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Shreveport, LA (KTBS ) — When a school goes from an ‘F’ rated campus to a ‘C,’ you’ve got to wonder what the school system is doing differently to make such a positive change.
But, C isn’t good enough for students at Booker T. Washington in Shreveport who are aiming for an A+.
About 30 students at BTW, including junior Karrington Williams, are enrolled in the early college program that could earn them an associate’s degree the same time they get a high school diploma.
“We are the best. No one knows it yet, but they’re starting to see,” Williams said with confidence.
Williams and her peers in the early college program have one thing in common: they’re ready to learn. The once historically under-performing school with an F rating is preparing students for life after graduation.
“These are opportunities and places you can go if you apply yourself,” said interim Principal Crystal Barnes. “That’s one of the things we promote, making sure that students are college ready. This can be your real life, it doesn’t have to be a dream for you.”
Barnes is a product of BTW. She attributes a few things to the schools’ two letter grade increase.
High quality teachers, programs that bring community to the school, Teacher Advancement Program, also known as TAP, and giving students the opportunity to learn more and at their own unique pace.
“Our school was known as a struggling school because of our test scores and things like that. When this program was brought about, it helped to acknowledge that our test scores might be low but we’re working on it and we do have kids who are ready to learn,” added Williams.
DeCorey Johnson is a sophomore at BTW also enrolled in the Early College Program. Johnson is a student athlete and considers himself to be an ‘A’ student, he wants to be a doctor when he grows up.
The early college program comes at no cost to Johnson, which was a big sigh of relief since he only has his mom for support. Even though that’s the case for him, he thanks Booker T. Washington for pushing him to be the best version of himself.
“The teachers believe in their students and they push us, even when you don’t believe in yourself,” said Johnson. “They want us to be good, they teach us life goals that will help us as we get older.”
That makes them proud to be in BTW’s lion’s den.
“I’ve seen the school grow, not just from education … to friendships and communication skills and development of students,” added Williams.
The early college program is offered at both BTW and Woodlawn High Schools, students are bused to Southern University in Shreveport three times a week.
School leaders are noticing a chance in BTW’s graduation rate. In the past year alone, there has been a 10-point increase from 71.9 percent to 82 percent.
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