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The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) is a national organization of and voice for middle level and high school principals, assistant principals, and aspiring school leaders from across the United States and more than 45 countries around the world. The association currently serves more than 27,000 members. [1]
In existence since 1916, NASSP's mission is to promote excellence in school leadership. [1] In February 2011 the organization replaced its old logo. The new logo returns to the initials NASSP and adopts the tagline "Leading Schools". The association is now extending its support of the principal by providing resources and professional development for the whole leadership team. [2]
NASSP aims to help advance middle level and high school education by promoting high professional standards, focusing attention on school leaders' challenges, providing a "national voice" for school leaders, building public confidence in education, strengthening the role of the principal as instructional leader, and publicizing the issues and interests of members in the news media. [3]
In 2011 NASSP released Breaking Ranks: The Comprehensive Framework for School Improvement, which emphasizes flexibility and adaptability to different school contexts and aims to foster a customized solution unique to each school to improve student achievement. Student success is directly related to long-term school improvement efforts, so this framework is readily applicable to any grade level, K–12. This is the sixth publication of the Breaking Ranks series. [4]
NASSP annually recognizes principals, assistant principals, schools, students, and advisers from across the country for their leadership and for making positive, significant differences in schools and communities. [5]
NASSP promotes the intellectual growth, academic achievement, character and leadership development, and physical well-being of youth. The association founded and administers the following student leadership programs to further these goals.
The National Honor Society (NHS) and National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) are the nation's leading organizations established to recognize outstanding high school and middle-level students. NHS and NJHS serve to honor those students who have demonstrated excellence in the areas of scholarship, leadership, service, and character (and citizenship for NJHS). These characteristics have been associated with membership in the organization since their beginnings in 1921 and 1929. NASSP is the parent organization for both NHS and NJHS. [6]
The National Elementary Honor Society (NEHS) was established in 2008 by NASSP in cooperation with the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) to recognize elementary students in both public and non-public elementary schools for their outstanding academic achievement and demonstrated personal responsibility, to provide meaningful service to the school and community, and to develop essential leadership skills in the students of elementary schools. [7]
The National Student Council (NatStuCo), formerly the National Association of Student Councils (NASC), was established in 1931 with the goal of helping middle level and high school student councils become more effective organizations. NatStuCo seeks to provide a valuable leadership partnership between students and their school. It creates the opportunity for students to become effective leaders, thus encouraging and influencing a positive school climate.
NatStuCo is a program of NASSP. Its operation and administration are at the national office in Reston, VA. An Advisory Committee—whose membership includes students, advisers, and principals appointed by the NASSP Board of Directors—provides input and advice to NatStuCo staff.
NatStuCo seeks to promote civil service among students within the school and community. The organization provides leadership training for student council members and advisers. [8]
Each year, NatStuCo hosts a national conference for activities directors and students across the country. [9] The conference features youth motivational speakers and workshop presenters.
In 2007, NASSP received a grant from MetLife Foundation and merged two programs, Breakthrough High Schools and Bridge Builders, to form Breakthrough Schools. Previously, the Breakthrough High Schools program recognized schools that were defying the odds and succeeding despite predictors of low student achievement. The Bridge Builders program recognized middle level and high school principals who had implemented proven strategies to create connections between their faculty and surrounding communities. From 2008 to 2014, Breakthrough Schools program annually recognized 10 US middle and high schools that serve large numbers of students living in poverty and are high achieving or dramatically improving student achievement. [10] [11]
Although the program was paused in 2015 and 2016, in 2017, NASSP reevaluated the 39 Breakthrough Schools recognized between 2011 and 2014 and found that 26 of the schools had continuously sustained their student achievement, and redesignated them as Breakthrough Schools. [12]
Winners are chosen based on a school's documented success in implementing strategies aligned with the three core areas of NASSP's school improvement model, the Breaking Ranks Framework. The core areas include collaborative leadership; personalization; and curriculum, instruction, and assessment. [12]
More specifically, nominated schools must demonstrate continuous growth on state assessments (and improved graduation rates among high schools), efforts to reduce the achievement gap, and have a student body consisting of 40% or more eligible for free or reduced price meals. Additional factors impacting consideration include equity of student participation in challenging courses, personal learning plans for all students, school/community connections, and leadership development/mentoring. [13]
From 2008 to 2014, selected schools received a $5,000 grant and were featured in the association's monthly magazine, Principal Leadership. Principals of Breakthrough Schools participated in professional development activities and the annual NASSP conference. [14] In 2017, all schools received a plaque and banner, four of the principals were selected to attend the National Principals Conference, and another six principals participated in the McKinsey Management Program for School Leaders. [15]
The National Honor Society (NHS) is one of the oldest, largest, and most widely recognized cocurricular student organizations in American high schools, with 1.4 million members.
The Western Association of Schools and Colleges provided accreditation of public and private universities, colleges, secondary and elementary schools in California and Hawaii, the territories of Guam, American Samoa and Northern Marianas Islands, in addition to the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, the Pacific Rim, Peru, Czech Republic, Armenia, and East Asia.
The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program is a United States Department of Education award program that recognizes exemplary public and non-public schools on a yearly basis. Using standards of excellence evidenced by student achievement measures, the Department honors high-performing schools and schools that are making great strides in closing any achievement gaps between students.
Tri-M Music Honor Society, formerly known as Modern Music Masters, is an American high school and middle school music honor society. A program of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), it is designed to recognize students for their academic and musical achievements and to provide leadership and service opportunities to young musicians. There are approximately 6200 participating chapters in several countries, each of which is run by the students but supervised by an advisor or sponsor, usually a school teacher.
