt to join Mark Huddleston (Corbett Charter School Class of 2010) as National Merit Finalists.
Two members of the Class of 2012, meanwhile, have distinguished themselves by scoring among the top 3% of the 1,500,000 Juniors who took the PSAT this past October. They are the running for the National Merit Semifinalist competition, the first step toward the National Merit Scholar award. We wish them all the best as they attempt to join Mark Huddleston (Corbett Charter School Class of 2010) as National Merit Finalists.
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Education in Its Most Exalted Mood
More on SAT's
How to judge SAT results? The State of Oregon School Report Cards include information regarding the SAT results of each high school. They publish both the average scores and the rate of participation. Today's question?
How does one judge? Is the average score the best indicator? The participation rate? What if one school has higher scores but another has a higher rate? Doesn't that skew the results?
Here are my methods. They each involve more than one step, but they are as simple as I can make it:
Method one: the Oregon comparision. Since about 55% of Oregon students take the SAT, compare the scores of Corbett Charter School's top 55% to the Oregon scores and see where we fall. Last year only 55% of charter seniors took the SAT, and the results are already posted on this page.
Method two: the National comparison. The oldest trick in the book is to limit the number of students who are encouraged to take the SAT in order to maintain a higher average score...weird, but not so uncommon as one might wish. So we see schools where far fewer than half of the students take the exam. And sometimes their average scores don't look so bad. So here's the math. If 100% of my students take the SAT, then the average expected score should be in the 50th percentile (half above and half below the middle. Remember, they are only being compared to the college bound students of other schools.) If 50% take it, they should average in the 75th percentile, and so on. If only 20% of my students take the SAT, then their average score ought to be in the 90% percentile! (Say, in the 1300 range for math and verbal combined) That's how the game works.
Last year, for example, 55% of Corbett's seniors took the SAT, and by my method their average score should have been in the 72.5th percentile? Their average score of 1140 was in the 71st.
This year, with 85% participation, I expect our average score to be in the 57.5th percentile. Their average score of 1057 is in the 57th!
How does this translate? Our entire school population is behaving very much like the more limited 'college bound' population of students nationally.
There are other tests that one might run. What about our top 20%? Did they average in the 90th percentile as predicted? Their average score of 1343 is in the 93rd percentile, as it happens. Last year's top 20%? The 91st percentile.
Corbett Charter School does college prep. For everyone. Our results confirm it. 9th graders? Be strong. You will be taking your place on the page before you know it, and you will be prepared.
How does one judge? Is the average score the best indicator? The participation rate? What if one school has higher scores but another has a higher rate? Doesn't that skew the results?
Here are my methods. They each involve more than one step, but they are as simple as I can make it:
Method one: the Oregon comparision. Since about 55% of Oregon students take the SAT, compare the scores of Corbett Charter School's top 55% to the Oregon scores and see where we fall. Last year only 55% of charter seniors took the SAT, and the results are already posted on this page.
Method two: the National comparison. The oldest trick in the book is to limit the number of students who are encouraged to take the SAT in order to maintain a higher average score...weird, but not so uncommon as one might wish. So we see schools where far fewer than half of the students take the exam. And sometimes their average scores don't look so bad. So here's the math. If 100% of my students take the SAT, then the average expected score should be in the 50th percentile (half above and half below the middle. Remember, they are only being compared to the college bound students of other schools.) If 50% take it, they should average in the 75th percentile, and so on. If only 20% of my students take the SAT, then their average score ought to be in the 90% percentile! (Say, in the 1300 range for math and verbal combined) That's how the game works.
Last year, for example, 55% of Corbett's seniors took the SAT, and by my method their average score should have been in the 72.5th percentile? Their average score of 1140 was in the 71st.
This year, with 85% participation, I expect our average score to be in the 57.5th percentile. Their average score of 1057 is in the 57th!
How does this translate? Our entire school population is behaving very much like the more limited 'college bound' population of students nationally.
There are other tests that one might run. What about our top 20%? Did they average in the 90th percentile as predicted? Their average score of 1343 is in the 93rd percentile, as it happens. Last year's top 20%? The 91st percentile.
Corbett Charter School does college prep. For everyone. Our results confirm it. 9th graders? Be strong. You will be taking your place on the page before you know it, and you will be prepared.
2010 and 2011 SAT Results
Corbett Charter School Class of 2010 had a 55% participation rate on the SAT exam, slightly above the State of Oregon average. Their average score was 1167 for verbal and math combined, and 556 in writing. By way of comparison, the best results among the four high schools where most of our students reside was a 41% participation rate with an average score of 1022 verbal and math combined and 479 in writing. The State of Oregon average, with 53% participation, was 1048 in verbal and math combined and 499 in writing.
Corbett Charter School's Class of 2011 already has an 80% participation rate, which is a remarkable statistic in itself. Their average score is about 1061 for math and verbal combined, a very good showing for 80% of the class! The top 55% of the class, equivalent to the percentage that will test around the State of Oregon this year, has averaged 1144 so far. We can anticipate placement in some very good universities for this year's students.
