WASL's priority rises and falls in three sophomores' lives

Wilber Romero started sliding as soon as second semester got under way last month at Federal Way High.

Wilber — one of three sophomores in the class of 2008 that The Times is following this year — skipped at least one class nearly every day. When he came, it wasn't with homework.

His English teacher, David Vinson, lost patience one day when Wilber showed up empty-handed again. So he pulled him outside to talk.

To graduate, Wilber needs to pass his classes and the 10th-grade Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) or some approved alternative. The WASL (or an alternative) is a new graduation requirement starting with this year's sophomores.

The school lives of the other two students that The Times is following — Rickey Combs of Seattle's Sealth High and Mandy Schendel of Renton's Hazen High — also took some turns since January.

Rickey, who struggles with math, decided not to worry so much about passing that part of the WASL this spring. He recently dropped his WASL math-prep class (one of two math classes he was taking) and instead enrolled in typing. His inability to type was hurting him in other classes, he says, and he knows it's a skill he'll need in college.

He's confident about passing the reading and writing sections of the WASL — which will be given this week. (Math and science follow in April; science is not yet a graduation requirement.) He pulls out a recent reading and writing practice test with a perfect score — 40 out of 40 points.

But to put too much hope into passing math this spring — and then failing — would be a big disappointment that Rickey says he wants to avoid. Cramming now won't be enough, he says.

"I think I just need to take my time with it," he says.

Mandy, who also dislikes math and aspires to be a professional singer, is busier than ever. She recently landed the part of Fraulein Lili Zieglor in the school's upcoming production of "Merry Murders at Montmarie," an activity she's added to her three choirs, cheerleading and student government.

Mandy says she may go to some of the WASL prep sessions focused on math before the April WASL — if she has time. Several days a week, she gets home so late that her mother simply brings her dinner to school.

Of the WASL, she says, "I don't really want to think about it." Still, she's confident about passing the reading and writing sections this week.

Wilber says he skipped school last month because he was discouraged. He failed a few classes last semester and again flirted with dropping out.

That was before Vinson pulled him outside. "Mr. V asked me, 'Who comes first with you? Your friends or your education?' " Wilber recalls. "And I'm like: 'My education, man.' "

"I just start realizing, all the things he's done for me. I don't want to let him down, you know. He's helped me out a lot."

Wilber's now back in class nearly every day. He's attending after-school tutoring, too.

He also made the school's soccer team — a success that Vinson hopes will cement his motivation. To stay on the team, Wilber must bring his grades up to at least a C average.

Wilber promised the coach he'll do just that.

Linda Shaw: 206-464-2359 or lshaw@seattletimes.com