Expanding the Percentage of High School Graduates with a High-Tech Matriculation to 20% by 2028

The city of Holon is the tenth largest city in Israel. It is home to 200,000 residents of lower-middle socio-economic status. There are 14,000 students attending the city’s secondary schools (14 middle school and 11 high schools). Since 2018, the city has partnered with the foundation to increase the rate of high school graduates in the five-unit mathematics track. In 2021, we embarked on an additional joint program to expand the circle of excellence in middle school. The results show improvement in the five-unit mathematics track, with more than 20% of students graduating with five units of mathematics. Additionally, in middle school, 40% of students are attending enhanced ability groups in mathematics. However, after the initial leap, in recent years the pace of growth has slowed.

Now, as the national focus shifts to the proportion of high school students who graduate high school with a “high-tech matriculation” certificate, Holon decided to dive into their data. They discovered that in 2022, 13.6% of their students combined their five units in mathematics with either physics or computer science (compared with the national average of 11.3%). They also found that in middle school, although 40% study in the enhanced ability group for mathematics, only 20% attend an excellence class where physics and computer science are taught. There is an excellence class in only six middle schools and a five units track in computer science in nine high schools.

To address this gap, the municipality proposes a four-year program. In high school, the plan is to add six new physics classes and five new computer science classes. The goal is for all schools to offer a major in physics and computer science, and for most of them to open an additional class. Since there are only 14 computer science teachers in Holon, the plan is to offer one class online, allowing students from schools without a teacher to participate. In terms of professional development, 17 physics teachers will be organized into a joint learning community. For the computer science teachers, the municipality intends to approach the Weizmann Institute and the Cyber Education Center for assistance.

In middle schools, the plan is to add six new excellence classes, so that 11 of the 14 middle schools will offer an excellence track. Six weekly teaching hours (two hours per subject) will be added in mathematics, physics, and computer science for each of these classes. In these classes, alongside the regular curriculum, the municipality intends to offer several upgrades, which include applied mathematics, initial acquaintance with AI, developing mental resilience, and a focus on gender sensitive pedagogy. Upgrade plans will be prepared in partnership with expert organizations, which will be selected in coordination with the foundation.

The 100 teachers of mathematics, physics and computer science of the excellence classes will participate in five professional learning communities. In addition, in order to mobilize the school staff around the goals of the program and monitor its progress, each school will designate a coordinator. The program will also offer workshops for school principals which will be convened four times a year, as well as seminars for participating teachers, parents and students. A steering committee will meet three times a year.

The ultimate goal of the program is to increase the percentage of graduates with a high-tech matriculation to 20% by 2028, up from 13.6% today.

* The text above shows the grant as approved by the Foundation’s Board of Directors / Grant 592