East Oakland School of the Arts: Using Data to Influence College-Going Culture

Just two weeks after the California State University and University of California application deadline of November 30, 2010, the East Oakland School of the Arts (EOSA) team sat together for two hours to reflect on where each of their seniors were in their post-secondary planning. Did everyone who was eligible submit? If yes, what systems and support structures were in place that set up the young person for success? If not, why not? And what needs to happen next? Taking the time to reflect and be intentional “was incredibly helpful,” educator, Kateri Dodds Simpson noted.

“With administration in a structured space to process, we stepped back and looked at [the application data].” She explained that as a teacher supporting seniors’ post secondary planning, “it’s intense and you get lost in the details,” but with constructive meeting and thinking deeply about changing the culture of their school, the team’s work became less about triaging and more about strengthening systems that are working and changing those that aren’t.

Fatima Ghatala and Kateri Dodds Simpson are part of a team at East Oakland School of the Arts using data to inform implementation at East Oakland School of the Arts.

The stellar team, comprised of Assistant Principals John Lynch and Aryn Bowman, and College Summit Advisors , Dodds Simpson and Fatima Ghatala, and Principal Matin Abdel-Qawi.They constantly dedicate themselves to enhancing their skills and information base to best support their students in college access and success. The team pays attention to all the factors—both qualitative and quantitative—that foster EOSA’s college-going culture, and use the CSNAV data platform to provide real-time feedback loops that inform their student support. At the December monthly meeting, the team sat with a list of every senior, and went through the student’s story, identifying celebrations and paying close attention to alarms, or as Lynch said, “figuring out what needs to happen so that [this student not applying to college] doesn’t happen.” The team exemplifies forward-thinking and thinks about both short and long-term strategies that are, and will, increase EOSA’s college enrollment and persistence rates.

EOSA’s team invests each of their seniors’ paths, and as a College Summit partner, the teachers and administrators utilize our tools to their fullest. As a chaperone this summer at one of our workshops at University of the Pacific, Dodds Simpson’s personal dedication to the rising senior class deepened. She explained:

“Seeing the kids experience having a roommate, having a small college experience increased their buy in and interest, and it was so exciting to see them see that. It was the first time they were away from home, and to watch them see it all become concrete lifted my spirits. It’s powerful to see them see themselves in that way. It was equally powerful for me to see them in the dorm. Teachers never see that part, allegedly they get there, but we never get to see that pride and satisfaction, and being able to see what all of our hard work could look like is a really deep experience. It was really powerful. It was amazing to see Sheila on a campus, and not just having to rely on faith, but seeing her do it—it brought forth a different level of investment.”

The entire team illustrates the power of knowing each student well and working collaboratively to enhance student support. Lynch and Bowman provide critical school leadership and administrative stewardship, paying attention to best practices of this senior class to learn how to better support the 11th graders and underclassmen. Simpson-Dodd worked with every senior on personal statements in her English class last fall. While Ghatala, is working with every student on their financial aid plan and literacy during this spring semester in her Social Studies class. With this incredible team at the helm, EOSA’s college going culture continues to grow and strengthen.

College Summit is proud to have EOSA as a partner, and the Northern California region is continually inspired by their extraordinary hard work and dedication.