Capitol High Boys and Girls Pre-College Academy was one of the sites chosen for a two-day conference among partners in the National School Reform Initiative.  Capitol High is a partner with Southern University and the Gates/Marshall Redesign Project. 
     On Tuesday, Nov. 13, the Peer Network partners from other high school and universities involved in the initiative met at Capitol High to tour the school and discuss progress of the redesign project.
Capitol High-Girls Principal Linda Lewis took participants through a step-by-step discussion of the successes and challenges the school has endured during her five years of leadership.
     “I feel like we’re on the right track,” she said.
Lewis explained the school’s structure, professional development activities for teachers, the faculty’s unique perspective in educating an all girl student body, and specific actions the staff takes to help students cope with personal issues outside of school. 
     “We can always measure success with students who have all the support they need.  We must have the same expectations of all students,” Lewis said.
     Capitol High-Boys Principal Vincent Perry told conference attendees, his job is to keep morale high among staff as the school works to improve its state accountability ranking.
     “We come everyday and get to the grind and focus on how to get better,” he explained. 
     Capitol High School and Southern University began its partnership in 2003. Plans to reform the school changed from dividing the school by student grade levels to separating the students by gender.  The gender implementation began in the 2005-2006 school year.
      The conference participants included partners from Coppin State University and Coppin Academy in Maryland, Winston Salem State University and Winston Salem Preparatory Academy in North Carolina, Texas Southern University and Jones High School in Texas.  The conference was an opportunity for partners to joint problem solve on issues of concern and identify support structures within the network.
     The Gates/Marshall Redesign Project is paid for by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.  Through its National Reform Initiative, the Thurgood Marshall Foundation gathered proposals from historically black colleges and universities and local school districts to reform high schools.  This is the fifth year of the reform initiative.