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Pioneer Middle School

School Information

School Name: Pioneer Middle School
School Address:  2700 Pioneer Road
                        Tustin, CA 92782
School Phone:  (714) 730-7534
School Fax:  (714) 730-5405
Principal:  Mike Mattos
Principal E-Mail:  mmattos@tustin.k12.ca.us

Demographics

Number of Students:  1225
Number eligible for Free and Reduced Lunch:   5%
Percent of Limited English Proficient:  9%
Percent of Special Education:  4%
Racial/Ethnic Percentages:

  • White  (45%)
  • Black  (3%)
  • Hispanic  (10%)
  • Asian/Pacific Island  (38%)
  • Other (4%)

Present Student Achievement Data in at least three points to demonstrate trends – for example, three consecutive years or the first, third, and fifth years. The data report should always include the most recent school year and should always offer a basis of comparison (for example, state scores, national scores, similar SES schools).

Average Yearly Progress (AYP)--English Language Arts
Percentage of Students Proficient and Advanced  

 
School
 
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
All Students
66
68.1
69.3
76.4
79.9
Asian
74
74.8
76.4
81.8
86.7
Hispanic or Latino
37.3
46.4
50.6
52.7
56
White (not Hispanic)
68.3
69.3
68.7
76.9
79.3
English Learners
16.1
22.3
41.1
48
58.9

Average Yearly Progress (AYP)--Mathematics
Percentage of Students Proficient and Advanced

 
School
 
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
All Students
62.2
62.9
68.2
70.7
81.7
Asian
78.2
76.5
83.9
81.6
91.9
Hispanic or Latino
35.5
36.9
43.2
47.3
59
White (not Hispanic)
60.7
61.8
63.7
69.1
78.5
English Learners
33.3
39.1
56.8
58
73.3

 

California Standards Test (CST) in PreAlgebra

 
Advanced
Proficient
Basic
Below Basic*
Far Below Basic*
All Students 2006
47
37
13
3
1
All Students 2005
36
34
24
6
1
Difference
+11
+3
-11
-3
0

California Standards Test (CST) in Algebra

 
Advanced
Proficient
Basic
Below Basic*
Far Below Basic*
All Students 2006
23
60
15
2
0
All Students 2005
9
63
26
2
0
Difference
+14
-3
-11
0
0

English Language Learner Re-designations

2004 to 2006 Comparison of English Language Learner Re-designations
2003-2004
2004-2005
2005-2006
Number of students re-designated
7
11
20 of 84
Percentage of EL population re-designated
11.9%
13.3%
24%

Please feel free to comment on any aspect of the data that you feel is particularly significant.

Over the past three years, our school-wide SMART goals have focused on improving student achievement in the areas of pre-algebra and algebra, as well the overall achievement of our English language learning students. As demonstrated by the charts listed above, we have seen significant improvement in these targeted areas. Over the past three years, the number of EL students scoring proficient or advanced on the California Standards Test (CST) in language arts test has increased by 43%, while over the past four years our EL students have an 87% increase on the CST in mathematics. In addition, last year 24% of our EL students were redesignated English proficient--these results far surpass district and state averages.

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

In his book Good to Great, Jim Collins asks, “ Why try for greatness? If you're doing something you care that much about, and you believe in its purpose deeply enough, then it is impossible to imagine not trying to make it great. It's just a given…Greatness is not a function of circumstance….it is largely a matter of conscious choice, and discipline.” Two years ago, the staff of Pioneer Middle School faced this very choice--would we settle for being a good school for most students, or would we have the discipline to become a great school for all students? With an unquestionable passion for our students and learning, our staff’s decision was “a given”. Collectively, we worked with the entire Pioneer community to create our current mission: To maximize every student’s academic potential and personal responsibility. This singular purpose is firmly grounded in our fundamental belief that all students can learn at high levels. We believe it is not merely our job to teach; instead, it is our steadfast responsibility to ensure that all students learn. While our mission is quite simple in concept, its creation and implementation has proven to be powerful and dynamic.

To ensure high levels of learning for all students, we work collaboratively on our “Late-Start Wednesdays” to identify essential standards, share best instructional practices, create common assessments, and analyze student assessment data. Failure is not an option, so we have developed a “Pyramid of Interventions” to provide additional time and support for all students. Teachers refer students into the program every 3-4 weeks, and we meet weekly with at-risk students to monitor progress and to provide additional help if needed. We have expanded our course offers to assure that every student receives targeted instruction and additional learning time during the school day. For example, our math department created three new courses: Algebra AB, Intro to Algebra, and Pre-Algebra AB. Algebra AB and Pre-Algebra AB provide at-risk students a rigorous two-period math block. These courses use the same textbook, same assessments, and same curriculum as the one-period classes, but give students more time and differentiated instructional practices to master the concepts. This preventive intervention has been highly successful, as last year our proficiency rate on the CST in Algebra improved by 11% and Pre-Algebra improved by 14%.

Because our mission is to maximize every student’s academic potential, our focus extends beyond assuring grade-level proficiency, and challenges students to master more rigorous curriculum. Over half of our students take accelerated level coursework, including honors language arts, geometry, foreign language, and science. At Pioneer, it is “cool” to be smart, to help others, and to take pride in your school. Last semester, almost half our students received Principal’s Honor Roll (3.5 GPA or higher) and over 900 students were recognized for their school achievement.

While academic success is important, we also believe that middle school should be a place for all students to explore new disciplines, to experience new opportunities, and to have fun learning. To this end, all students set quarterly, “REAL Wildcat” goals for academic achievement, extra-curricular involvement, exploration, leadership, and service. Currently over 100 students participate in student government, over 700 students in our fine arts programs (band, orchestra, chorus, art), over 800 students in our sports programs, and over 1000 students in academic competitions. Grade-level programs transition our students from the nurturing attributes of elementary school to the flexible and age-appropriate expectations of future high school students. Eighth grade mentors meet weekly with our sixth grade students to teach them the “ Wildcat Way”, helping to prepare them for success at Pioneer, in high school, and beyond.

Steadily, we are making our mission a reality. Over the past two years, Pioneer’s state Academic Performance Index (API) score has improved 49 points to 915, ranking us within the top three middle schools in Orange County and top 5% in the state.

List any Awards and Recognition Garnered by Your School

 2008

2006

  • Selected by Dr. Richard DuFour to participate in a video series that focuses on how to be a professional learning community. Nationally, only eight schools received this recognition.
  • Nominated California Distinguished School (final recognition pending)

2005

  • Selected as a pilot school for Achieve Data Solutions common assessment program.
  • Rotary Club “Good Ideas” Recipient

2004

  • “Fit-4-Life” Grant Recipient

2003

  • Named a California Distinguished School
  • Finalist, California “Schools-to-Watch” Program