Part: 1
PART 1: PROFILE History
Sequoyah High School, located in a suburban setting of Cherokee County
approximately 25 miles northwest of downtown Atlanta, rests at the foothills
of the Blue Ridge Mountains and on the rise of the Piedmont. Rated by the
American Business Chronicle as one of the counties with the greatest
growth potential in America, our district has certainly experienced
change. Cherokee County offers pristine woodlands, beautiful lakes and
convenient access to metropolitan Atlanta, U.S. and world markets. Served
by excellent Interstate roadways, the Georgia Northeast Railroad, and the
Cherokee County Airport, businesses have convenient and efficient access
to multiple transport modes.
As it stands today, SHS has a very different face than it did twenty years ago
when it first opened its doors to a homogenous group of 1,441
students. Our student population has fluctuated to well over 2000 but
currently stands at 1523, as a result of boundary changes that resulted
from the opening of two new high schools.
Sequoyah High School’s mission statement is “to provide diverse and
challenging educational opportunities for all students.” The school has
been successful in this mission as a result of the unified effort of a support
system that excels in every area and our willingness to embrace the new
and challenging demands on our ever-changing environment. Along with
performing within the top 10% of the state, we have seen continuous
improvement in our pass rates over the past three years. These statistics
are particularly significant in light of the already high performances in the
past and the steady increase in number of students tested each year. Our
rigorous academic program for advanced placement offers more courses
than any other high school in the district, and our college preparatory
program provides challenging and rigorous courses that lead to success in
higher education. Career technology students also benefit from a
challenging curriculum and our Work Based Learning program provides a
2012-13 School Improvement Plan
Sequoyah High School
Page 1
Part: 1
vital link to the business world. There is a confidence within the setting of
SHS that is the result of the school’s commitment to excellence for all
students.
Sequoyah’s dedication to its mission permeates the community, instills
trust, and encourages participation; and faculty, staff, administration,
parents, and most importantly students rise to the challenge! And it shows;
our accolades bedeck the halls, fill trophy cases, and hang from banners –
from top rankings in the academic arena and SAT scores that have
consistently risen above the national average to state rankings and
championships in a variety of events:
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Georgia Department of Education’s School of Excellence in School
Achievement 2004-05
National Blue Ribbon School 2005
Newsweek Magazine 1000 Best High Schools in America 2005, 2006,
2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012
Washington Post list of Best Schools In America 2011 and 2012
Rated by Atlanta Magazine’s One of the Best High Schools in the
Greater Atlanta Area numerous times, including 2012.
Recipient of the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement Award for
meeting and exceeding standards every year since the award was
established. Sequoyah was the only Cherokee County School District
school that was a 2011-2012 Platinum Award Winner.
Advanced Placement STEM School designation
Advanced Placement STEM Achievement School designation
Georgia Department of Education Superintendent’s Distinguished
Achievement Awards for 2007-2008 for scores within the top ten high
schools in Georgia on the Geometry, Physical Science, and Biology
End of Course Tests and for an average score in Science that was
within the top ten schools in Georgia on the Science portion of the
Georgia High School Graduation Tests.
Georgia Department of Education Superintendent’s Distinguished
Achievement Award for 2008-2009 for scores within the top ten high
schools in Georgia on the Biology End of Course Tests and the
Georgia High School Graduation Tests in Science.
One of two high schools in the state of Georgia to be designated as an
Exemplary Media Program in 2011-2012.
2009 Exemplary School of Writing Award for the schools writing
across the curriculum program.
Awards in numerous other competitive activities from forensics to
robotics.
Fine Arts – State Championships in a variety of categories;
Career & Technology – State Championships, one of top 10 in
Nationals;
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Sequoyah High School
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Part: 1
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Athletics – Softball, Wrestling, Basketball, Gymnastics, Swimming
State Champions;
VOCA – State Champions.
Led by a dynamic superintendent of schools and supportive school board
there is little wonder that Sequoyah’s goals have been reached and exceeded
time and time again. Together with a community dedicated to their success
and their own personal pride, our students continue to surpass the bar and
set their own high standards.
During its history, Sequoyah has become highly competitive in a number of
areas with SAT and ACT scores having risen above the national average and
a performance rating in the top quarter of high schools in the state
according to the Georgia Public Policy Foundation, Sequoyah has
consistently identified and met academic goals. The school has also made
major strides in athletics and fine arts, taking state titles in both categories
as well as in career/technical competitions. During the 2004-05, Sequoyah
was named as a Georgia School of Excellence in Student Achievement and
was named one of the top schools in the United States by Newsweek
Magazine, an honor that the school has maintained for the past eight years.
