How the Union Helps Build a Better School

In every corner of Putnam City West High School in Oklahoma City, somebody is doing something to close achievement gaps. Whether it’s (shhh!) benchmark testing in a dark computer lab, or (Bravo! Bravo!) on-stage rehearsals for Cinderel la, where students have long known that princesses need not be White, every inch of this campus has been dedicated to squeezing shut those gaps.

Closing Gaps in Oklahoma

By Mary Ellen Flannery
Two years ago, barely half of the Hispanic students at Putnam City West High School in Oklahoma City could muster a passing score on a state graduation exam in reading. When the school opened its door for its first-ever Noche de Padres Hispános, or Hispanic Family Night, just a few dozen parents [...]

Reaching Out to Families Improves Student Performance in Oklahoma

In Putnam City West High School in Oklahoma City, OK,  the fastest growing segment of the student population is Hispanics. Two years ago, the NEA’s Public Engagement Project and the Oklahoma Education Association initiated a series of community conversations focusing on closing achievement gaps and meeting the needs of Hispanic parents and students.
Called “Compadres in Education,” [...]

Challenge Day Aims to Boost Achievement, Reduce Dropouts

When students attend Putnam City Schools in Oklahoma City, they’re getting more than an education in the three Rs — they’re also learning valuable lessons in community building.
Each year since 2007, Putnam City Schools has hosted a Challenge Day, which helps students focus on team building and reflecting on the important things they want out of [...]