Corbett Charter School's Class of 2011 already has an 80% participation rate, which is a remarkable statistic in itself. Their average score is about 1061 for math and verbal combined, a very good showing for 80% of the class! The top 55% of the class, equivalent to the percentage that will test around the State of Oregon this year, has averaged 1144 so far. We can anticipate placement in some very good universities for this year's students.
What About Those Advanced Placement Tests?
What if I told you that Corbett Charter School passed 50% more exams per graduating senior than any school outside of Corbett even attempted in 2009?
True enough. Corbett Charter School students passed 64 exams with a score of three or higher. We graduated 19
seniors.
The State of Oregon has a standard rubric for awarding university credit for scores on AP exams. If Corbett Charter School students carried all of their scores to OSU (or any other Oregon system school) they would be awarded six-and-a-half years worth of credit, valued at about $125,000.00, or the equivalent of over $6000 per graduating senior. The total cost of the Charter School AP exams? $16,000.00. So our students earned nearly eight dollars worth of credit for every dollar that we invested.
Eleven Charter School students earned AP Scholar honors. Twenty-three others passed one or more exams.
Last thing...counting only our 9th,10th and 11th graders, Corbett Charter School PASSED as many exams per graduating senior as any other Oregon school ATTEMPTED in 2009. Really. Not counting our 12th graders. Add our 12th graders, and the comparison becomes absurd. But fun.
True enough. Corbett Charter School students passed 64 exams with a score of three or higher. We graduated 19
seniors.
The State of Oregon has a standard rubric for awarding university credit for scores on AP exams. If Corbett Charter School students carried all of their scores to OSU (or any other Oregon system school) they would be awarded six-and-a-half years worth of credit, valued at about $125,000.00, or the equivalent of over $6000 per graduating senior. The total cost of the Charter School AP exams? $16,000.00. So our students earned nearly eight dollars worth of credit for every dollar that we invested.
Eleven Charter School students earned AP Scholar honors. Twenty-three others passed one or more exams.
Last thing...counting only our 9th,10th and 11th graders, Corbett Charter School PASSED as many exams per graduating senior as any other Oregon school ATTEMPTED in 2009. Really. Not counting our 12th graders. Add our 12th graders, and the comparison becomes absurd. But fun.
Select a Topic of Interest to Learn More
Learning in Depth Ceremony
The Future in Their Hands
Launching Learning in Depth
This event was truly a career highlight for me, as the project encompasses much of what I believe about powerful learning experiences. I would like to thank all of the teachers and administrators who put hours of thought and work into making this event possible, and of course all of us are grateful to Kieran Egan for taking the bold step of devising and advocating such a simple and elegant approach to deeper learning.
Corbett Charter Critical Links
Blog Archive
The Books That Built Us
- Lying About the Wolf, by David Solway
- Reading Magic, by Mem Fox
- Schools That Work, by Richard Allington
- The Book of Learning and Forgetting, by Frank Smith
- The Disciplined Mind, by Howard Gardner
- The Educated Mind, by Kieran Egan
- The Power of Reading, by Stephen Krashen
- The Power of Their Ideas, by Deborah Meier
- To Know as We are Known, by Parker Palmer
- What Really Matters to Struggling Readers. by Richard Allington
Contacts
- Ms. Ducey jducey@corbettcharter.k12.or.us
- Mr. Robertson wroberts@corbettcharter.k12.or.us
- Mr. Swanson lswanson@corbettcharter.k12.or.us
- Mr. Dunton bdunton@corbettcharter.k12.or.us
- Ms. Hedger thedger@corbettcharter.k12.or.us
- Mrs. Swanson kswanson@corbettcharter.k12.or.us
- Mr. Houck lhouck@corbettcharter.k12.or.us
- Mrs. Robertson jroberts@corbettcharter.k12.or.us
- Mrs. Loeung dleoung@corbettcharter.k12.or.us
- Mrs. Kelly lkelly@corbettcharter.k12.or.us
- Mrs. Sims lsims@corbettcharter.k12.or.us
- Ms. Reed-Stuewe areed@corbettcharter.k12.or.us
- Mrs. Dolkas rdolkas@corbettcharter.k12.or.us
- Mrs. Dunton sdunton@corbettcharter.k12.or.us
Corbett Charter School
35800 East Historic Columbia River Hwy
Corbett OR 97019
503 261-4221
FAX 503 695-3641
Corbett OR 97019
503 261-4221
FAX 503 695-3641
Your Conductor
- Bob Dunton
- Prior to returning to Oregon as Superintendent of Pine Eagle School District in 1997, Bob Dunton worked as a principal, curriculum coordinator, head teacher, classroom teacher, and instructor for (in chronological order) Louisiana State University (sociology), Tongue Point Job Corps Center (math), and The Lake and Peninsula School District (all subject areas, all grade levels). He served as superintendent of Corbett School District for 11 years. Bob now teaches Algebra I and Psychology at Corbett Charter School.