Jefferson Elementary School

 

School Information

School Name: Jefferson Elementary School
School Address: 1040 S. Vicentia Avenue, Corona, CA 92882
School Phone: (951) 736-3226
School Fax: (951) 736-3270
Principal: Mrs. Janie K. Rhoades
Principal email: jrhoades@cnusd.k12.ca.us

 

Demographics

Number of Students: 730
Number Eligible for Free and Reduced Lunch: 657 (90%)
Percent of Limited English Proficient: 56%
Percent of Special Education: 12%
Racial/Ethnic Percentages:

- White 3%
- Black 1%
- Hispanic 93%
- Asian/Pacific Island 1%
- Other 2%

 

Student Achievement Data:

California Standards Test (CST) – English Language Arts:
Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) – NCLB

% Students At or Above Proficient	2002	2003	2005	2007	2008
School	14.4	20.1	24.7	40.2	?
ELLs	7.2	10.6	15.6	36	?
State	NA	36.5	40.9	44.5	?
NCLB Required	13.6	13.6	24.4	24.4	35.2

California Standards Test (CST) – English Language Arts:
Academic Performance Index (API)– Based on student proficiency levels (all levels and movement)

API Score	2002	2005	2006	2007
School	568	666	691	729
State	NA	738	759	759
School API Statewide rank	2	2	3	NA
School API Similar Schools Rank	5	6	7	NA

 

Please comment on any aspect of the data that you believe is particularly significant.

We began our journey as a Professional Learning Community in 2003 when the school entered the first year of Program Improvement (PI) according to No Child Left Behind (NCLB). Since then, the required levels of % proficient have risen twice. Each year we have made growth but at last in 2007, we jumped to levels that actually put us above the levels that are required for the testing that happens in 2008! We expect to show significant growth again and exit PI.

 

Please present additional information that indicates your efforts to build a professional learning community have had a positive impact on students and/or teachers.

Our motto is Dream- Believe- Achieve.  In 2003 when we began our PLC journey, our biggest obstacle was the “Believe” part of our motto and dismal levels of achievement.  Jefferson had a reputation as “that school” with “those students”.  The teachers on staff at that time felt that they could not transfer to other schools, as no-one wanted a Jefferson teacher, and new teachers were warned of how bad the school was.  As a new Principal at Jefferson, a community member congratulated me at the grocery store, but when she heard it was Jefferson, she said, “oh no, not that school.  You poor thing. Good luck!”  Jefferson was just entering year one of Program Improvement (PI) having not made the 13.6% proficient NCLB requirement for two years.  Since that day, we have never looked back.

We worked to develop living mission and vision statements that guide all discussions.  We have built our collaboration structures and a focus on learning as evidenced in results into the culture of a now positive and ever improving school.  This year (2008) we expect to be the only year 4+ PI school in Riverside County California to actually exit PI!  Others throughout the District, County and State are now looking to us as an exemplary school that succeeds against all odds. Passion and persistence!

 

Please elaborate strategies you have found to be effective in the following areas:

1. Monitoring student learning on a timely basis.

- Grade level teams have developed Essential Standards by trimester and Common Assessments that give them frequent (weekly or biweekly) real data that allows them to intervene and to immediately adjust instruction.
- Grade level teams submit Writing, English Language Development (ELD), Reading and Math (“WERMs”) scores to the Principal on a monthly basis.  In their teams, they graph their own proficiency levels.
- With a focus on writing, teams submit an End of year SMART goal sheet:  They then submit trimester and monthly updates.
- The Principal keeps a database of all students not proficient and tracks their interventions.  In addition, teachers submit a highlighted class list monthly indicating students newly fallen behind so actions can be taken quickly.
- Each trimester we hold Student Achievement Co-ops with Administrators, teachers, and specialists.  We look at every student in each teacher’s class discussing academics, interventions, actions taken, behavior, family history and determine action steps.

2. Creating systems of intervention to provide students with additional time and support for learning.

- Jefferson spent a year carefully and collaboratively constructing our pyramid on interventions: first in grade levels and then with the whole staff.  We recognize it to be always a work in progress.
- We have multiple specific interventions beyond the school day.  In addition, we have universal access built in to each teacher’s day.  This year we have implemented a 30 minute state adopted intervention ‘Voyager’ that is during the school day with intensive groups being the smallest.  Intervention is not by invitation.

3. Building teacher capacity to work as members of high performing collaborative teams that focus efforts on improved learning for all students.

- All teachers attend at least one PLC conference where the DuFours present.
- Leadership team and Administration take a yearly PLC retreat to unify, motivate and set the sails for ever higher levels of student learning.
- Leadership Team and Administration participated in the Good to Great training that included multiple staff development opportunities and PLC conferences over the course of two school years.
- Staff meetings are instructional and purposeful focused on the four questions of a PLC.
- The staff engages in ongoing professional reading including having worked through all 12 chapters of On Common Ground.
- Principal and Assistant Principal make it a priority to “stroke our thoroughbreds and monitor our ‘others’ ”.  We celebrate all examples of Jefferson’s vision in action!

 

List awards and recognitions your school has achieved

- Jefferson was recognized at the Riverside English Language Symposium in March 2008 as the only PI year 4+ school to make and exceed its 2007 AYP scores with a possibility of exit in 2008.
- CNUSD publicly recognized Jefferson Elementary school as the school with the greatest improvement in STAR test scores for 2007.
- Principal Janie K. Rhoades was selected as the Corona–Norco Unified School District Principal of the Year for 2007-2008.
- CNUSD Board recognized Jefferson Elementary at a Board meeting by having staff present gains in student achievement levels and contributing vital behaviors.
- Jefferson and CNUSD showcased at riverside county Office of Education (RCOE) as an exemplary model of a school and an LEA working together for students success in a PI setting.
- The Comprehensive Early Literacy Program (CELL/ExLL) has showcased Jefferson elementary School as an exemplary model of 100% implementation of this literacy program which is research based best practices for the delivery of the core curriculum.