TransCenter:
Shalom High School
1749 North 16th Street
Milwaukee, WI 53205
TEL: 414.933.5019
FAX: 414.933.5433
Director: Gwendolyn Spencer
History
Shalom High School was founded in 1973 with the specific purpose of educating young people returning from correctional institutions. Over the years, the school’s mission evolved to educating any student who found academic achievement difficult in traditional high schools. Today, these students are called “At-Risk.”
Shalom began contracting with the Milwaukee Public Schools in 1981 and became one of Milwaukee’s first partnership schools. In 1996, the total enrollment capacity was 100 students. Students are offered a full-day program which leads to a high school diploma.
Mission
The mission of Shalom High School is to allow one hundred at-risk students an opportunity to earn high school diplomas and to prepare students to be productive, successful adults, good citizens, and to become responsible, mature members of their communities. Shalom’s competency-based credit-earning model and its senior portfolio assessment require students to examine critically their own knowledge and take responsibility for their own learning.
Curriculum Modifications
As a partnership school, Shalom supports and works to implement the MPS K-12 curriculum teaching and learning goals. Through an extensive, on-going school effectiveness process, Shalom staff, after considering relevant research and consulting with experts in the field, has developed a unique model to meet the educational needs of at-risk students.
There are two parallel ways students can earn the twenty-two (22) credits required for graduation at Shalom. Classes are offered in the traditional high school subject areas of English/language arts, history/social studies, science/health, math and life skills/humanities. Students can also earn credit by demonstrating mastery on a timely basis of the three hundred (300) skills which must be mastered in order to graduate. These skills or competencies are taught across the curriculum and are grouped in the following six categories: communication, social interaction, critical thinking and analysis, problem-solving and decision-making, environmental responsibility and valuing. In addition to passing standardized competency tests (all students are pre- and post-tested on the McGraw-Hill CTBS-4 Survey of Basic Skills), all seniors must develop a portfolio of their work and “defend” their readiness to graduate before a panel of staff and Shalom Advisory Committee members.
Other features of the academic program include intensive remediation for lower skilled students, employability training and job skill classes, computer education, physical education, and an Honors Reading Seminar which is a multi-cultural “great books” program.
Supportive Services
Each student chooses a member of the staff to act as his/her counselor. A family-like atmosphere is created which helps students gain the knowledge, skills, experience, and self-confidence, that atmosphere will allow them to become good citizens and productive adults. We also involve the community in assisting with providing supportive services in the areas of parenting skills training, AODA services, self-esteem building, teen pregnancy prevention, and responsible sexuality classes, mental health, and other social services where appropriate.
Student Eligibility
Shalom offers a full-day academic program leading to a high school diploma for students who meet the criteria of the State’s “Children At Risk” Statute and who are not achieving academic success in the traditional schools.
Access to the Program
The application process follows MPS procedures established by the Division of Small Community Schools.
Prerequisites for Admission
Shalom serves students between 15 and 19 years of age, enrolled in Exceptional Education Needs (EEN) in grades 9–12, and who are defined as a “Child At Risk” under Wisconsin Statute 118.153. Students requiring EEN services may be enrolled with the approval of their parents and the Division of Special Services supervisor, and availability of additional services in compliance with the student’s Individual Education Plan (IEP).
Students are enrolled on a first-come, first-serve basis when space is available. The only exception is for older students (18+) who have few credits and low skills. Such students often have undiagnosed learning disabilities and are referred to Adult Basic Education Services.
Procedures Used to Determine Eligibility
Students must complete an Alternative Program Application Form, with parental permission. “At risk” status can be determined. Potential students must be interviewed with their parent(s) or guardian by Shalom staff and students before entering the program. During the interview, Shalom’s philosophy and programs are explained and a commitment from the family to Shalom is obtained.
Use of Any Assessment/Evaluation Instruments
All prospective students are administered the McGraw-Hill CTBS-4 Survey of Basic Skills prior to enrollment. The reading/math results are used to help Shalom’s teaching staff develop an appropriate Individual Education Training Plan (IETP) for each student.
Reasons for Possible Refusal
Shalom is designed to help students “catch up” with their age mates and graduate. The program is credit rich, but requires students to take their education seriously. Shalom is open to students who meet the State’s at risk definition on a first-come/first-serve basis.
When the school is fully enrolled, potential students are placed on a waiting list. Efforts are made to maintain racial and gender balance. This program is not open to 220 suburban students.
Profile Summary
A family-like atmosphere is created at Shalom which helps students gain knowledge, skills experience, and self-confidence. This Community-Based Organization, Partnership and Essential School serves 100 young people ages 14–19. Each student chooses a member of the staff to act as his/her counselor. Shalom has a school-age parent advocate on staff as well as anger management/conflict resolution groups; drama and music groups; junior achievement; and peer mediation. They also involve the community in assisting the school with providing supportive services in the areas of alcohol and drug prevention education; responsible sexuality education; mental health; and other social services where appropriate.
Articles about Shalom High School
Shalom High School has been featured in “Education and Community: Rediscovering the Connections at Shalom High School,” Community Youth Development Journal, Summer 2001.[click here to read the article]
Shalom High School is also featured in “Alternative Pathways to College,” The Carnegie Reporter, Spring 2004.
Download: The Carnegie Reporter, V. 2, No. 4, Spring 2004 PDF (3137 Kb)
Shalom was also featured in the AED’s (Academy of Educational Development) center for Youth Development and Policy and Research publication “CBO Schools - Profiles in Transformational Education”.
