Cambridge Rindge and Latin School (CRLS)
The Cambridge Rindge and Latin School
459 Broadway
Cambridge, MA 02138
617/349-6630
Christopher Saheed, Principal
The Cambridge Rindge and Latin School (CRLS) is a
comprehensive 4-year public high school, which receives its nearly 2000
students from fourteen elementary schools in Cambridge. CRLS was formed
in 1977 when the Rindge Technical School merged with Cambridge High and
Latin. In 1999 CRLS was redesigned and divided into five small schools,
each of which reflects the diversity in race, culture and socioeconomic
class that makes the Cambridge community unique. Each of these small learning
communities is headed by a Dean of Curriculum and a Dean of Students.
The five schools are designed to promote high levels of learning and achievement
for all students.
The racial breakdown at CRLS in the 2007-08 academic year was as follows: 8.4% of students were Asian; 39.7% were African-American; 13.7% were Hispanic; 36.1% were White; 1.5% were Multi-Race, Non-Hispanic; and 0.5% were Native American. (From http://www.cpsd.us/web/SAA/NCLB07-08/CRLS.pdf).
Beginning in September 2000, all ninth and tenth grade students take CORE classes. The CORE consists of Language Arts, Social Studies, Mathematics and Science. In addition to their CORE, these students choose a foreign language, an elective and a support and enrichment class. Students remain with many of the same students for their CORE classes allowing for them to get to know each other well and benefit from learning in a small community. Students also meet in an "Advising" class with their homeroom teacher for all four years of high school. The advising class ensures that every student has at least one adult in the community who knows them very well, and can track both the academic and social growth of their high school experience.
With the reorganization in 1999, a system of tracking academic achievement was broken down and teachers are now encouraged to teach heterogeneous groups of students at the same time. Students are able to benefit from diverse learning needs and styles of their classmates, as well as from various pedagogical practices employed by their teachers. Every small school has a staff of several special education teachers meeting specific learning needs of students with individual education plans (IEPs) and helping them learn academic strategies they can use in all of their classes. These teachers benefit the learning of all students as they often co-teach many of the CORE classes at CRLS. A number of AP classes are still offered, however, providing students with opportunities to prepare for college level work while still receiving the support of a high school classroom. Teachers are supported in their work through two hours of professional development activities every Tuesday afternoon.
Students at CRLS have opportunities to participate in over 30 different clubs and activities, including the mock trail team, the Portuguese club, the "step" dance group, and various levels of student government. There are also over 20 different sports team that practice and compete throughout the academic school year. Their elective classes in school range from art and dance classes to classes about identity and race relations. Extensive resources are provided for students at CRLS to take advantage including the Teen Health Center, the Youth Employment Center, the daycare center for high school parents, and the Rindge School of Technical Arts.
When visitors arrive at the main office of CRLS, they can pick up a copy of the "Did You Know"-a one page handout published every day that includes updated information about what is going on specific small schools, large organizations, and with outside community resources. Helpful to both students and faculty, the "Did You Know?" is one effort put forth to create a true feeling of community at CRLS. These daily updates are also published on the high school's website for parents and community members to keep current with what is going on at the high school. The website also provides an updated school calendar, a current sports calendar, minutes from various school committee meetings, contact information for administrators and small school offices, guidance resources, and scholarship information for all students.
While Cambridge Rindge and Latin is a large school facing many challenges of a diverse student population in a diverse city of the 21st century, the school community is dedicated to promoting a collegial atmosphere for faculty and staff, providing community and school resources for well-rounded student growth and, especially, improving student learning.
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