The following year, Sequoyah was named as a National NCLB Blue Ribbon
School by the U.S. Department of Education.
Growth in Cherokee County has necessitated six different redistricting
initiatives during Sequoyah High School’s history; however, these
disruptions have failed to provide a long term solution to overcrowding at
the school. As a result of the recent redistricting of a significant number of
students to Creekview High School and the newly opened River Ridge High
School, offset by the redistricting of students from Cherokee High School,
the school is at 114 percent of its physical capacity (including the portable
units).
2012-13 School Improvement Plan
Sequoyah High School
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Part: 1
School Configuration
Sequoyah serves students in grades 9-12.
CERTIFIED EMPLOYEES
The teaching staff is organized by disciplinary departments. All department
heads have the same planning period which provides opportunities for quick
meetings. Wednesday afternoons are set aside for faculty meetings. PPGs
(planning period groups) are used during the work day to provide for
problem solving and the discussion of issues that need faculty input. The
recommendations from PPGs are compiled, distributed to the faculty and
implemented if warranted. Due to increased student enrollment and
limited space, teachers within departments share classrooms and office
space. This model has had a positive impact on increased communication
and collaboration between teachers.
Each teacher has a planning period of 55 minutes and a lunch period of 55
minutes. The school’s “official” day begins at 8:00 a.m. and ends at 4:00
p.m.
In addition to regular classroom responsibilities, teachers are required to
assist in supervision during the school day. General supervision is on-going
in the hallway (during class change, before, and after school) and outside
restrooms. Teachers spend one week on lunch duty on a three week
rotation schedule. Teachers who do not have homerooms and all
Administrators are on duty from 8:00 until 8:30 a.m., monitoring students
as they arrive at school.
Tutorials are offered in the core academic areas from 7:45 to 8:15 a.m.,
during lunch, and from 3:35 to 4:05 p.m. by subject area teachers through
the school’s Instructional Extension Program. These tutorials are open to all
students. Notice is mailed home to all parents each year when this service
begins.
2012-13 School Improvement Plan
Sequoyah High School
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Part: 1
Demographic Data
The current school attendance district for Sequoyah has been affected by
large residential developments in recent years, a trend that will likely
continue with the approval of additional high density housing development.
With its rapidly increasing population now exceeding 210,000 Cherokee
County is averaging 10% business growth annually. Interstate I-575 forms
the county’s economic and transportation spine-providing exceptional
accessibility and connectivity to the Atlanta and Southeast markets.
The community that Sequoyah serves has increased in population by 38%
since the school opened in 1990. The unemployment rate for this
community currently is at around 8.7%, which is below the national
average. Median household income for the Sequoyah district was around
$69,743 for 2012 which is similar to that for Cherokee County as a whole.
It is estimated that 19.9% of adults in the Sequoyah district have not earned
a high school education compared to a county rate of 18.5%.
In the last five years there has been a significant increase in the ethnic
diversity of the student body. The following chart shows the percentage of
students in each demographic group for the school year 2012-2013.
Sequoyah High School Ethnicity 2012-2013
Multiracial, 14, 1%
No Race
Indicated, 23, Hispanic/Latino,
2%
170, 11%
Asian, 17, 1%
Black, 103, 7%
Indian, 5, 0%
White, 1188, 78%
2012-13 School Improvement Plan
Sequoyah High School
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Part: 1
Student Distribution (by gender)
As of the Fall of 2012, Sequoyah’s student population consists of 780 males
and 743 females.
Free/Reduced Lunches
From 1999 to 2001 the number of free and reduced meals remained steady
at 6%, increasing to 9% in 2002. However from 2005 to present, the
percentage of students on free or reduced lunch has more than doubled
from 9.6% to over 19% in 2012. We saw a slight decline in the rate from
2011, but it still remains abnormally high due to the economic conditions of
the last several years. The lunch program currently serves 60%-66% of the
students.
Percentage of Students Qualifying for Free
and Reduced Lunch
24
21.56
22
20
19.7
19.8
Fall 09
Fall 10
19.88
18
16
13.4
14
12
11.5
10.3
10
8
Fall 06
Fall 07
Fall 08
2012-13 School Improvement Plan
Sequoyah High School
Fall 11
Fall 12
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Part: 1
Assessment Results
SAT
Sequoyah has historically had a large number of students who choose to
take the SAT. In the class of 2012, 46% of the students took the SAT.
