Eye on the Tiger: a look at Douglas High School

Despite some challenges this year, Douglas High School has a lot to brag about going into its second semester, Principal Marty Swisher said from the school library Jan. 22.

"I don't want the community to lose sight of some of the positive things our kids are doing," he said. "No matter what happens outside of us, we're doing great and moving along every day."

Swisher didn't have enough fingers, or for that matter toes, to count off every accomplishment of the fighting Tigers.

One triumph potentially lingering in the minds of readers is the varsity girls' soccer team's state championship title. But Swisher said he's even more impressed by another award the same team won.

"For every sport in the north, an academic excellence award is given for the team with the highest overall GPA," he explained. "The girls soccer team tied with Galena and has won the award the last two years."

Academic excellence has manifested itself in other ways, too, including five National Merit Scholar semi-finalists and an 82 percent pass rate for students taking Advanced Placement tests, which count towards college credit. When compared to the last five years, the class of 2009 also saw the highest overall average scores on the ACT and SAT college entrance exams.

"We want students to have opportunity when they graduate from Douglas High, and we want them to be confident and prepared to pursue the future goals that they have for themselves," Swisher said.

Preparation for adulthood isn't only found in Advanced Placement courses. The high school has been a passionate provider of career and technical education including agricultural science, computer graphics, architectural design, screen printing, welding, auto technology, culinary arts and JROTC.

"We have outstanding instructors who are dedicated to creating unique learning experiences for their students," Swisher said. "Over the past five years, our CTE program, has strengthened and grown, and each year serves between 800 to 1,000 students. Many students take course work to explore possible careers, and many of those continue on to pursue a career in their area of study."

Furthermore, the high school's fine arts programs, like ceramics, photography and band, and its competitive academic teams, such as speech and debate, make for a well-rounded education.

Leadership classes and extracurricular clubs like Amnesty International, Key Club, Teen Advocates and Psi Mu Sigma help broaden students' experience beyond the classroom, from organizing charitable drives to promoting suicide awareness and prevention.

However, the question remains whether academic accolades and robust extracurricular programs yield higher graduation rates and more post-high school success.

"The graduating class of 2008 had Douglas High's highest number yet attend a community college or university in the state of Nevada. That class had over 400 graduates, and of those, 245 went on to higher education in Nevada," Swisher said. "We attribute an important part of this increase to students seeking to continue their own education, but also to Western Nevada College's Bridges to Success program, which provides opportunities for students during their senior year to take placement tests and get registered before they graduate.

"Our students also pursue military opportunities, trade schools both in state and out of state, and a significant number in each graduation class attend two- and four-year colleges and universities outside Nevada."

Swisher said Douglas High's graduation rate, as calculated by the Nevada Department of Education, has increased four percent in the past three years.

"The graduating class of 2008 (latest figures) had an overall graduation rate of 86 percent," he said. "This does not include students who receive special education-adjusted diplomas or GED certificates. This demonstrates solid achievement toward our goal of students graduating from Douglas High, but we will continue to focus our work on increasing this percentage."

Swisher acknowledged that not all the news out of Douglas High School has been positive. Last summer, the school was put on the federal watch list for not meeting adequate yearly progress, as mandate by No Child Left Behind.

He said the problem existed in the area of special education mathematics.

"Last year, we had 46 special education students test as juniors, and 28 percent met the High School Proficiency Examination passing score. This is below the state's required standard for all groups of students to meet or exceed," he said. "As a result, we are continuing to focus on all students who have not passed this and other high school proficiencies, as these are required for graduation.

"We are working specifically with all of our junior and senior students who have not passed the math exam, and we believe that working with all students will increase our rate of passing the exam for subpopulations such as special education. We have also added some additional opportunities, and we have seminars after school for students who need extra help learning and using math."

Swisher said a recent change in state law, allowing juniors to take the High School Proficiency Exams in the fall, will better inform student instruction throughout the year. Yet another change coming down from the federal level may prove difficult.

In 2011, the criteria for adequate yearly progress will be raised. Swisher said the required passing rate for math will go from 62 percent to 71 percent. The required passing rate for language arts will go from 82 percent to 87 percent.

"I feel strongly about the curriculum we have in place," Swisher said. "We'll continue to work with kids and be sure to support them. If they don't get it at first, or even on the second or third try, it's OK. We'll work with them until they gain proficiency."

Proficiency is one thing, but not all challenges facing the high school have been academic in nature.

In March 2009, the school hosted a parent symposium to discuss and confront an alarming number of teen suicides and drug-related incidents. This year, things seem quieter on both fronts, though Swisher cautioned against assuming the problems have been solved.

"I don't want to make it sound like there's been a huge change," Swisher said. "But there are far more resources and more people accessible to help the kids. That is the silver lining that comes out of tragedy."

Those resources include the Douglas County Sheriff's Office, the Family Support Council, Tahoe Youth and Family Services, and the Partnership of Community Resources, among others.

"They provide significant counseling for families and students who want help," Swisher said.

When it comes to drugs, he said the school's new random testing program for students in extracurricular activities has been effective.

"We've set a hard line about not allowing drug use or possession," he said. "Douglas County kids have gotten the message."

Unfortunately, the economic recession has caused additional social problems. High school officials and other staff members throughout the district have reported a spike in student homelessness. One recent estimate was as high as 137 homeless kids in Douglas County.

Swisher explained that doesn't necessarily mean there are 137 kids on the streets. He said the school district defines as homeless those students who are presently not living with their parents.

They may be living with friends, he said, but nonetheless any kind of displacement is hard on children.

Ultimately, Swisher believes that Douglas High School, through its many partnerships with the community, always finds a way to provide for its students, whether it be academic coaching, social counseling, or the students themselves gathering food and clothing for their less fortunate peers.

"The strength of a small community is that people take kids in," Swisher said. "The services here always step up and provide."