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SAIL High School

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Coordinates: 30°26′08″N 84°19′01″W / 30.435483°N 84.316963°W / 30.435483; -84.316963
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30°26′08″N 84°19′01″W / 30.435483°N 84.316963°W / 30.435483; -84.316963

SAIL high school
Address
Map
2006 Jackson Bluff Road

Tallahassee
,
Florida

USA
Information
TypeAlternative public secondary magnet
Motto"Where the individual counts"
Established1975
School districtLeon County
Teaching staff25.00 (FTE)[1]
Grades9-12
Enrollment391 (2017-18)[1]
Student to teacher ratio15.64[1]
Color(s)Black and Gold
MascotThe Pirates
Websitesail.leon.k12.fl.us

SAIL High School is a small public secondary school and a major liberal arts magnet school located in Tallahassee, Florida. The school was formerly known as "School for Applied Individualized Learning" and is now called "A School for Arts and Innovative Learning".[2] SAIL was founded in 1975, partially with the assistance of its former principal, Tallahassee-based education advocate and later Leon County School Board member Rosanne Wood.

SAIL emphasizes free speech and learning through creativity, and has an academic focus on the various disciplines of the humanities, particularly the visual and performing arts.[3]. In addition to its primary focus on creative pursuits, SAIL also provides experiential learning opportunities for students interested in STEM education and community service activities.

The school typically has a population of anywhere between 300 and 500 students and a substantial waiting list of students from other Leon County schools who wish to enroll. The school is known for high graduation rates and a very low dropout rate.[citation needed]

SAIL was the first winner of the College Board Award for Excellence and Innovation in the Arts in the southern region,[4] and was recognized by former governor Jeb Bush for achieving the highest Science FCAT scores in Leon County. Additionally, the school was recognized as a Bronze Medalist in state exam performance by the U.S. News Best High School Rankings in 2017.[5]

The primary criteria necessary for admission to SAIL is a stated desire on the student's part for a creative, nontraditional learning environment.

History

When SAIL was founded in 1975, it was intended for students from grades 7–12 who found that they had difficulty achieving success in other public high schools. The school was brought up in such a way in Rosanne Wood's 1989 article "SAIL: A Pioneer For Schools of Choice in Florida", printed in the book Public Schools by Choice,[6] and later reprinted online by the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. The article described students who showed academic potential but struggled with a variety of personal issues including psychological disorders and self harm that caused them to have difficulties in the social settings provided by mainstream public high schools.[7] These were implied to be the students for whom SAIL High School was initially founded.

However, SAIL gradually evolved into a magnet school of choice for students who had average or above-average success in public school and few or no personal issues, but desired an alternative environment for any combination of reasons. Some preferred the idea of a smaller or more intellectual environment, while others wanted a school without the social isolation or excessively strict school policies found in a standard high school setting. As SAIL evolved through the late 1970s and 1980s, the school developed a higher focus on creativity, and enrolled students in grades 9–12 rather than 7–12. The bean bag chairs with which it had originally been supplied were replaced by standard school chairs and long college desks at which groups of students could sit and assist each other with group projects.

Over the years, as the culture and scope of the student body evolved, SAIL underwent such changes as switching the school colors from rainbow to black & gold; the mascot from the SAIL Unicorns to the SAIL Pirates; the school motto from "where the individual counts" to "where artists thrive." In 2007, in recognition of its changed purpose, SAIL changed its official name from "School for Applied Individualized Learning" to "School for Arts and Innovative Learning."

In the 2010s, SAIL gradually added more STEAM Education elements to its approach to teaching liberal arts subjects. Precedent already existed in programs such as SAIL's game design class and electronic music studio that integrated creative output in the Humanities with technological literacy. Further developments during this time period included the establishment of an extracurricular student robotics team also trained in the art of juggling.

SAIL's longtime principal Rosanne Wood, who had begun serving in her role in 1978[8], retired in December of 2010. Wood later ran for and was elected to the Leon County school board in 2016,[9] and remained in the position throughout the late 2010s and into the early 2020s. Wood's fellow co-founder and assistant principal Dave Crandall served as principal until the start of the 2011 school year, after which current principal Tiffany Thomas began to serve.


Location and facilities

Since 1975, the school had been located at 725 N. Macomb Street in Tallahassee, at the former campus of Old Lincoln High School.

In 2007, due to the aging of the building, as well as the desire to provide newer resources and to accommodate the growing student population, SAIL made its official move to the campus previously occupied by the Caroline Brevard Elementary School on Jackson Bluff Road. This current location exists in closer proximity to both Tallahassee Community College and Florida State University.

