Sylacauga High School
Extended Time to Level Up
Sylacauga City Schools
Principal: Mr. Gary Rivers
Superintendent: Dr. Michele Eller
Sylacauga High School implemented the “Extended Time to Level Up” program during the 2024-2025 school year to improve student performance on the ACT by prioritizing academic growth over benchmark attainment. The program targeted 10th and 11th-grade students and was developed based on analysis of assessment data, including PreACT and benchmark testing, which revealed a need to move students out of Level 1 performance. The initiative incorporated extended, year-long block scheduling for core academic classes, providing students with 90 minutes of daily instruction. Tiered classes were created to meet diverse student needs, including Tier 2 support for students approaching proficiency, Tier 3 remediation for those requiring intensive intervention, and enhanced Advanced Placement courses to extend learning for high-achieving students. Teachers engaged in ongoing professional development focused on ACT strategies and used collaborative planning time to analyze student data and tailor instruction. Student-centered practices included transparent communication of individual performance data, targeted skill development, and participation in a structured ACT Bootcamp for all juniors. This five-week program delivered focused instruction across all ACT subtests. As a result, the school demonstrated measurable improvement, including significant reductions in Level 1 scores and increases in Levels 3 and 4 performance. The program’s emphasis on extended learning time and data-driven instruction contributed to notable gains in overall ACT achievement and growth.
