North Babylon High School's 9th Grade Academy, implemented at the start of the current school year and designed to ease the transition process for freshman, is showing early positive results, according to a recent report by high school administrators.

In a recent report to the North Babylon Board of Education, high school officials said a comparison of statistics from the current school to the previous school year show a dramatic drop in the number of 9th graders failing a number of subjects. Also, school administrators report enhanced camaraderie among 9th graders as well.

For example, 2004-05 freshman class- which had 437 students- 65 students failed English in the first quarter and 51 students failed English in the second quarter. Figures for the current school year's freshman class, which has 428 students- 38 students failed English in the first quarter and 48 student failed English in the second quarter.

A major improvement was also seen in Earth science. In the 04-05 school year, 111 freshmen failed in the first quarter and 124 failed during the second quarter. This school year, 56 students failed Earth science in the first quarter and 66 in the second quarter.

The early results have also changed some opinions of what impact the 9th Grade Academy would have on students, with some of those doubters within the high school administration.

"At best, I would say I was indifferent [about the Academy] and at worst I was miffed," said Michael Scottaline, assistant principal at the high school, who presented the report on the 9th Grade Academy to school board trustees. "I did not believe in it. But now I am one of its strongest supporters."

In addition to the statistical improvements in grades as a result of the Academy, high school administrators noted several improvements in overall behavior of freshmen this school year as compared to previous school years.

These changes include students showing greater respect for one another, an increase in student-tostudent support in class, an increase showing of team spirit and easier solutions of student-to-student problems.

"We have seen 9th graders this year more willing to talk about teaching and learning," said Donald Shevlin, high school principal. "Better interaction among teachers has also been key."

Shevlin noted that some of the problems seen with previous freshmen classes stemmed from maturity level of students. But he was quick to add that school officials also could have done more in past years to ease the transition process for students entering the high school.

Among the key elements of the 9th Grade Academy was the implementation of team teaching for freshman, whereby groups of students are taught by the same group of teachers across several subjects. This allows teachers on the team to deal as a group with students and parents struggling with grades or other issues. In addition, high school officials said the team concept also increases the continuity of what is being taught by teachers across all subjects.

In addition, a majority of 9th grade classes were relocated at the high school, located on the second floor of the building's west wing. High school officials feel grouping 9th graders together helps make the move from the middle school less intimidating.