Grant aims to give Centennial High a fresh start

Raper's comments came in March after his boys' team won the Class 3A state championship. By then, the school's academic struggles were well known. Centennial's students posted some of the worst test scores in the state last school year, painting a troubling picture about student achievement and how they would fare after high school. Students returned from spring break to learn that their principal had stepped down.

Now a reform plan is in the works for the school using federal money reserved for poor-performing schools. The Oklahoma City School Board approved an application this week seeking $11 million for the plan, which includes separate proposals for the middle school and high school. Although the schools share a building, only the middle school is on the state Education Department's needs improvement list. Both plans have been submitted to the Education Department, which can require changes, reduce the budget or even opt not to fund the high school proposal.

The plan includes an effort already under way to change the district's traditional high schools into academies with varied career-oriented programs. Centennial students would take courses tied to information technology. Teachers also would continue to use curriculum through the existing ACT/America's Choice partnership.

Students would attend school 30 minutes longer each day, and a new principal would have wide latitude in hiring teachers. Teachers also could be eligible for extra pay based on student performance, and stipends for pursuing additional training.