The remodeled current campus includes a black box theatre, tailoring room, music studio, science laboratories, art room, drama lab, darkroom, and a variety of physical education facilities. Many of these features were absent from the original campus. In an attempt to retain some of the school's old-school feel, the original gazebo from the old campus was reassembled, and moved to the new location. In 2017, a new gymnasium was built to enhance the Basketball program and other classes.

SAIL now also has an Iraq War memorial fountain dedicated to SAIL alumnus Julian Woodall, who died in combat while serving in the military in Iraq.

Academics

Schedule

SAIL runs on a block schedule in which students attend their even-numbered class periods on even-numbered days of the month and their odd-numbered class periods on odd-numbered days of the month. This does not apply to first period, which students must attend daily .[10]

One SAIL tradition is that during second and third period, fifteen minutes are allotted to allowing students to read a book, preferably a narrative text, of their choice. These fifteen minutes are known as Word Up.[11]

Electives

In addition to elective art, drama, music and social science classes, some popular electives at SAIL have typically included gardening, mythology, weightlifting, juggling, t'ai chi, Yoga, programming, and game design. SAIL is unique in that it allows students to enroll in juggling or Yoga classes in order to fulfill the physical education requirement for graduation.

Dual enrollment

SAIL allows students to dually enroll at other high schools to take electives or participate in extracurricular activities not offered at SAIL: for example, if a student wishes to participate in activities such as football or JROTC that are not offered at SAIL, they may choose to dually enroll at the school they are zoned for to participate in those programs. Juniors and seniors at SAIL who have taken and passed the CPT may also dually enroll at local colleges, such as Florida State University, Florida A&M University and Tallahassee Community College. However, if a student is unable to provide transportation, SAIL offers dual enrollment courses on its own campus. These include college-level classes in psychology, sociology, microeconomics, national government, algebra, liberal arts, math, and photography, as well as both college English composition requirements. The dual enrollment classes offered at SAIL allow students to complete Tallahassee Community College's communications requirement, as well as part of the mathematics and social science requirements. SAIL does not yet offer dual enrollment classes which fulfill the science and humanities requirements. Each dual enrollment course is worth three college credit hours, and it is possible for a student at SAIL to complete as many as 24 college credit hours tuition-free directly through their high school campus. In order to accomplish this a student must plan his or her schedule extremely carefully with the supervision of a guidance counselor, and should take the CPT as early as possible.

Intensives

In addition to a variety of other school events, every year, in a tradition unique to SAIL, traditional classes are suspended and students are required to take week-long experiential learning workshop classes known as Intensives in the spring. The topics explored range from cultural studies and community service to film studies and outdoor activities such as sailing and camping. Other topics include STEM education and sports such as bicycling and Disc Golf.[12]

Intensives may take place locally and/or out of state, and in the past international intensives were also offered. Out-of-state intensives have traditionally included trips to such places as Georgia, Colorado, Puerto Rico, Washington, D.C., and New York.

With prior approval, some students may be allowed to design their own personalized intensives and report back to their guidance counselor about their experiences.

Service Learning and Voluntarism

SAIL High School can be said to incorporate many elements of service learning in its emphasis on combining academics and community involvement. For example, students are allowed to enroll in a Student Aide class, which allows them to receive class credit for performing clerical duties in the school's administrative office. Similarly, the school's signature garden is tended by students in a gardening class. Students who wish to write for the school newspaper, The Jackson Bluff Times, must enroll in a journalism class, which will count towards the school's English credit for graduation. Those who wish to edit and design the school yearbook must enroll in a digital design class, and those who participate in student government must enroll in a student government class. Some extracurricular activities, such as theatre, may also be counted towards class credit. In the 2010s, SAIL also added a regular student-run video announcement bulletin to its wide array of service learning opportunities. Students who are currently employed may count their work experience towards high school credit as well through SAIL High School's personalized DCT (Direct Career Training) program.[13]

SAIL's emphasis on service learning and community involvement also extends heavily into a number of local volunteer activities coordinated through the school's faculty: for example, SAIL's students and faculty dedicated a work day to performing tasks in support of the Tallahassee Memorial Hospital Foundation[14], and Intensives projects have included volunteer construction assistance for organizations such as Habitat for Humanity. In addition, SAIL students have also performed volunteer work painting murals for the Railroad Square arts district.[15] Most volunteer activities may be counted towards the community service requirement for a Florida Bright Futures scholarship.

Alternate exams

SAIL allows students who have earned an A or B both semesters in any given subject to take exams in that subject early. Sometimes the exam may be the same as the regular exam taken by students who have earned lower grades, or may be an alternative to the exam, such as a brief paper or essay question.

Students who have taken alternate exams are allowed to be absent from the classes in which they are exempt from exams during the days when regular exams take place.