The following tables and graphs summarize the performance of Sequoyah
students on the SAT since 1997:
Sequoyah High School SAT Historical Data
540
530
520
510
500
490
480
470
460
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Verbal/Critical Reading 502 503 506 520 523 513 519 526 527 521 523 519 525 508 517 527
Math
487 497 497 523 523 520 514 522 533 524 528 535 529 523 517 530
Writing
2012-13 School Improvement Plan
Sequoyah High School
516 518 511 518 502 508 513
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Part: 1
530
SAT National, State, Local Class of 2012
520
510
500
490
480
470
460
450
Critical Reading
Math
Writing
Sequoyah
527
530
513
Georgia
488
489
475
National
496
514
488
The following conclusions are evident from the above data:

Sequoyah’s performance on the SAT exceeds that of the state and
nation.
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The total score for the class of 2012 was higher than the total score
for the class of 2011 with improved scores on the Critical
Reading/Verbal, Mathematics, and Writing subtests.
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The scores for all three subtests were the highest they have been in
the last several years for Sequoyah.
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These scores are highly affected by the degree of participation and the
characteristics of the sample group. Sequoyah has maintained a
record of mean scores at a level significantly higher than the national
average despite a large number of students participating in the test.
2012-13 School Improvement Plan
Sequoyah High School
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Part: 1
ACT
Historically, Sequoyah students have not participated in the ACT testing
program in numbers as high as they have in the SAT program. However,
the number of ACT test takers has grown every year to the point where 41%
of the graduating class of 2012 took this test.
24
Sequoyah High School ACT Historical Data
23
22
21
20
19
18
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
English
21.1
21
20.4
21.9
22.2
22.3
21.8
21.8
22.8
Math
21.5
22
20.9
22.2
22.8
22.6
22.4
22.8
23.1
Reading
22.4
21.6
21.6
23.4
23.2
23.2
22.3
22.6
23.9
Science
21.5
21.3
21.1
22.2
22.6
22.4
21.9
22
23
Composite
21.8
21.6
22.2
22.6
22.8
22.7
22.2
22.4
23.3
2012-13 School Improvement Plan
Sequoyah High School
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Part: 1
ACT National, State, Local Class of 2012
24
23
22
21
20
19
18
English
22.8
Math
23.1
Reading
23.9
Science
23
Composite
23.2
Georgia
20.1
20.6
21
20.5
20.7
National
20.5
21.1
21.3
20.9
21.1
Sequoyah
The following trends are evident from the above data:
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In addition to increased participation in the ACT, there has been
improvement in Sequoyah’s ACT scores.
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Sequoyah has exceeded the State and National averages.
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Sequoyah’s scores increased in all sections in 2012 when compared to
2011.
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The class of 2012 ACT scores where the highest scores on the ACT
that Sequoyah has ever achieved.
2012-13 School Improvement Plan
Sequoyah High School
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Part: 1
End of Course Testing Results
The End of Course tests are administered to students in the spring semester
of every school year. There are several courses that contain an end of
course test through all the academic disciplines and grade levels. Recent
changes in school accountability measures place a higher value on end of
course testing and Sequoyah is in the process of including the EOCT testing
data into the school improvement plan.
End of Course Testing Percent Passing 1st
Attempt for Sequoyah High School
98
96
94
92
90
88
86
84
82
80
78
76
96
97
97
94 94
92
94
93
89
91
89
87
92
91
88
2011
84
Eng 9th Eng 11th
Math
1/Alg
2012
Math
2/Geo
Biology
Physics
US Hst
Econ
The following is evident from the data:
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There has been an increase in 2012 in the percentage of students who
pass the Science EOCTs.
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English scores have maintained a high overall pass rate.
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The scores for math EOCTs are inconsistent due to a transition from
Math1 and Math 2 to the more traditional mathematics model.
Future EOCT testing in this area will give much clearer data.
2012-13 School Improvement Plan
Sequoyah High School
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Part: 1
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Sequoyah maintains a high overall passage rate even though there
have been some small drops in scores in some areas. Future data will
help give a clearer picture.
AP Program
Last year, 19% of the class of 2012 scored well enough on one or more AP
exams to earn college credit. With 290 students taking 472 AP exams and
earning college credit 79% of the time last year, Sequoyah’s AP program is
impressive in size as well as achievement, offering more AP classes than any
other high school in the district.
