Central High School Redesign
Background to Redesign
To understand Central High School's Redesign plan, it's important to know that Central was identified as a school in need of Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) in 2019 due to low achievement scores on the SAT and we have not yet improved enough to exit CSI status. In addition, Central's students with disabilities and English learners have larger achievement gaps than their peers. For these reasons, we are taking this Redesign opportunity to think deeply about how we can improve the educational experiences and outcomes for every Knight. The work we have done thus far has put us on the path toward strengthening our current Career and Technical Education (CTE) offerings: JROTC Leadership and Law and Public Safety and Government, which includes a concentration in Criminal Justice as well as a partnership with Providence Fire Department that offers EMT and firefighter training. Our goal is to offer every student a pathway that will capture their imagination, engage them in rigorous learning, and prepare them for future opportunities. Thank you for your interest in this important work. We will keep you updated throughout the process. If you would like to learn more about Redesign, the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) website provides a complete understanding of the school Redesign process, and all information is publicly available.
Central's progress on Redesign planning
Students, families, faculty, staff, and community members have participated in virtual focus groups, given input through surveys, and met for an all-day planning session to brainstorm how Central High School can best meet the needs of all Knights. The feedback gathered has provided a focus: Central's Redesign plan will increase Career and Technical Education (CTE) opportunities, including opportunities for students to earn credentials and engage in work-based learning and internships.
Student voices
Students (514) identified their top interests for future Career and Technical Education (CTE) opportunities as follows:
#1 Law Enforcement- Police, Detective 46.4%
#2 Forensic Science Technician 46.2%
#3 Medical/Court Translator 45.9%
NextSteps:DefineCentral'sMissionandVision
Mission and Vision
The school community's next important task is to define our mission and vision. What's the difference? A mission defines an organization's purpose. It is operational and action oriented. A mission guides decisions, resource allocation, hiring, programming, and daily instructional priorities.
It answers the questions:
- Why do we exist?
- Who do we serve?
- What do we do every day?
- How do we do it?
A vision defines our future aspiration. It sets the direction and inspires long-term alignment. It answers the questions:
- What do we want to become?
- What will success look like?
- What impact will our graduates have?
- What will our community experience if we succeed?
Central'sCurrentMissionandVisionStatements
Examplesofmissionandvisionstatements
Examples of mission statements
- from Alvarez High School...Dr. Jorge Alvarez High School will prepare all students with 21st-century skills in an equitable and rigorous learning environment to achieve post-secondary success as critical thinkers, lifelong learners, and purposeful problem solvers within their community and a global society.
- from PCTA...Mission: Providence Career and Technical Academy is a leading Career and Technical Education school with the mission of creating lifelong self-directed learners and critical thinkers. We deliver our instruction through a personalized learning environment that will provide each and every student with the technical, academic, social and emotional skills to be college and career ready.
Examples of vision statements
- from Alvarez High School...Dr. Jorge Alvarez High School’s culturally diverse graduates will excel as leaders, innovators and collaborators in a post-secondary environment, their chosen profession, and an ever-changing society.
- from PCTA...Vision: PCTA vision is to become a national leader in career and technical education with a strong focus on transforming every classroom into a student-centered and vibrant place of inquiry for all students. We are committed to implementing the recommendations of the research on “How People Learn” to ensure that the technical and academic passion of every child is either created, sustained, or enhanced so that they can become career and college ready.
UPDATE CENTRAL'S MISSION AND VISION STATEMENTS
The big idea is that we want our mission and vision statement to reflect our Redesign focus.
From the Redesign application…Based on this comprehensive analysis, Central High School identified three interdependent Redesign priorities:
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Increase overall academic achievement in ELA, Math, and Science, with targeted focus on Multilingual Learners and Students with Disabilities.
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Reduce chronic student absenteeism by strengthening engagement, accountability, and support systems.
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Increase Diploma Plus and postsecondary credential attainment through expanded pathway access and academic readiness.
Examples of mission statements reflecting the Redesign priorities
#1 Central High School’s mission is to ensure every student engages in rigorous, relevant learning within their chosen Career and Technical Education pathway, building the academic knowledge and technical expertise needed for postsecondary success.
#2 Central High School’s mission is to empower every student to pursue deep, meaningful learning through high-quality CTE pathways that integrate strong academics, real-world application, and professional skill development.
Examples of vision statements reflecting the Redesign priorities
#1 We envision a learning community where every student discovers purpose, develops expertise through academic and technical pathways, and graduates prepared for lifelong learning, leadership, and service.
#2 We envision Central High School as a community where every Knight graduates as a confident problem-solver—equipped with industry-aligned skills, strong academic foundations, and a clear path to college, career, and civic leadership.