W
WINDWARD S C H O O L
11350 Palms Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90066 310-391-7127 310-398-0869 fax www.windwardschool.org CEEB Code 053323
Profile 2011-2012
Head of School: Upper School Director: Associate Director of Upper School: Co-Directors of College Counseling:
Thomas W. Gilder Peggy Procter Kevin Newman Molly Branch mbranch@windwardschool.org Jill Gully jgully@windwardschool.org
A DYNAMIC EDUCATION. A NURTURING COMMUNITY Windward was founded by educator Shirley Windward in 1971 as a coeducational, non-profit, independent college preparatory day school enrolling students in grades 7 through 12. Its mission statement calls on teachers, parents and administrators to work together to encourage each student to be responsible, caring, well informed, ethical and prepared. Located in West Los Angeles, Windward draws its student body from the diverse population of Los Angeles. Admissions is highly selective, with the school attracting motivated and talented students in academics, the performing and visual arts and athletics. Windward is accredited by WASC, the Western Association for Schools and Colleges, and is a member of the Cum Laude Society, the National Association of Independent Schools, the College Board, the National Association for College Admission Counseling and the Western Association for College Admission Counseling.
ENROLLMENT In the 2011-2012 academic year, the total enrollment in grades 7 through 12 is 540 students, with 369 in the Upper School and 89 students in the senior class. The student body is racially and ethnically diverse. Twenty-eight percent are students of color. Windward School has committed more than $2 million to financial aid in an effort to ensure a socioeconomic diversity among its students. Of the 60 full-time faculty members, seventy-three percent hold a master’s degree; twenty-two percent hold doctoral degrees.
COURSE LOAD Windward operates on a trimester system in which courses are year-long. The exceptions to this are senior semester-length elective courses. The final grade is cumulative and includes the mid-year and final examinations. Ninth and tenth grade students carry seven courses (including physical education) each trimester. Eleventh and twelfth grade students must carry at least five, but are encouraged to carry six courses. In addition, all Windward students are required to fulfill a 40-hour commitment of community service during their junior and senior years.
CURRICULUM Windward provides superior programs in English, mathematics, world language, history, science, and the visual and performing arts. The curriculum offers students a choice of more than 100 different courses, including 21 honors and 17 AP classes available to qualified students. While Windward does not limit the number of AP courses a student may take each year, the average Windward senior is enrolled in two AP courses. Truly exceptional students will take two three or more their senior year.
HONORS RESEARCH SEMINARS For the student who truly seeks a challenge, even beyond AP level, Windward offers two new honors research seminars. With the approval of the department chair, seniors may enroll in either or both year-long research seminars in Conservation Biology and 20th Century United States History. These courses culminate in a substantial, college-level research paper.
SUBJECT English Mathematics Social Studies Science World Language Visual & Performing Arts
ADVANCED COURSES English 9 H, English 10 H, English 12 H Algebra 1 H, Geometry H, Algebra 2/ Trigonometry H, PreCalculus H World History 1 H; Honors Research Seminar: U.S. History Conceptual Physics H, Biology H, Chemistry H, Honors Research Seminar: Conservation Biology French 1 H, French 2 H, French 3 H, French 4 H, Mandarin 2, Spanish 1 H, Spanish 2 H, Spanish 3 H, Spanish 4 H Advanced Jazz Ensemble
AP COURSES AP Literature and Composition AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC AP Modern European History, AP American History, AP Government & Politics: U.S., AP Art History AP Chemistry, AP Biology, AP Physics B, AP Physics C: Mechanics, AP Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism, AP Environmental Science AP Spanish Language, AP French Language AP Studio: Drawing & Painting, AP Studio: 2-D Design, AP Studio: 3-D Design
Although Windward operates on a year-long schedule, seniors may also choose to enroll in semester-long courses across the disciplines. The seven semester-length courses for 2011-12 include: AP U.S. Government; The Brothers Karamazov; Philosophy: The Search for Meaning; Creative Writing/Poetry; Economics; Web Design; Psychology.
INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS & FACILITIES Technology-Enhanced Atelier: The Atelier, made possible with guidance from MIT’s Technology Enhanced Active Learning Studio program and with support from the E.E. Ford Foundation, is a high-touch, technology rich studio environment built around a unique cluster of flexible tables designed to enhance data sharing among students and to provide new opportunities for faculty interaction. Writing and Rhetoric Across the Curriculum: The process of optimizing Windward’s writing curriculum has begun with the formation of university collaborations that inspire Windward’s faculty and administrators to learn innovative research on modern communication skills. Faculty and administrators from all departments meet regularly to discuss best practices for the teaching of writing and other forms of oral and visual communication. Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL): A state-of-the-art library and learning facility at the forefront of education innovation for teachers and students, the Center aims to assist faculty and students across disciplines to advance learning, explore new understandings, and develop strategies for the judicious use of technology in education. The Center is dedicated to examining new avenues to make better students and teachers by teaming with MIT’s iCampus, Stanford’s Center for Innovation in Learning, USC’s School of Cinematic Arts, Teachers College Center for Technology and Change, UCLA’s Visualization Portal, and with non-profits such as ARTstor and the National Center for the Preservation of Democracy. New Media Communications: Windward offers cutting edge communication courses in broadcast and online media as well as high tech, two-camera broadcast studios featuring green screens and editing bays. Innovation Classrooms: Active, collaborative, multimedia-rich teaching environments, the classrooms give both faculty and students new opportunities to engage in creative teaching and learning styles. This model is designed to support a variety of instructional settings, including teacher-led sessions, group work, seminars, and one-to-one instruction. Scientific Research Trips: Windward science and Spanish students embark each year on an eight-day expedition to Guatemala for a hands-on experience involving cultural exchange, research, and scientific observation. Students explore the effects coffee growing has on native and visiting species of birds. A select group of biology students also ventures to the Florida Keys, Everglades and Sanibel Island to explore conservation biology issues that focus on restoration and the management of water flow through the Everglades. Academic Integrity: Windward is committed to continually evaluating the school's longstanding standards for academic integrity, initiating the final stages of a collaborative, all-school dialogue. Reinforcing the link between ethics and scholarship is the key to this initiative, and our goal is to create a school where students are able to learn, grow, and thrive in an honest, inspiring and scholarly environment. What characterizes this initiative is its strong collaboration between students, faculty, administration, and our Northwestern University partner. Salon Series: A lecture and discussion series that brings to the Windward campus a variety of vibrant and thought-provoking guest speakers on a variety of subjects such as history, art, science, literature, media, and other topics. Commitment to Sustainability: Windward School makes every attempt to be a green campus, with LEED Gold certified science, CTL and classroom facilities. We also have eliminated the sale and use of plastic water bottles and paper/Styrofoam plates and utensils in the student pavilion. Senior Initiative: As a culminating senior-year project, Windward seniors may choose to participate in a 5-week-long experiential learning study or professional internship.
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS Upper School students must take a minimum of: ■ 4 years of English ■ 3 years of science, including one year of lab science ■ 3 years of social studies, including ■ 3 years of the same world U.S. history and world history language or 2 years each of ■ 3 years of mathematics, including two world languages algebra 2/trigonometry ■ 2 years of fine arts ■ 2 years of physical education
CALCULATION OF GPA
The Upper School assesses students on a traditional A to F, 4.0 scale. Because of its size, Windward does not calculate class rank. The transcript includes both an end-of-year GPA and a cumulative GPA from grades 9-12. Grades earned in courses not taken at Windward are included on the transcript; however, only those that fulfill a Windward requirement are calculated into a student’s GPA. To calculate GPA, we add .5 to each grade of C- or above in an Honors or AP course. Both academic and non-academic courses are considered in GPA calculations.
GRADING SYSTEM HONORS LETTER GRADE POINT VALUE POINT VALUE A AB+ B BC+ C CD+ D DF
4.0 3.7 3.3 3.0 2.7 2.3 2.0 1.7 1.3 1.0 0.7 0.0
4.5 4.2 3.8 3.5 3.2 2.8 2.5 2.2 1.3 1.0 0.7 0.0
PROFILE OF THE CLASS OF 2012 – GPA & GRADE DISTRIBUTION Windward’s grading standards are rigorous and competitive. At the end of junior year, the highest cumulative GPA of the class of 2012 was 4.35; the lowest was 2.44. The median GPA was 3.71.