Student life

Student body

SAIL High School has tradtionally prided itself on its focus on individuality, creativity, and free speech, more so than in many other public high schools. The school has long been known for having a large percentage of its student body involved in the gothic, punk, hardcore, emo, and hippie subcultures and their associated artistic and aesthetic movements. In Rosanne Wood's description of students who are a good fit for SAIL or benefit from the school's culture, an alternative subcultural identity and aesthetic are acknowledged almost immediately: one of the first examples Wood gives is of a student who "wore black and sported a strange hairstyle"[16]. Wood also refers to the popularity of the Tallahassee-based punk rock band Hated Youth among SAIL students, inferring that SAIL appeals to students who identify with the band's message and ideas.[17] It is also fairly common for SAIL students to openly identify as LGBT+, and SAIL has typically offered a much higher level of support to LGBT students than other public schools. With its wide range of lifestyles, SAIL cultivates a highly respectful and accepting student body that has historically been very active in the Tallahassee and Leon County communities, particularly in the local arts community as well as in activist causes such as environmental justice, LGBT rights, and minority rights. [citation needed]. SAIL students have also been active in protesting against such issues as gun violence.[18] During a visit to SAIL High School, Al Gore praised students' noticeably high levels of engagement with political and particularly environmental issues, remarking that "these young people are really plugged in. They know the facts [...] and they're getting politically active, too, in both political parties."[19]

Extracurricular activities

SAIL offers such extracurricular activities as drama, art, photography, soccer, cheerleading, weightlifting, robotics club[20], Multicultural Club, and a music ensemble with a focus on Rock and Roll, Pop, R&B and other contemporary genres.[21] Interest clubs also include video club and an animation club centered on Japanese animation.[22]. In the past, interest clubs such as science fiction and gaming have also been offered. Past activity clubs that are no longer offered include archery, Writer's Guild, and Basketball.

The music ensemble's band instruments consist of bass, keyboards, synthesizer, drums, guitars, and vocal talents. SAIL's music ensemble maintains a working relationship with local music venues and has delivered a number of live performances off-campus. In the past SAIL's music ensemble has played public shows at The Bark,[23][24] a local vegan-friendly[25] and LGBT-friendly diner, and at All Saints Cafe, a local coffee shop known for its intellectual and countercultural atmosphere.[26]

Although at one point they existed as separate clubs, robotics club and juggling club were merged in the 2010s, forming a syncretic student organization known as the Octo-Pirates, whose members have been interviewed in both local and national news pieces on STEM education.[27][28] The SAIL Octo-Pirates have collaborated with and received mentorship from scientists at the Florida State University National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, colloquially known as the Mag Lab.[29]

Events

Student singing during Funky Friday

Major school events include theme days such as Fall Festival, Healthy Decisions Day, World Awareness Day, and schoolwide field trips including an annual outing to Wakulla Springs, as well as various senior-specific events. SAIL is often visited by guest speakers who hold panels on major issues both in and outside of the community, and occasionally by visiting musicians, actors, or artists delivering a performance or exhibition. Attendance at guest lectures is often, but not always, voluntary. In the past SAIL has been visited by such notable guests as film director Victor Nunez, former Vice President (then Senator) Al Gore,[30] speechwriter and local politician Bob Rackleff (the speechwriter for two cabinet level officials during the Obama Administration), British Reggae artist Pato Banton, and the Californian reggae band Mystic Roots.

SAIL has also historically had a weekly student talent show known as Funky Friday, during which students who have signed up in advance may deliver rehearsed theatre scenes, perform music, or demonstrate other talents such as stand-up comedy, juggling, or dance.

Support groups

SAIL offers support groups for students struggling with personal social or psychological issues such as sexual identity, anger management, depression, building and maintaining relationships, or developing social skills. At one point in SAIL's history, students were required to attend mandatory meetings for their choice of support group.

Dress code

SAIL, because of its emphasis on freedom of expression, does not have an official dress code, and as long as no hateful or threatening messages are featured students may freely wear clothing or accessories that allude to their religious or political affiliation, as well as to their favorite musical artists or entertainment media. However, articles of clothing that are considered directly offensive are not allowed. This is typically limited to offensive language, depictions of violence, or sexual subjects, such as those sometimes found on graphic tee shirts.

Free Speech Board

SAIL has historically had a physical bulletin board known as the "Free Speech Board" located between the front office and school cafeteria on which students may post content such as concert fliers, newspaper clippings, advertisements, and petitions, separate from school-sanctioned announcements.

Faculty

SAIL's faculty are very active in the local community, and teachers include at least one recipient of a grant from the Council on Culture and Arts[31]. Many coordinate local volunteer activities and many participate in Tallahassee's local art and music scenes. SAIL faculty often teach multiple subjects in different disciplines, reflecting a commitment to a broad liberal arts focus that exists as much among faculty as among students. Several faculty are qualified to teach at the college as well as high school level, allowing them to contribute more easily to SAIL's dual enrollment programs by teaching on-campus classes to SAIL students that carry credit towards a degree at Tallahassee Community College.