Eanes Independent School District (EISD) is a school district headquartered in unincorporated Travis County, Texas (USA), in Greater Austin. Its enrollment is about 7,814 students, distributed among six elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school. All nine schools are rated Exemplary - the highest designation possible - in the State of Texas 2009 accountability ratings, marking the second consecutive year for that accomplishment. The district's overall state is Exemplary, making Eanes ISD one of just two 5A districts in the state to receive that designation in 2009. Only 9.5 percent of districts statewide are rated exemplary. See the bottom of this page for more information about TEA accountability ratings.
The West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District is a comprehensive high achieving regional public school district in the U.S. state of New Jersey, serving students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade from West Windsor Township and Plainsboro Township. There are four elementary schools, two upper elementary schools, two middle schools and two high schools. Niche.com listed the district as fourth best in New Jersey, and 63rd best in the nation, according to its 2023 Best Schools ranking.
The National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) is an American international student organization that consists of chapters in middle schools. The NJHS was founded by the National Association of Secondary School Principals, and today has chapters in the United States, other U.S. territories, and around the world. To be considered for membership, applicants must reach the five standards which include leadership, citizenship, character, service, and scholarship. The National Junior Honor Society recognizes students who exemplify leadership and citizenship, as well as provide educational opportunities. For the scholarship standard, the student scholar must have a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 from a scale of 4.0. This, however, can vary between schools.
The Livingston Public Schools are a comprehensive community public school district that serves students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade from Livingston, in Essex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The district consists of six elementary schools, grades PreK/K-5; one middle school for grade 6 and another middle school for grades 7 and 8, and one four-year high school.
Southwestern Educational Society ("SESO") is a private, English language school in Mayagüez, a western municipality in Puerto Rico that was founded in 1973.
Sylvan Hills High School is an accredited comprehensive public high school located in the city of Sherwood, Arkansas, United States, serving grades nine through twelve. Sylvan Hills is one of four high schools administered by the Pulaski County Special School District (PCSSD). Prior to 1956, Sylvan Hills School instructed students through grade nine until local citizens gathered to approve expanding the school to a senior high, resulting in its first graduating class in 1959. Then, because of the increasing population in the surrounding communities, the school moved to its current campus adjacent to its former facilities starting in the 1968–69 school year.
Harrison Central High School is a 6A public high school located near Lyman, Mississippi, United States. As of the 2020–21 school year, it has a student body of 1,622 students and 144 faculty. The principal is Kelly Fuller.
Humble High School (HHS) is a secondary school in the Humble Independent School District in Humble, Texas, United States. It serves grades 9 through 12 for the city of Humble, the Moonshine Hill area of Houston, and unincorporated communities north of Beltway 8. The campus serves the entire Humble area and the western part of Atascocita. In 2016, a portion of the upstairs main building was refurbished for the rezoning of Quest Early College High School (QECHS) completely independent from HHS.
Del Valle High is a public high school located on the southeast side of El Paso, Texas. DV, as it is commonly called, is part of the Ysleta Independent School District, serving 2,000 students in grades 9 to 12. At the start of the 2022 academic year, Ivan Cedillo was appointed principal of Del Valle High School. The TEA association classifies Del Valle as a "recognized school" as of 2011.
Grandville Public Schools is a school district in Grandville, Michigan, United States. The current superintendent is Roger Bearup, who previously served as the assistant superintendent in the Lowell Public Schools Administration.
Lanakila Baptist School is a college-preparatory K-12 private school located in Honolulu County, Hawaii. It serves grades sixth through twelve and has a current enrollment of about 70 students. The student population is ethnically diverse and includes Filipinos, Caucasians, part-Hawaiians, Japanese, Hispanics, Indo-Chinese, Chinese, Samoans, and African-Americans.
New Leaders is an American non-profit organization that aims to recruit and train school leaders who focus on improving education results for poor and minority students. It also aims to promote system-level policies and practices that provide support to these leaders. The organization was founded in 2000 as New Leaders for New Schools by Jonathan Schnur and a group of teachers and investors. Research from the Harvard Business School and RAND corporation has found that principals from the New Leaders program have "outperform[ed] their peers". As of 2016, the organization trains education leaders at all levels, in more than 20 cities across the United States.
Ossining High School (OHS) is a comprehensive public high school located in Ossining, New York, United States, along the Hudson River in northern Westchester County, New York. Serving grades 9 through 12, it is the sole high school within the Ossining Union Free School District. The school serves the entirety of the village of Ossining, portions of the Village of Briarcliff Manor, Town of Ossining, and Town of New Castle, as well as a very small southern portion of the Town of Yorktown.
Jefferson County High School (JCHS) is a public high school located in Louisville, Georgia, United States. The school is part of the Jefferson County School District, which serves Jefferson County.
Jane Long Academy, formerly Jane Long Middle School, is a public grade 6-12 middle and high school in Sharpstown, Houston, Texas. It is a part of the Houston Independent School District. Long, in Sharpstown Section 1, serves portions of Sharpstown, Gulfton, and Shenandoah for middle school. Jane Long serves Sharpstown original sections 1, 1A, and 2. The campus has a grade 6-8 neighborhood program together with a 9-12 Futures Academy, a non-zoned high school program that offers an associate degree track. Las Américas Newcomer School, a school for new immigrants, is on the Long campus.
Todd Whitaker is an American educator, writer, motivational speaker, educational consultant, and professor. A leading presenter in the field of education, Dr. Whitaker has published over 60 books on staff motivation, teacher leadership, technology, middle level practices, instructional improvement, and principal effectiveness, including the national best-seller, What Great Teachers Do Differently. Before leaving in 2016, he was a professor of educational leadership at Indiana State University. In 2013, Dr. Whitaker received the President's Medal from Indiana State University, the university's highest award for faculty.