CLASS OF 2012 JUNIOR YEAR GRADE English History Math Science Language Arts
A
B
C
D
F
64% 60% 52% 57% 42% 100%
35% 34% 31% 35% 57% 0%
1% 6% 15% 8% 1% 0%
0% 0% 2% 0% 0% 0%
0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
SAT SCORES as of the June 2011 testing CLASS OF 2012 (JUNIOR YEAR) Mid-50%: Mean:
CRITICAL READING
MATH
SAT SUBJECT TEST SCORES – CLASS OF 2012 SAT II SCORES
WRITING
600-700
600-700
610-730
650
650
670
CLASS OF 2011 (JUNIOR YEAR) Mid-50%: Mean:
CRITICAL READING 600-710 650
MATH
WRITING
610-700
630-720
650
670
MEAN
STUDENTS TESTED
Biology - Ecology
660
15
Biology - Molecular
700
5
Chemistry
680
6
English Literature
660
53
French
680
7
German
710
1
Korean with Listening
690
1
Math Level II
650
26
Spanish
650
9
Spanish with Listening
690
3
U.S. History
680
49
ADVANCED PLACEMENT EXAMS AP SCORE SUMMARY – May 2011 Total # of Students Tested = 178 Windward students had a TEST PASSING PERCENTAGE In addition to these, our more COURSE TAKEN SCORES popular AP courses include: AP 100% passing rate last year in the following AP subjects:
European History Calculus AB Calculus BC French Language Music Theory
32 28 5 10 2
32 28 5 10 2
Biology; AP Chemistry; AP English Literature; AP Environmental Science; AP Spanish Language; AP Studio Art: Drawing, Painting, Graphics; AP U.S. History.
100% 100% 100% 100% 100%
Students enrolled in AP courses are required to take the corresponding exam; however, students are encouraged to take AP exams even when such a course is not offered. AP course enrollment is subject to permission of the department chair.
COMPREHENSIVE AP RESULTS Total AP Students Number of Exams AP Students with Scores 3+ % of Total AP Students with Scores 3+
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
161 288 143 88.8
138 248 122 88.4
146 289 131 89.7
171 324 155 90.6
178 349 162 91.0
As of the May 2011 exams, Windward had 40 AP Scholars, 17 AP Scholars with Honors, 23 AP Scholars with Distinction and 2 National AP Scholars.
DISCIPLINARY REPORTING POLICY It is school policy to report all disciplinary infractions that result in serious breach of community standards or potentially harmful patterns of behavior. Major disciplinary measures include, but are not limited to, suspensions and expulsions occurring while the student is enrolled at school. The school letter will address disciplinary procedures that meet these criteria.
