Reynoldsburg's (HS)2 Academy's continuous improvement plan includes growing partnerships with Mount Carmel East, Battelle and other organizations while continuing to find ways to improve academic performance, Academy Leader Anne Baldwin said.

Baldwin presented a Health Science and Services Academy -- (HS)2 -- update and plan for improvement at the school board meeting on Aug. 21.

She said the Academy met all percentage standards on the Ohio Graduation Test.

"We met the state minimum in all areas, but we want these scores higher," she said. "Our performance index score was 102.8 and 54 percent of our students tested in the advanced level on the OGT."

She said her students did not meet the ACT benchmarks in chemistry and biology, though.

"We plan on working with Battelle to find ways to improve our ACT scores," she said.

The school was recently awarded STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) designation and is now a member of the STEM network, Baldwin said.

"Our major goals in the improvement plan are academic achievement for all students and a 100 or greater performance index score each year," she said. "We also want to meet or exceed the adequate yearly progress (AYP) benchmark scores for our student groups and meet all indicators each year on the state report card."

She said sophomores are scheduled for extra science instruction in the plan and students will be assigned to a teacher/coach who will monitor progress and connect with parents.

"We will have weekly teacher team meetings to meet student needs and remember to have frequent recognition of student achievement," she said.

Another goal is to help students learn 21st-century skills and habits, which include learning to "independently plan and manage their time resources for learning" and to "demonstrate collaboration and problem-solving skills on team projects."

Baldwin said growing and developing partnerships is the third goal.

She mentioned Mount Carmel's opening of a Health Care Station in the building, which observed extended hours and a grand opening on Aug. 30.

"We plan on hosting a review panel of school partners so that they can provide feedback on curriculum programming and integration projects," she said.

Superintendent Steve Dackin said it was Baldwin's "vision" to bring the Mount Carmel Health Station to the Livingston Avenue campus.

"The STEM designation is also huge for us and connects with valuable resources," he said.

He asked about senior capstone projects.

"The capstone program will be different for each of our kids," she said. "They will develop a plan to work on a capstone project and might participate in an internship or develop their own community service project."

To learn more about (HS)2 Academy on the district website, click on "schools" at reyn.org.