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Madison Metropolitan School District

Hands-On Learning, Commitment to Literacy and Math Grows Student Achievement at Shabazz High

Hands-On Learning, Commitment to Literacy and Math Grows Student Achievement at Shabazz High

At Malcolm Shabazz City High School, learning happens beyond the walls of the classroom and outside the pages of an essay. Lessons in geometry are literally drilled into woodworking projects during construction class. Students grow their sentence fluency and reading comprehension skills while writing and illustrating children books for the local elementary school. Social studies and the role of government were experienced first-hand when students worked with local officials to create a safer traffic intersection.

These hands-on and project-based learning courses are just one reason Shabazz has seen consistent growth in student achievement, in addition to an emphasis on literacy and mathematics curriculum and building student belonging and engagement.

“Project-based learning is instant engagement for students,” Shabazz Principal Nathan O’Shaughnessy said. “They get to study and reflect on their authentic, real-world learning, which improves academic performance.”

According to data from the 2023-24 Climate Survey, students feel the same way – 92% of students responded “positive to very positive” to the survey prompt ‘I want to learn as much as I can at school.’ In response to the prompt ‘I am interested in what we’re learning,’ 85.7% of students cited feeling “positive to very positive.”

At the end of each semester, students showcase their knowledge during a celebration of learning through art galleries, presentations, spoken word performances, student film screenings and more. While written final exams often rely on memorization, the celebration of learning focuses on the depth of knowledge – learning doesn’t stop once the test is graded or an essay is submitted.

This increased rigor and high standards of learning for students at Shabazz is reflected in their rising Lexile scores, a numeric value that measures a student's reading ability. Literacy, math and other core curricula reflected in the preACT and ACT exams are embedded across classes, a plan O’Shaughnessy and art teacher and instructional coach Rachel Schramm described as “laser focused.” This is a part of a new addition to all high school School Improvement Plans, which now feature intentional goals to support students ACT and preACT scores.

By carefully tracking measures of student success, such as Lexile scores, staff can then adapt instruction to fit the school’s needs. For example, to improve students' application of knowledge across subjects, the school implemented Learning Labs, a two-block period that incorporates two different subjects into one class.

Shabazz students’ academic achievement is also strengthened by its high rates of a sense of belonging. According to the 2023-24 Climate Survey, 91.3% of students responded “positive to very positive” to the prompt ‘I feel like I belong at this school.’ Additionally, 98% of students feel “positive to very positive” that ‘adults in the school want all students to do well.’ 

All it takes is a short walk down the hallway to experience the welcoming environment, from the former Shabazz teacher, now a substitute, who cooks up fresh movie theater-style popcorn for his class, to the students in culinary class who plan out which dishes they will create together for a schoolwide meal.

“We’ll have students who are pretty shy or kind of shut down, or who had a perspective on school that's not very positive,” Schramm said. “Then to see them as seniors, to witness their personal perspectives on what school can be and academic growth, I think it’s powerful.”

With hands-on experiences, a strong sense of belonging and a commitment to academic excellence, Shabazz prepares students to thrive in college, career and community. When students graduate Shabazz, they carry far more than a diploma – they carry the skills to solve real-world problems, the confidence to chase their goals and the creativity to make a difference.