Capitol High School SPS Growth Among Highest in Baton Rouge
See the high school boasts the highest graduation rate growth among all Baton Rouge public high schools and it is in the top five in growth rates for ACT and overall School Performance Scores (SPS).
BATON ROUGE (November 16, 2022) — Capitol High School’s academic growth is among the highest in the city, outpacing most public high schools in the capital city.
The high school, led by the Capitol Education Foundation, boasts the highest growth in graduation rates among all public high schools – including those governed by the East Baton Rouge Public School System (EBRPSS).
Additionally, the school’s improved composite ACT Score is the third fastest growing among all public high schools in Baton Rouge while its overall School Performance Score (SPS) growth ranked fourth. Further, this is the second year in a row the school’s overall SPS has grown, marking tremendous academic improvement at the historic high school.
Capitol High School and EBR Direct Run Schools (Serving 85 percent or more F/R Lunch) SPS Comparison
“Capitol High School is performing at levels equal to or better than most of our EBR direct-run high school counterparts,” Capitol Education Foundation President Bruce Miles said. “We are proud of this growth as it is a testament to our students, dedicated teachers, and outstanding leadership.”
The school has made significant academic improvements in recent years. its 2022 LEAP scores also showed promise. Those results show Capitol’s performance as either equal to or outperforming similar EBR direct-run schools in nearly every subject area.
“What we are doing at Capitol is clearly working,” Capitol High School Principal Rhonda Irwin said. “Our students and our teachers work hard every day, and this progress is a direct result of their diligent efforts.”
The school has made these strides, despite the odds. Capitol High School serves more economically disadvantaged students than any Baton Rouge high school. It is an open admission school that does not have an academic magnet or Gifted & Talented program. With the exception of two schools, all EBR High Schools are either a full magnet school, operating a selective magnet program, or operating a Gifted & Talented program.
The state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education voted last month to approve Capitol’s return to East Baton Rouge Public Schools – despite overwhelming evidence that it is consistently outpacing district schools.
“We are committed to Capitol High, and we will do whatever it takes to ensure our kids are successful,” Irwin said. “No matter what happens, we are always going to do what’s best for our students. That’s always been our approach – and that’s what works.”
Read MoreCAPITOL HIGH ANNOUNCES NEW FOOTBALL COACH
Johnathan Brantley will take the reins of the Golden Lions Football squad. Brantley comes to Capitol High School from Louisiana Tech where he has served as an analyst for the past three seasons.
During his time at Louisiana Tech, Brantley helped the team win the Independence Bowl and make it to the New Orleans Bowl in 2020.
“We are excited about the experience and talent Coach Brantley brings to our team,” said Rhonda Irwin, Principal of Capitol High School. “We look forward to seeing how he develops our young men and leads them to victories this fall.”
Prior to his time at Louisiana Tech, Brantley had stints at Grambling State University, McMurray University, and several high schools. In 18 years of coaching, Brantley has three years of experience as a head coach and six as an assistant coach. His time at Grambling saw the team win both the SWAC and Black College National Championship.
As a player at Grambling, he helped put the Tigers back on the national football map as he was a part of the school’s three consecutive Black College and SWAC Championships squads from 2000-2002 under Super Bowl MVP Doug Williams.
“I am honored to be in Baton Rouge at such a historic school like Capitol. Brantley said. “The football program here has a rich legacy, and I look forward to working with our staff, community and young men to restore our winning ways.”
There will be a meet and greet with Coach Brantley for parents, prospective players, and community members on Tuesday, July 12th at 6 PM in the school’s cafeteria.
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COVID-19 Testing Program Begins Today
Our CHS COVID-19 testing program begins Friday, September 17. In order for your child (any minor under the age of 18) to participate in testing, a parent or guardian will need to register them for the program. Please use this link to do so.
Your registration will provide the one-time consent needed for your child’s participation throughout the school year as well as HIPAA authorization to share results of testing with the school.
Your results will be delivered to you by text or email within 24 hours, and you will be contacted directly if your child has a positive result. We will test weekly on Friday’s during the lunch period in F Building. Offered through the Louisiana Department of Health at no cost to participants or to our school, the program utilizes the highest quality PCR testing available and is administered by a trained healthcare team from Orion Laboratories.
We strongly encourage all of our families to register for testing to keep our school community safe. Along with our other mitigation measures, including masking, social distancing and encouraging vaccinations, our hope is that we will be able to continue with in-person learning and engaging in the kind of social interactions that are critical to the full CHS educational experience.
For questions or concerns about the testing program, please read over the Frequently Asked Questions about the program, visit the testing program’s website or contact Orion Laboratories directly at (225) 910-8308.
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School Closure Update
It is our sincerest hope that you remained safe and well through this trying time. We are pleased to inform you our campus was largely spared from any significant damages. However, the building is still without power. Additionally, like many in our city, our school staff has been impacted in a variety of ways.
