Central High Improvement Plan
aspect one: increasing enrollment in musical ensembles
Danielle Arena LEAD 5073
The first aspect of the Central High Imrprovement plan is to increase the number of students enrolled in musical ensembles.
Why focus on ensemble enrollment?
Town’s revitalization plan focuses on increasing enrollment and community pride. Arts engagement improves student morale and academic rigor.
COVID-19 "concert pause" Years of underfunding disrupted concert traditions and equity. Investing in arts is a cost-effective alternative to school mergers.
Data-points
Central Middle School: ≈ 65 % of students in band, orchestra, or chorus. Central High School: ≈ 25 % ensemble participation; overall enrollment down.Indicates loss of arts-oriented students to private or technical schools.
Decline affects school identity and community engagement.
Why Participation Declined
Peer Loss/Social
Outmigration
decline in ensemble participation
Local Arts School
lose social motivation
sense of belonging
Trade Schools
Non-arts auditorium use
need more community building
Athletic dept. schedule
Community prioritizes athletics
Structural Barriers
Cultural Devaluation
Things to keep in mind
Addressing the cultural and policy structures requires more than funding
Participatory Engagement
Growth Mindset SMART Goals
Recommendations for Implementaton
Pipeline Strengthening: Joint middle-/high school concerts; parent outreach; student mentorship. Student Engagement: Add chorus and orchestra at community or sports events; revive caroling and local performances. Structural Changes: Create arts-athletics scheduling council; reserve auditorium rehearsal blocks. Cultural Reinvestment: Launch “Arts in Action” event; pursue grants and local sponsorships. Increase parent involvement: to allieviate stress on directors while increasing community engagement. Timeline: Year 1–2: Committee & sponsorships | Year 3–4: Expanded events | Year 5: Evaluate impact.
Revisiting who we were to become who we were meant to be
Retaining students starts with visible, valued opportunities. Music ensemble investment = student retention + community pride + enrollment growth. “If we want students to enroll at Central High, we have to give them a reason to.” -9th Grade Boy
References
Reames, E. H., & Aponte, C. (2020). Planning for what? An analysis of root cause quality and content in school improvement plans. Educational Planning, 27(2), 7–25.* Poe, M., Dobry, J., & Jackson, D. (2021). Promoting positive student outcomes: The use of reflection and planning activities with a growth-mindset focus and SMART goals. Journal of Education and Human Development, 10(1), 30–42.* O’Reilly-de Brún, M., de Brún, T., O’Donnell, C. A., Papadakos, J. K., Burns, N., Dowrick, C., Lionis, C., O’Reilly, M., & MacFarlane, A. (2018). Material practices for meaningful engagement: An analysis of participatory learning and action research techniques for data generation and analysis in a health research partnership. Health Expectations, 21(1), 159–170.* https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.12598 Plato. (n.d.). Music is a more potent instrument than any other for education because rhythm and harmony find their way into the inward places of the soul. In The Republic (B. Jowett, Trans.). (Original work published ca. 380 BCE.) Central High School District. (2025). Internal enrollment and ensemble participation records [Unpublished data].
Central High Improvement Plan
Danni Arena
Created on October 18, 2025
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Transcript
Central High Improvement Plan
aspect one: increasing enrollment in musical ensembles
Danielle Arena LEAD 5073
The first aspect of the Central High Imrprovement plan is to increase the number of students enrolled in musical ensembles.
Why focus on ensemble enrollment?
Town’s revitalization plan focuses on increasing enrollment and community pride. Arts engagement improves student morale and academic rigor.
COVID-19 "concert pause" Years of underfunding disrupted concert traditions and equity. Investing in arts is a cost-effective alternative to school mergers.
Data-points
Central Middle School: ≈ 65 % of students in band, orchestra, or chorus. Central High School: ≈ 25 % ensemble participation; overall enrollment down.Indicates loss of arts-oriented students to private or technical schools.
Decline affects school identity and community engagement.
Why Participation Declined
Peer Loss/Social
Outmigration
decline in ensemble participation
Local Arts School
lose social motivation
sense of belonging
Trade Schools
Non-arts auditorium use
need more community building
Athletic dept. schedule
Community prioritizes athletics
Structural Barriers
Cultural Devaluation
Things to keep in mind
Addressing the cultural and policy structures requires more than funding
Participatory Engagement
Growth Mindset SMART Goals
Recommendations for Implementaton
Pipeline Strengthening: Joint middle-/high school concerts; parent outreach; student mentorship. Student Engagement: Add chorus and orchestra at community or sports events; revive caroling and local performances. Structural Changes: Create arts-athletics scheduling council; reserve auditorium rehearsal blocks. Cultural Reinvestment: Launch “Arts in Action” event; pursue grants and local sponsorships. Increase parent involvement: to allieviate stress on directors while increasing community engagement. Timeline: Year 1–2: Committee & sponsorships | Year 3–4: Expanded events | Year 5: Evaluate impact.
Revisiting who we were to become who we were meant to be
Retaining students starts with visible, valued opportunities. Music ensemble investment = student retention + community pride + enrollment growth. “If we want students to enroll at Central High, we have to give them a reason to.” -9th Grade Boy
References
Reames, E. H., & Aponte, C. (2020). Planning for what? An analysis of root cause quality and content in school improvement plans. Educational Planning, 27(2), 7–25.* Poe, M., Dobry, J., & Jackson, D. (2021). Promoting positive student outcomes: The use of reflection and planning activities with a growth-mindset focus and SMART goals. Journal of Education and Human Development, 10(1), 30–42.* O’Reilly-de Brún, M., de Brún, T., O’Donnell, C. A., Papadakos, J. K., Burns, N., Dowrick, C., Lionis, C., O’Reilly, M., & MacFarlane, A. (2018). Material practices for meaningful engagement: An analysis of participatory learning and action research techniques for data generation and analysis in a health research partnership. Health Expectations, 21(1), 159–170.* https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.12598 Plato. (n.d.). Music is a more potent instrument than any other for education because rhythm and harmony find their way into the inward places of the soul. In The Republic (B. Jowett, Trans.). (Original work published ca. 380 BCE.) Central High School District. (2025). Internal enrollment and ensemble participation records [Unpublished data].