Standards and reputation

Due to its innovative learning programs and cultured, collegial environment, admission to SAIL is somewhat competitive. The school has traditionally been selective. Admission is determined by a student's character, career goals, and intellectual prowess. These are assessed through an admissions essay[32] and an interview with SAIL's administrative staff. Students who are admitted and fail to comply with SAIL's behavioral policies and/or academic standards are placed on an Exit List.

While some people in Tallahassee are familiar with SAIL and its purpose, those unfamiliar with the school sometimes have preconceived notions about its status as an alternative school. Many people believe the school is only for drop-outs, the disabled, or "bad" students.[citation needed] This is largely due to the school's origins, and may also stem from the school's reputation for illicit drug use among students and its location in a low-income district of Tallahassee.[citation needed] SAIL's students and staff are heavily active in combating these misconceptions of SAIL's culture and purpose.[citation needed]

Alumni

In addition to local Tallahassee institutions such as Florida State University and Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, SAIL alumni have both been accepted into and graduated from many prestigious colleges and universities. These include Bard, New College, Ringling, and MIT, as well as Ivy League schools such as Penn.[33] SAIL graduates have gone on to work in such fields as music, art, publishing, literature, IT, education, game design, cosmetology, video production, web design, state government, private business, law enforcement, private security, and the US military at both the officer and enlisted levels.

Additionally, SAIL High School maintains a strong alumni network in the Tallahassee area and across the United States, and many alumni report that their positive experience at SAIL helped them become more competitive and adapt more readily to the professional and academic communities than their peers who have attended traditional high schools.

Some notable SAIL alumni include:

References

  1. ^ a b c "SAIL". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
  2. ^ Welcome to SAIL High School's website Archived 2006-01-18 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ https://www.leonschools.net/Page/32385
  4. ^ http://www.wctv.tv/news/headlines/114681849.html
  5. ^ https://tallahasseereports.com/2017/04/28/two-leon-county-high-schools-receive-usnews-gold-medal-designation/
  6. ^ http://www.sail.leon.k12.fl.us/rosi/rosi-book.html
  7. ^ http://www.ascd.org/publications/classroom-leadership/oct1998/SAIL.aspx
  8. ^ http://www.ascd.org/publications/classroom-leadership/oct1998/SAIL.aspx
  9. ^ https://news.wfsu.org/post/rocky-hanna-rosanne-wood-sworn-leon-county-school-posts
  10. ^ https://www.leonschools.net/domain/3957
  11. ^ https://www.leonschools.net/domain/6903
  12. ^ https://www.leonschools.net/Page/29764
  13. ^ https://www.leonschools.net/Page/32385
  14. ^ https://www.tmh.org/-/media/files/giving/communityupdatemayjune2013.pdf?la=en
  15. ^ http://www.communitywalk.com/map/list/1977991?order=7910750
  16. ^ http://www.ascd.org/publications/classroom-leadership/oct1998/SAIL.aspx
  17. ^ http://www.ascd.org/publications/classroom-leadership/oct1998/SAIL.aspx
  18. ^ https://www.leonschools.net/domain/6903
  19. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6Hr-UNbTa8&t=2s
  20. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UV6_cHykrk
  21. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tHpwryku7c
  22. ^ https://www.leonschools.net/domain/751
  23. ^ https://www.leonschools.net/Page/38380
  24. ^ https://twitter.com/SAILPirates/status/1192101266920550401
  25. ^ https://thetab.com/us/floridastate/2018/12/06/a-vegetarians-guide-to-eating-well-in-tallahassee-10399
  26. ^ https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2017/01/5-spots-for-vegan-eats-in-tallahassee.html
  27. ^ https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2016/03/01/468695376/french-spanish-german-java-making-coding-count-as-a-foreign-language
  28. ^ https://www.wtxl.com/lifestyle/tsaparis-tscience-sail-high-school-robotics-competition/article_2d297aa2-82fa-11e5-bb80-471fcb184af7.html
  29. ^ https://nationalmaglab.org/news-events/feature-stories/robotics-club
  30. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6Hr-UNbTa8&fbclid=IwAR3omlO4ScETzR7Xf0mdSxnXd95i8h_h8z5m9ig53ds0lg0y_65hESk_7-s
  31. ^ https://coca.tallahasseearts.org/blog/entry/sail-theater-program-students-build-people-skills-along-with-sets
  32. ^ https://www.leonschools.net/RegisterAtSAIL
  33. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2006-01-18. Retrieved 2006-01-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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