Bethel High School along with the other secondary schools in our district has adopted a rigorous set of national standards known as High Schools That Work (HSTW).

HSTW is a research-based school improvement initiative founded on the conviction that students can master rigorous academic and career/technical studies if school leaders, teachers and families create an environment that motivates students to make the effort and succeed.

HSTW is the nation’s first large-scale effort to engage state, district and school leaders in partnerships with teachers, students, parents and the community to raise student achievement in high school.  The Bethel School District is a nationwide leader in school improvement and one of the only districts in the country to have all of its high schools & junior highs as a part of the HSTW and Making Middle Grades Work (MMGW) system.

HSTW is based on the simple belief that most students become “smarter” through effort and hard work.  They have identified 10-Key Practices for school improvement.

During the 2008-09 school-year, BHS will focus our efforts on two key practices: High Expectations and Students Actively Engaged.  Our school improvement plan, professional development, and late start days will focus on these key practices.

BHS HSTW Goals for :

• Continuous Improvement

• Increase to 90% the percentage of high school students who enter grade nine and complete high school four years later

• Increase to 85% the percentage of high school graduates who complete Advanced Placement and college prep classes

• Work in the junior high to increase annually the percentage of students entering high school prepared to succeed in college preparatory classes

• Have all students leave high school with postsecondary credit or having met standards for postsecondary studies to avoid remedial courses