COLLEGE ACCEPTANCE & MATRICULATION Windward graduates of the past three years (2009-11) have been accepted to the colleges and universities listed below. The class of 2011 matriculated in 55 colleges in 20 states and Scotland; 97 percent attended a four-year university. /*The University of Alabama American University The American University of Paris Arizona State University /The University of Arizona Art Center College of Design Babson College Ball State University +/*Bard College /*Barnard College Bates College Beloit College *Bennington College *Boston College /*Boston University /Bowdoin College *Brandeis University /Brown University Bucknell University Butler University +/*University of California at Berkeley University of California at Davis University of California at Irvine +/University of California at Los Angeles University of California at Merced University of California at Riverside +/*University of California at San Diego +/University of California at Santa Barbara +/*University of California at Santa Cruz California Baptist University California College of the Arts California Lutheran University California Maritime Academy California State Polytechnic University, Pomona +California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo California State University, Channel Islands California State University, Chico California State University, Dominguez Hills California State University, Fresno +California State University, Fullerton California State University, Long Beach California State University, Monterey Bay California State University, Northridge California State University, Sacramento *Carnegie Mellon University Case Western Reserve University +Chapman University University of Charleston *University of Chicago *Claremont McKenna College Clark University Clemson University +Colby College Colby-Sawyer College /Colgate University +/*University of Colorado at Boulder University of Colorado at Colorado Springs Colorado College Colorado State University Columbia College /Columbia University Concordia University - Irvine Connecticut College University of Connecticut
The Corcoran College of Art and Design Cornell College /Cornell University *The Culinary Institute of America *Dartmouth College *Davidson College University of Dayton *University of Delaware +Denison University +University of Denver *DePaul University Dickinson College Dominican University of California Drew University *Drexel University +Duke University Duquesne University Earlham College *Elon University +/*Emerson College +Emory University Eugene Lang College The New School for Liberal Arts +The Evergreen State College Fisk University Fordham University Franklin and Marshall College +Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering +/*The George Washington University Georgetown University +Gettysburg College Gonzaga University Goucher College Grinnell College /Hamilton College - NY Hampshire College Hampton University University of Hartford +/*Harvard University *Harvey Mudd College +/Haverford College Hendrix College Hiram College Hobart and William Smith Colleges Hofstra University Howard University Humboldt State University +Indiana University at Bloomington Ithaca College James Madison University Jewish Theological Seminary of America +/Johns Hopkins University Juniata College Kansas State University University of Kansas +*Kenyon College Knox College Lafayette College Lawrence University +*Lehigh University Lewis & Clark College /Lindenwood University Linfield College Louisiana State University +/*Loyola Marymount University
*Loyola University New Orleans Macalester College Manhattan College Manhattan School of Music Marist College /Maryland Institute College of Art University of Maryland, College Park Massachusetts College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences /Massachusetts Institute of Technology /University of Massachusetts, Amherst McGill University Menlo College Mercer University University of Miami Michigan State University +/*University of Michigan *Middlebury College University of Minnesota, Twin Cities University of Mississippi /University of Missouri Columbia Mt. San Antonio College /Muhlenberg College *New England Conservatory of Music University of New Hampshire The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music +/New York University Nicholls State University The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill +Northeastern University +*Northwestern University Nova Southeastern University +*Oberlin College +*Occidental College Oglethorpe University The Ohio State University Oregon State University University of Oregon Otis College of Art and Design Oxford College of Emory University Pacific University University of the Pacific Parsons The New School for Design Pennsylvania State University, University Park +University of Pennsylvania +Pepperdine University University of Pittsburgh +/*Pitzer College Polytechnic Institute of NYU University of Portland Pratt Institute /*Princeton University University of Puget Sound Purdue University Randolph-Macon College University of Redlands /Reed College Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute /Rhode Island School of Design /*University of Rhode Island University of Richmond Rider University Robert Morris University University of Rochester Rollins College
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey at New Brunswick Saint Joseph's University +Saint Mary's College of California San Diego State University *University of San Diego San Francisco Art Institute San Francisco State University /*University of San Francisco San Jose State University *Santa Clara University *Santa Monica College +Sarah Lawrence College School of Visual Arts University of the Sciences in Philadelphia *Scripps College Seattle University Shimer College +/*Skidmore College Smith College Sonoma State University University of South Carolina +/*University of Southern California +/Southern Methodist University Spelman College *University of St. Andrews (Scotland) St. John's University - Queens St. Louis College of Pharmacy /*Stanford University Swarthmore College +/Syracuse University Temple University University of Tennessee, Knoxville /The University of Texas, Austin Towson University Trinity College Trinity University +/*Tufts University +/*Tulane University /Union College University at Buffalo The State University of New York +University of the Arts London *Vassar College University of Vermont Wake Forest University /*Washington University in St. Louis /University of Washington *Wesleyan University Wheaton College MA *Whitman College Whittier College Willamette University +*Williams College +/University of Wisconsin, Madison +/The College of Wooster /Worcester Polytechnic Institute Xavier University *Yale University *indicates a college at which graduates of the Class of 2011 matriculated / indicates a college at which graduates of the Class of 2010 matriculated + indicates a college at which graduates of the Class of 2009 matriculated