Challenge

Founded in 2019, Afak International School (AIS) is dedicated to serving students from 21 diverse countries, each with unique backgrounds and experiences. The school aims to prepare these students for a brighter educational future by aligning its programs with international standards.

Through its commitment to excellence and inclusivity, AIS strives to provide a transformative learning environment that nurtures students and equips them with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in an increasingly globalized world. In today’s rapidly evolving educational landscape, data analysis plays a crucial role in informing and guiding school improvement efforts.
At the beginning of 2023, Mr. Tarek Sharaf, the acting head of the school, consulted with staff on how to improve the student experience. Due to changes over the last four years, the academic ability among the students varied greatly.

“We had some students joining us who could not speak any English, while others were fluent and keen to progress,” said Mr. Sharaf. “This posed a huge challenge for the teachers in the classroom.”

Personalizing the learning for each individual child in the classroom was vital for the teachers, so the school decided to search for an online tool to support the project.
After exploring various options, AIS chose Edmentum Exact Path, which begins with a diagnostic test to find the gaps in each student’s learning and follows with a tailored learning pathway of content based on the student’s academic weaknesses.

Solution

Utilizing Data-Driven Decision-Making 

The educators at Afak International School recognize the significance of data-driven decision-making in enhancing student learning outcomes and overall school performance. By leveraging data analysis, they are able to identify trends, assess progress, and tailor instructional approaches to better meet the diverse needs of their student population. 

The school has performed three rounds of diagnostic tests across the 2023–24 school year using Exact Path. In between the tests, the students access personalized learning paths, with each path providing unique lessons and practice for them so that they can learn new skills. 

The diagnostic test provides each student with a scale score. From kindergarten to grade 12, the 500–1500-point scale is used. Over the course of an academic year, this allows the school to measure improvements and attainment as each child progresses through a personalized learning path.

Seeing Significant Student Gains 

Ms. Doina Bekmez, an English teacher in year 10 reported, “We’ve had students with progress of over 200 points from the first diagnostic test to the last in English. The students had the same improvements in math as well.” 

The following snapshot from Exact Path diagnostic class results data shows the 9th grade math class average scores over three testing windows from November 2023 through May 2024. Between each testing window, classes have made increases in attainment as shown in the white boxes. 

Across the school, huge improvements were seen. 

Mr. Sharaf explained, “It’s a big benefit for us to be able to compare our students to those in the U.S. Exact Path allows us to do that. In each class, we have seen at least four students who are in the top 10 percent among their peers—and not just within Türkiye, but . . . in the U.S. We did not expect to see such growth in the first year.”

Improving Teaching Practice 

The impact has also been seen among the teachers in the school, with the flexibility that Exact Path provides them. 

“Using Exact Path has been so transformative for my students’ learning journey, as well as my own teaching journey,” shared Ms. Hadjer Gouaich, a grade 9 English teacher. 

Ms. Hadjer further explained how she adapted classes to include Exact Path, “I decided to incorporate the Exact Path skills into my teaching, and I have really noticed a huge improvement, especially in reading and English language arts.” 

One student in particular joined the school with no English skills whatsoever. 

“His father told me that he is a very intelligent child; he just cannot speak English right now,” reported Ms. Hadjer. 

Through working with Ms. Hadjer and using Exact Path for over 79 hours across the year, the student is now speaking English well and has integrated into the classroom seamlessly.

Result 

By partnering with Edmentum, AIS was able to achieve significant student progress through tailored learning experiences online. This has had a number of advantages, including enhanced academic achievement and teacher empowerment. Above all, the students have acquired hundreds of new skills because the school adapted to modern challenges. Overall, students at AIS averaged one new skill learned for every one hour spent on their learning paths. In total, the students have shown mastery of 1,600 skills, each tailored to their own learning needs.

“Our plans for the future are to integrate Exact Path into our grading systems,” explained Mr. Sharaf. “It is important for students’ growth potential, so adding their learning path into our grading will hopefully incentivize them even more.”

Mr. Sharaf and all of the staff at AIS are hugely proud of the students’ achievements so far and have put in place an ambitious plan for the future. 

“We are also hoping to expand our online offerings to provide full courses aligned with the U.S. and national curriculum,” described Mr. Sharaf. “This is something which Edmentum has been partnering with us to achieve. This will move our ambitions from not only academic growth but furthering high school achievement using 21st century skills in the classroom.” 

Through the implementation of Exact Path and the creation of personalized learning paths in English and math, Afak International School has made significant strides in improving student outcomes and bridging learning gaps. By tailoring the program to meet each student’s individual needs, the school has successfully addressed key foundational academic skills, which are adding up to success in other areas. AIS educators even attribute the use of Exact Path to improved success on PSAT/NMSQT®, SAT®, and AP® exams. This targeted approach not only enhances academic performance but also fosters a deeper understanding of key concepts and cultivates a growth mindset among students. 

Mr. Sharaf shared, “As we continue to prioritize data-driven decision-making and evidence-based practices, we remain committed to empowering our students for success in their educational journey and beyond.”