Newport Hills-More Than a Great Investment, it’s a Great Education!

Don't just invest in a home, invest in your child's future. While property in Bellevue doesn't come cheaply, you may get an even greater return for your investment dollar than you realize. Newport Hills (Home to Newport High School) was ranked the #1 Suburban Neighborhood (out of the 98 reviewed) to live in by Seattle Magazine in 2007. Neighborhoods that rank high by the magazine have a lower median price and cost per square foot, a significant increase in median price, low crime rate, high number of students passing the WASL, park acreage nearby, shorter commute times, and higher racial diversity. Newport High School was built in the 1963 and opened in the fall of 1964 to accommodate Bellevue's growing population. Prior to construction, students in the Eastgate, Somerset and Newport Hills neighborhoods went to Sammamish High School and Bellevue High School. The first graduating class was of 1966.

In the summer of 2005, construction began on a major renovation of the entire school campus in order to accommodate the growing student population. The renovation included a new academic building, performing arts center, library, offices, and student commons. Components of the old complex that were retained for renovation included the music wing, gymnasiums, and locker rooms. As of February 26, 2007, all classes have been moved into a new building. The old academic building has since been demolished, and is currently being replaced with a new baseball field. The new academic hall has three floors, with elevators for disabled/handicapped students

Due to its extensive Advanced Placement course offering, Newport High School has consistently been ranked in the Top 50 List of Best High Schools by Newsweek Magazine as measured by the number of AP tests taken divided by the number of seniors in the school, ranking 37th as of 2006. Newport was also selected as a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence in 2003 by the U.S. Department of Education. In 2005 Newport High School's World History program was recognized as exemplary in the College Board's Report To The Nation based on its top-ranking pass rate on the national AP World History exam. Newport is one of the 75 schools selected nationwide as "Promising Schools" as part of a 3 year initiative. Newport is also one of five Bellevue High Schools in the nations top 200.

Listed below is a demographic of the schools ethnic breakdown and other relevent information:

10 year History of Newports Improving WASL Results

Scale: % meeting or exceeding standards

Reading
98% (2007)
98% (2006)
93% (2005)
94% (2004)

The state average for Reading was 81% in 2007.

Science
70% (2007)
63% (2006)

The state average for Science was 36% in 2007.

Writing
95% (2007)
98% (2006)
90% (2005)
95% (2004)

The state average for Writing was 84% in 2007.

Math
81% (2007)
80% (2006)
83% (2005)
82% (2004)

The state average for Math was 50% in 2007.

Source: WA OSPI, 2006-2007

About the tests

• In 2006-2007 Washington used the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) to test students in reading and math in grades 3 through 8 and 10, in writing in grades 4, 7 and 10 and in science in grades 5, 8 and 10.
• The WASL is a standards-based test, which means it measures how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Washington.
• Beginning with the class of 2008, the grade 10 WASL will be a high school graduation requirement.
• The goal is for all students to score at or above the state standard.

Two other measures of high school performance are SAT scores and numbers of students taking Advanced Placement (AP) exams.

Enrollment in AP courses and student success on AP exams are leading indicators of academic success in our high schools. Students who earn scores of 3 or higher on AP exams may qualify to receive college credits.

Newport High has ambitious improvement plans for 2007-2008, listed below are their primary goals:

Goal: To increase the percentage of students being on standard or higher in reading, mathematics and writing (as measured by the WASL scores).

Actions:

1. Individual student focus:

• By October, identify those students who are below grade level standard in reading, math and writing.

• Share this information with their current teachers of that particular discipline and develop individual plans on how to help each student.

• Use counselors as facilitators to work with the individual students and their teachers to develop individualized plans.

• Enroll students in our WASL remedial coursework.

• Identify individual deficiencies and a plan to address deficiencies.

• Consider use of Saturday sessions, peer tutors, extended-day tutorial and/or VIBES mentors for those students to address deficiency areas.

• Regularly reflect on student progress and revise strategies if progress lacking.

2. Reading, Math and Writing.

• Have each of the disciplines thoroughly evaluate their scores to highlight strengths and specifically identify weaknesses in curriculum.

• Review WASL and PSAT items that had lower scores and work with staff on effective strategies in departmental and staff meetings,

• Continue to encourage meaningful writing in all disciplines.

Goal: To decrease the percentage of targeted students (transfer, Latino, special education, 504, white males, and freshmen entering the system with a 2.0 or below) earning one or more D's or F's on quarter and semester grade reports.

Actions:

1. Individual student focus:

• Have special education staff, counselors, and support develop an individual plan with each student that earned a D or an F on the first progress report.

• Refer students that are making minimal progress to the Student Intervention Team (SIT) for more specific plans and/or modifications to the plans, capitalizing on students' strengths.

• Develop quarter target dates to conduct formal checks and to celebrate successes and revamp plan, if needed.

• Bring regular education staff of these students on board with the plan and involve them in the celebrations of successes.

• Send congratulatory notes to students and parents for incremental improvements.

• Ensure adequate support systems are in place for students in each of their classes.

• Assist the regular education teacher in developing a structured schedule for these students to attend tutorials, if needed.

2. Staff training/structure focus:

• Conduct accommodation training at a staff meeting,

• Review at the department chair meeting grading procedures for special education students and when and how a course and its content might be changed from regular to practical.

• Educate the staff on cultural and special needs' issues.

• Conduct a Latino forum to gain further insights to what works and doesn't work.

• Facilitate staff training on effective instructional strategies for male students.

• Place Special Education Instructional Assistants in the regular education classrooms that are most challenging for our special education students.

• Facilitate meetings with the student and regular education teacher as needed.

So as you can see, there are big things happening at Newport High to provide all children with the finest education experience possible. Newport itself covers a farly large geographic area. Newport High School (NHS) is a public secondary school in Bellevue, WA. It serves students in grades 9-12 in the southern part of the Bellevue School District, including the neighborhoods of Factoria, Newport Shores, Newport Hills, Somerset, Eastgate, and Sunset. The school colors are scarlet and gold.

There are currently over 162 homes listed in the MLS within the boundaries of Newport High; homes vary in price from $395,000 to $2,100,000. Thirty five homes are currently under contract (Pending or Subject To Inspection) to be sold, and 161 homes have been sold in the last six months.

Whether you buy into Newport Hills, Somerset, or any of the communities within the boundaries of Newport High School, you've not only made a great investment in real estate, but a great investment in your childs future!