The Branco Weiss School Network aims to increase the number of middle school students attending mathematics and physics excellence classes
The Branco Weiss school network comprises of 14 high schools with a diversity of socio-economic backgrounds throughout Israel. During 2016-2019, the network has collaborated with the Trump Foundation and set a target to double the number of students who graduate five-unit mathematics to 22% and physics to 14%. The goal in mathematics has been achieved, while in physics they reached 12%. However, of the mathematics graduates, 36.5% graduated with a grade below 75/100.
When looking at potential talent in middle school, 14.6% students are currently attending an excellence track, in addition to 17.6% who attend the regular high ability mathematics group. Of these, last year, 26% chose to study five-unit mathematics in 10th grade and 13% decided to take a physics major. The lower number of physics students is attributed to the fact that only half of the schools teach physics in 9th grade, while the others integrate a few chapters of physics in the regular science class.
Therefore, in order to encourage more students to choose five-units in mathematics and physics and arrive more prepared at high school, Branco Weiss acknowledges that they now need to open more opportunities in middle school, while improving the quality of teaching and learning. Currently, only in five of their schools there are 6 classes in 7th-9th grades, which are designated as an excellence class.
The plan is to open within three years 13 new excellence classes in 7th-9th grades, both in schools where there is no such class today, and a second or a third class in each of the 5 schools where there are currently one or two classes. The goal is that 40% of the students will study in an excellence class or group. Each class will receive additional 4 teaching hours a week, which will be dedicated to develop high order thinking skills in mathematics and physics, aligned with the 5-6 levels of PISA and the expectations of the five-unit curriculum. A diagnostic test will be implemented every year to provide feedback to teachers on student progress.
The content for these teaching hours will be aligned with the PISA levels 5-6. The plan is to customize off the shelf material from a variety of existing and new sources, adapted by mathematics and physics teachers and under academic supervision. The teachers will form professional learning communities and receive instructional coaching while implementing the new content in their classrooms.
In order to help the schools prepare for this effort, Branco Weiss will appoint one teacher in each school as an ‘excellence coordinator’. These coordinators will meet as a group in order to share knowledge and experience and help each other to solve issues. The network will also engage the principals, department heads and counselors in each school so they are aligned with the program.