School will be closed for the remainder of this week. Our hope is to return to school in-person and/or virtually, by Tuesday, September 7. However, this is wholly contingent upon the restoration of power city-wide and at our facility and staff capacity.
If you do have power and internet capability, we strongly encourage you to have your student logging into their Google Classrooms to review assignments. Work will not be graded while we are closed, but this will help mitigate the loss of instructional time. Please be sure to monitor the school’s social media pages and continue to be on the lookout for further outreach from staff over the coming days. Baton Rouge is a resilient city. Capitol High School is a resilient institution. We will overcome this and be better for it.
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2021-22 Operational Guidelines
We have announced the restrictions and requirements that will be in place for the 2021-22 school year, based on the School Opening Guidelines provided by the Louisiana Department of Education. Please note these guidelines are subject to be modified as the health situation locally and across the state shifts.
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Meet Our New Principal
We are pleased to announce Ms. Rhonda Irwin as our Interim Principal.
Ms. Irwin has been a member of the Capitol High School Family for nearly five years, serving in a variety of capacities as an English teacher, Instructional Coach, Director of Academics, and Assistant Principal. While she has been an educator for more than 14 years, Capitol, with its rich tradition, pride, and innovation, has her heart.
“The thing I love most about being at Capitol is that I get to work with amazing students and teachers from all walks of life,” Irwin said. “The work I do here feels less of a job, but more like an opportunity to wake up daily and share my passion and love for teaching and learning with members of my family.”
We are fortunate to have Ms. Irwin lead our school, and her passion for students is evident. With the support of faculty and staff, students’ families and community partners, Ms. Irwin hopes to help Capitol students realize “the greatest academic outcomes of their educational experiences and to continue to help Capitol build its legacy of greatness in our community and beyond.”
She is committed to being responsive to the needs of our students and to creating an environment that is inviting, safe and supportive.
Please welcome Ms. Irwin to her new role.
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Summer Learning Academy
We are extremely excited to announce the 2021 CHS Summer Learning Academy (SLA).
This academy is designed to provide our returning and incoming students with additional opportunities for learning to be better prepared for the new school year as well as exciting enrichment opportunities. Students will have the opportunity to participate in trips, athletics, art, and other fun activities.
The SLA will run M-F from June 7th to July 2nd. The daily schedule will be 9 AM to 2 PM with team workouts and practices happening immediately after. Transportation will be provided for all participating students along with breakfast, lunch, and a snack.
Parents, please take the survey to let us know if you will enroll your child here.
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Capitol High School Bus Routes Available Now
Bus routes for the 2020 -2021 school year are available.
Utilize this document to identify the route your scholar will be on and the times you can expect your scholar to be picked up or dropped off.
The route for your scholar is listed in line with his or her Student ID number.
Feel free to reach out to CHS front office with any questions and concerns.
We can’t wait to see all of our scholars Monday morning.
Click here to access the bus routes.
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Capitol High School will Reopen for In-Person Learning on Oct. 19
Dear Capitol High School Families,
We want to thank you for your patience and flexibility as we move these unprecedented times. While we have successfully navigated our transition to a 100 percent virtual learning environment, we could not have done it without your understanding and support. Thank you.
As many of you may be aware the State of Louisiana has officially moved into Phase III of its reopening plan. Phase III guidance indicates group sizes may increase to up to 50 people and school buses are allowed to operate at a capacity of up to 75 percent.
Capitol High School students will return to in-person learning five days per week starting on Monday, October 19. Students who wish to remain in the virtual learning environment will still have an option to do so.
The safety of our students and staff is of the utmost importance. To that end, we will operate our schools with the most effective health and safety protocols upon our opening. The protocols outlined in our original School Reopening Plan will remain and in many aspects be enhanced. These include but are not limited to the following:
- Practicing social distancing, to the greatest extent possible, in every classroom
- Hand sanitizing stations in every classroom
- Requiring masks for all students and adults at all times
- Temperature checks prior to building entry
- Increased custodial staff and increased cleaning and sanitation efforts
Please remember to complete the CHS Return to In-Person Survey by no later than Sunday, September 20. All students opting into virtual learning will remain virtual for the remainder of the semester. If we do not receive a survey response your student, they will automatically be assigned to in-person instruction.
On Thursday, October 8, we will host two virtual meetings for parents of students who have opted to return to in-person learning. These meetings will be held at 12 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. On Tuesday, October 13, we will host two virtual meetings for parents of students who have opted to remain virtual. These meetings will also be held at 12 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
Whether in-person or virtual, we will continue serving our students with the same level of pride, excellence, and innovation that is the foundation of Capitol High School.
Thank you for your support.
In service,
Capitol High School
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