Cross Case Features: Context

Lincoln High School: School Context

Approximately 1800 students attend Lincoln High School, grades nine to twelve. The student population is about 50 percent African American, 45 percent European-American, and 5 percent “Other” (i.e., Asian/Pacific Islander, Hispanic, Native American, Multiracial).

Academic Excellence

The district has adopted more rigorous standards than the state requires for its students. According to the high school principal, the Advanced Placement (AP) tests influence the high school curriculum more than state standards. Over 90 percent graduate and approximately 90 percent of seniors go on to college. The high school attracts 100 applicants for every faculty opening; 90 percent hold master’s degrees.

Professional Development

In this faculty-driven high school, departmental units have decision making authority over curriculum and teacher professional development. The high school principal funnels professional development opportunities through the department. There is no formal process for collecting and passing on information about professional development opportunities. NCTA resources on Asia are housed either in teachers’ own classrooms or in the social studies office.

Multicultural Offerings

Lincoln High School offers a richer array of multicultural experiences than most schools in the United States. Some offerings are focused on Asia. Both teachers and students participate in the school’s long-standing exchange program with a sister school in Japan. The elective Asian Studies class focuses on the history, literature, art, politics, and contemporary society of China and Japan. Offered in cooperation with another school district and the local museum of art, this interdisciplinary course has been taken by approximately 1,000 students of all levels of achievement. Modern World History, a required course in the tenth grade curriculum, includes a component on Asia. Among the eight teachers who teach this course are three NCTA participants. The depth of the coverage of Asia varies due to a number of factors including knowledge and preference of the instructor(s) and ability of the students.