In the spring of 2002, parents and community members of Padres Unidos raised concerns about the low academic achievement and low graduation rate at North High School.  Jovenes Unidos members at North took up the call to investigate the high drop out and low graduation rates and low quality of education offered to North students.  Over a two-year period, Jovenes surveyed 725 North High students (approximately half of the total student body), collected school and district data, visited a high-performing area high school, and looked at educational research and school reform experiences around the country. From this research, the students produced the North High Report and Reform Plan. Some key findings of the report include:

  Only 38% of 9th graders who enter North High School graduate four years later
(from district data)

93% of North students surveyed want to go to college, yet 56% of students feel that they are not being prepared for college

50% of North students surveyed do not feel that North has a school culture that respects them, 58% do not feel motivated to succeed by North teachers or administrators, and 39% of all students surveyed said that the #1 way to increase attendance would be to improve the quality of teaching and curriculum.

All we want is for everyone to believe in us and in our potential.  We want the school to believe in our capacity and support us in reaching our goals and dreams.  And most importantly, we want teachers and staff at North to realize that we can and will achieve at very high levels if we are given the chance, said Monica Acosta of Jovenes Unidos.

A full copy of the report is attached. 

For more information on the Jovenes Unidos campaign to reform North High School or to request additional copies of the report, please call 303-458-6545.