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Appleton Central High School (CHS) |
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Overview
Appleton Area School District realizes the importance of strengthening the quality of learning and is continually developing innovative programs to enhance the learning experience of all students, and over the last few years these efforts have extended beyond the traditional student and school setting. In 1996 the District continued to address community needs through the establishment of a centralized school for the district’s most at risk 8-12th grade students and their families.
Appleton Central School is a creative educational institution designed to serve Appleton youths with problems that cannot be dealt with in a traditional school setting or their at-risk programs. It provides an alternative method of continuing learning in an atmosphere which is sensitive and suited to the development of the intellectual, physical, and social capabilities of our students. This is accomplished within an educational environment that is healthy, safe, trusting, caring and challenging.
Schools must ensure all students are provided the opportunity to reach high levels of academic achievement, increase graduation rates, prepare students to become lifelong learners, and provide stimulating and challenging coursework. Such expectations for high quality service and increased student performance are particularly challenging for schools and communities serving a diverse student population with varying needs. Appleton Central is such a community.
Statistics indicate that growing numbers of children in our area are struggling in school because their developmental, behavioral and emotional needs are not being met; therefore, the number of children at risk of academic and societal failure is increasing. These students are most commonly referred to as at risk because they possess the following characteristics: economically disadvantaged; academically unmotivated; truant; anti-social behaviors; adjudicated; pregnant/teen parent; negative home environment/homeless; limited English proficiency; handicapped; chemical dependencies; ADD/ADHD; a variety of health concerns, i.e., asthma/allergies, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorders, and drug addictions.
Appleton Central provides opportunities to draw upon the strengths of supportive staff, families, and community organizations while nurturing the most lasting and important protective factor a young person can develop – his or her own motivation. This school utilizes approaches that attempt to motivate young people to think of their own future, their self worth, and their potential, thus affecting a range of behaviors, not just one type of risk. Supporting young people in positive ways – through education, adult and community connections, praise, encouragement, and celebration of young people’s achievements – is good for young people and the community as a whole.
Who Does Appleton Central Serve?
Target Populations: students/families with mental health concerns; students/families at risk of becoming involved in crime and other high-risk behaviors; teen parents and those in need of academic remediation and/or credit recovery.
Components of the Instructional Program
Appleton Central High School, is a safe and nurturing environment which offers academic, physical, and social/emotional health educational opportunities for students in a small school environment with low student to teacher ratio. Students earn credits in the classroom, utilizing on-line learning and through working and volunteering. We provide a wellness and nutrition program. Students and families have the support and guidance from a school social worker and professional counselor. We work closely with a variety of community agencies to assist our families in overcoming the obstacles that are getting in the way of student success.
What are the Functional Objectives of Appleton Central?
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Assist students in achieving a high school diploma and/or mastery of basic skills
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Incorporate a developmental program that helps students develop attitudes more wholesome, healthy and rewarding
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Deal with the students’ social disorientation and provide a course of readjustment
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Develop personalized instruction for each student
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Encourage the development of character, including the skill of appropriate decision making, encompassing honesty, integrity and persistence in adversity
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Establish a flexible school day for students who must work because of personal and/or financial need
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Assist in the development of marketable job skills
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Assist in the development of parenting skills for our teen parents
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Improve the assessment and recognition of mental health and AODA needs in children
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Increase access to and coordination of quality mental health care and AODA services
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Eliminate ethnic/racial and socioeconomic disparities in access to mental health and AODA care
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Promote public awareness and acceptance of children’s mental health and AODA issues and reduce stigma associated with mental illness and AODA
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Develop, disseminate and implement scientifically-proven prevention and treatment services in the field of children’s mental health and AODA services
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Improve the infrastructure for children’s mental health and AODA services
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Educate families, educators, and other community members to recognize and manage mental health issues
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Monitor the access to and coordination of quality mental health care and AODA services
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Provide access and increased involvement in academic, recreational, cultural, health/nutrition and/or social service programs that are responsive to the diverse multi-cultural needs of parents, family members and community residents. Activities include literacy classes, employment/life skills, study skills, effective parenting, family counseling, and social services support
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Develop competence in a number of areas, including: physical, social and emotional health, employability, intellectual curiosity and learning, confidence and character education, and parenting skills.
Who Can be Consider for a Referral and Possible Placement?
Any Appleton Area School District student who meets one or more of the following criteria could be considered for a referral and possible placement at Appleton Central:
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Generally second semester sophomores or older
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Significantly credit deficient
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Motivated to alter behavioral patterns that have contributed to their credit deficiency
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Ability to earn elective credit through a work study / volunteer program
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Ability to earn credit utilizing computer based instructional courses
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Teen parents
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Mental health concerns
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Criminal thinking
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AODA concerns
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Academic delays
Enrollment Process
Students are referred for possible enrollment through one of the three attendance area Appleton high schools: Appleton East, West or North. Once referred staff from Appleton Central High School contact the student and their parents/guardians to schedule an enrollment interview. During the enrollment interview the family learns more in-depth information about the school, tours the school and if they decide to enroll their student completes the necessary enrollment paperwork.
Parents and students seeking to attend Central High School should contact their student's attendance area school administrator, social worker, or counselor to request consideration for enrollment.
Enrollment occurs prior to the beginning of each semester and is limited to space availability.