William Penn High School (WPHS) is the largest high school in Delaware, with an enrollment of 2330 students (Fall 2007).  Situated in New Castle, we educate students from all walks of life.  Within our diverse student body, a large percentage of our students are deemed at-risk due to factors such as socio-economic status (low-income 40%), race (65% minority), as well as many other physical, emotional, and behavioral concerns.  The effects of these risk factors includes an above average drop out rate (7.1% in 2005-06) compared to the state average (5.5% in 2005-06).  In June 2007, 74.55% of the ninth grade class four years ago graduated.  Further, student behavior is always a concern in a building the size of WPHS.  During the 2005-06 school year, WPHS suspended or expelled 600 students (1150 suspensions, 8 expulsions).  This was 25.7% of the student enrollement.  During the same year, 12.8% of all DE students were either suspended or expelled from their schools. 

 As a member of the social studies department, I have the privilege to work with my students in the areas of economics, criminal justice, and geography.  This current academic year, my administration has allowed me to specialize in geography, teaching it at the college prep, honors, and AP levels.  The course is taught in one, un-blocked semester.  Over the course of one year, I will teach approximately 300 students, primarily in the tenth grade. 

As is the case with all required social studies courses at William Penn, I follow a district approved curriculum, which blocks the course into eight units of approximately two-weeks each.  At the conclusion of the course, students are administered a common assessment.  While I did assist in the design of both the curriculum materials and the common assessment, the course requirements have not been revisited since 2005, thereby limiting the amount of current events that can be covered in the course.

The exhibits and artifacts presented here demonstrate the ability to reach and teach all learners in social studies, utilizing different strategies.  An overview of the exhibits has been provided.

**Note: The demographic data was collected from the Delaware Department of Education School Profile Report.