Demographics spur new approaches at CHS, trustees told

Carson High School senior Jackie Estrada Diaz, a Latina, at first had to explain to her family why she opted into the Advanced Placement pathway during her sophomore year. The key was asking her counselors for help, she said. They explained why a college-level class would benefit her.

“The opportunity with AP is I get to experience college a little more,” Estrada told Carson City School trustees Feb. 27. “I come from the (English as a Second Language) program. Being in AP courses can be a challenge but at the same time it gives me experience I would want from college.”

There are about 2,300 students at Carson High, with 367 students taking an AP course, 111 students in JumpStart and 1,991 students taking at least one Career and Technical Education (CTE) course.

Principal Dan Carstens said the school offers something special.

“I don’t want to be the best in Nevada at this,” Carstens said. “Let’s be the best in the nation or globally. We want these kids to succeed and achieve. Let’s be global.”

Carson High’s pass rates for 2022-23 for the majority of its 18 AP courses generally exceeded average rates in art, math, science, English, social studies and electives. Sixty-three Carson High students took the English language exam, earning a 77.7% pass rate and exceeding Nevada’s 51.5% total and the global rate of 56.1%.

Though JumpStart, students earn on average 2,600 credits through Western Nevada College per year and graduate with an associate’s degree.

CTE provides skills in manufacturing, construction or technology. Carstens said the school has shown a 98.7% graduation rate among students completing courses and the program works alongside AP. Participants have an opportunity to earn free college credit.

But to be global with these programs, the school had to overcome certain discrepancies in demographics and accessibility. In 2015, student demographics were 70% white students and 25% Hispanic. Today, the student body is about 53% Hispanic, some of whom are first-generation AP students.

“It’s our task as a high school to educate and inform parents so that our parents know what is AP,” said Bridget Gordon-Johnson, school counselor. “I take it for granted that I know (AP) as a mom … but Jackie’s grandmother, that was an education piece.”

The district’s board members asked about keeping students who are less engaged interested in the academic offerings.

Carstens said in a survey, many students had replied they would like to work more with their hands in construction or auto shop classes. Even a simple gesture as having staff members spending more time in the hallways is making a difference, he said.

“What we also know … is to try to be outside our doors (during breaks) welcoming students,” Carstens said. “We’re trying to be more welcoming, knowing them by name, greeting them and making sure we know what they want.

“I don’t quite have the answer but we’re working on it.”

Carson High graduate Angela Ramirez, who finished through JumpStart in 2018, said the program was useful for students to understand they weren’t alone in making their academic choices. She attended the University of Nevada, Reno, studied engineering and minored in construction and graduated in 2022.

“I feel like JumpStart gave me that opportunity to see what a college class would be like,” Ramirez said. “I knew the outline, and I would have to take ownership. I would not have somebody telling me the assignments.”