With all the focus on what's wrong with schools in America and in Washington, it's easy to miss what's right. Right here in the Mid-Columbia, we have outstanding examples of creative, innovative learning with undeniably positive results.
A sterling example is Delta High School. Delta is a Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) high school that distinguishes itself as an inclusive high school. Any student residing within the three school districts can enroll -- no tests, no aptitude minimums, no private tuition and no application screening.
After just two years of operation, the 2010 High School Proficiency Exam (HSPE) results show that, if taken as a separate high school, Delta would rank among the top 5 percent of all public high schools in our state.
Delta's 10th-grade science results were 89.6 percent, compared with the state average of 49.7 percent. End of course, second-year math results were 89.6 percent compared with the state average of 72.9 percent.
Tenth-grade reading and writing results were more than 93 percent, compared with state averages of 82.3 percent and 86.0 percent, respectively.
These are astounding results, and they are a solid testament to the power of public education done correctly and in concert with private partners who have a vested interest in producing the next generation of highly motivated and skilled employees.
Delta High School was formed through Pasco, Richland, and Kennewick School districts, in partnership with Columbia Basin College, Washington State University Tri-Cities and Battelle.
The demographics of Delta -- with a 42 percent student population on free and reduced lunch -- match the demographics of Pasco, Kennewick and Richland public high schools for gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic factors, individual education programs and aptitude.
A blind lottery is used to select students from the enrollment applications. Delta uses renovated space from Columbia Basin College's Richland campus, facilities that were constructed as "temporary” space nearly 40 years ago.
Delta is a school that has grown from our community's initiative -- and Gov. Chris Gregoire has praised the Tri-Cities for solving our own problems in this arena.
Our community leaders, in collaboration with our school districts, have overcome every bureaucratic roadblock that has been put in the way of making this innovation in public education a success.
This model is paying great dividends because of the cross-fertilization it is facilitating: The best methods from our comprehensive high schools are incorporated into Delta's curriculum and vice versa.
This level of collaboration and cooperation between public and private interests is where the secret to success of public education lies. We can all sit back and complain that education is the responsibility of the state, and we can watch it fail.
Or we can roll up our sleeves and get involved. We all need to push the envelope when it comes to getting 21st century technology and research-based instructional strategies in every school.
In addition to Delta, there are numerous outstanding examples of national merit scholars, reduced truancy, higher percentages of graduates and year-over-year growth in all seven of the Mid-Columbia public high schools and similar improvements in our private high schools.
Our strong secondary-education system with public, public/private, and private alternatives in the Mid-Columbia is just one cornerstone of our community's quality of life that will attract new high-wage employers and employees to help our community thrive and prosper in the years to come.
-- Phil Ohl is the president of Vista Engineering Technologies and the president of the Washington State STEM Education Foundation, both in Richland.