Advanced Placement Test Results 2012
Course
Biology
Calculus AB
Calculus BC
Computer Science A
Economics Micro
English Composition
English Lit. & Comp.
Environmental Science
European History
Government Comp.
US Government & Pol
Human Geography
Music Theory
Physics C: Mechanics
Psychology
Spanish Language
Statistics
US History
World History
2012-13 School Improvement Plan
Sequoyah High School
SHS Score
3.6
4.2
4.7
2.4
2.3
4.0
3.5
4.0
4.0
4.0
3.0
3.6
3.7
3.9
3.7
4.1
3.0
3.5
3.2
CCSD Score
3.1
4.0
4.7
3.1
3.0
3.8
3.4
3.2
4.0
4.0
3.1
3.6
3.3
3.9
3.8
3.8
3.3
3.7
3.3
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Part: 1
Trends that may impact the school in the next five years
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Sequoyah expects to increase in enrollment for the next several years.
This will necessitate instability in the staffing levels of the school.
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The student body is increasing in racial/ethnic diversity.
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The percentage of students who qualify for free/reduced lunch has
increased dramatically. Even though this may be, partially, a result
of temporary economic conditions, it is a long term trend. The school
will need to address the achievement needs of disadvantaged
students.
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Additionally, as the teaching staff grows older, the school anticipates
losing several faculty members to retirement. Replacing these people
will be difficult.
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Increased graduation requirements for the class of 2012 will have an
impact on graduation rates.
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The possibility of further budget cuts and their effect on staffing levels
could have a devastating effect on student achievement.
2012-13 School Improvement Plan
Sequoyah High School
Page 13
Part: 1
PART 1: PROFILE
Stakeholder Input
Stakeholder
Groups
Sequoyah Zone
Principals
Dates
SIP-Related Topics of Discussion
Monthly
School improvement, the coordination of
programs between schools, SIP peer
reviews
Faculty meetings to address school
improvement concerns and school wide
operational issues
Departments met regularly to address
School Improvement Plans and
operational procedures, as well as
curriculum and student performance
matters
Cross-curriculum planning groups meet
periodically to address School
Improvement Plan objectives and
strategies, staff development needs,
Senior Project implementation, budgetary
matters and curriculum issues
School Improvement objectives and
strategies, academic achievement, Senior
Project, budgetary matters, curriculum
issues, academics, school improvement
initiatives and goals
School Improvement Plan, instructional
strategies, curriculum issues, test data,
budgetary matters, staff development
needs, and operational issues
Sequoyah High
School Faculty
Monthly
Sequoyah High
School
department
meetings
On-Going
Sequoyah High
School PPG’s
As
Needed
Sequoyah
School Council
Monthly
Sequoyah High
School
Leadership
Team
(Administrator &
Dept. Chairs)
Sequoyah High
School Data
Management
Team
PTSA
On-Going
On-Going
Test data, formulation of school goals and
objectives for 2009-10, staff development
needs, and student performance issues
Monthly
Parents, students, and Principal meets to
improve the school and recognize staff
and students
2012-13 School Improvement Plan
Sequoyah High School
Page 14
Part: 1
PART 1: PROFILE
Business and Community Partners
Company/Organiza
tion
NORTHSIDE
HOSPITALCHEROKEE
Kroger #680
Smoothie King
CHICK-FIL-A
DWARF HOUSEWOODSTOCK
Johnny’s NY Style
Pizza
SOAR Physical
Therapy
MAB, Inc. DBA
GNC
Address
100 Stone Forest
Drive,
Suite 140A,
Woodstock, GA.
30189
6766 Hickory Flat
Hwy.
Canton, GA 30115
6124 Hickory Flat
Hwy.
Canton, GA 30115
9728 HWY 92,
Woodstock, GA
30188
6124 Hickory Flat
Hwy.
Canton, GA 30115
6768 Hickory Flat
Hwy.
Suite 110
Canton, GA 30115
6175 Hickory Flat
Hwy. Canton, GA
30115
2012-13 School Improvement Plan
Sequoyah High School
678-445-0927
Deloris Hartley
New/
Continued
Cont.
770-721-7300
Trish Wheeler
New
770-213-4053
Stephanie Lannon
New
770-926-3879
Anna Kozloff
Cont.
770-704-6776
Wayne Heuer
New
770-704-8244
Brian Stevens
New
770-345-0650
Mark Brooks
New
Phone Number
Contact
Page 15