Southmoreland Junior High School

School Information

School Name:  Southmoreland Junior High School
School Address:  P.O. Box B, Alverton, PA 15612
School Phone:  (724) 887-2031
School Fax:  (724) 887-2032
Principal:  Daniel Clara
Principal E-Mail:  clarad@southmoreland.net
Curriculum Director: Timothy P. Scott, former principal
Curriculum Director Email: scottt@southmoreland.net

Demographics
Number of Students:  327
Number eligible for Free and Reduced Lunch:  43%
Percent of Limited English Proficient:  0%
Percent of Special Education:  13%
Racial/Ethnic Percentages:

• White (99%)
• Black (<1%)
• Hispanic (0%)
• Asian/Pacific Island (<1%)
• Other (0%)

Student Achievement Data

Scale: % at or above proficient

	school/state
School test PSSA 7th grade	2005	2006	2007	2008
Reading	NA	66/68	78/67	73/70
Math	NA	67/67	75/67	89/71

 

	school/state
School test PSSA 8th grade	2005	2006	2007	2008
Reading	72/62	68/62	82/85	85/76
Math	75/64	77/70	81/68	80/70

 

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

By implementing the PLC model, Southmoreland Junior High doubled the proficiency levels of our “economically disadvantaged” subgroup from 2003 to 2004.

In 2006, 7th grade PSSA scores were added to AYP calculations. The 7th grade Language Arts and Math departments have seen 100% turnover, yet student achievement continues to grow. Focused collaboration works!

 

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 collaborative teams, teachers use the “team learning process” over and over to identify essential outcomes, develop common assessments, analyze data, and make decisions as a result of the data. In Pennsylvania, Southmoreland Junior High School is a leader in the Commonwealth in reducing nonproficiency as measured by the state assessment, the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA).

SJHS has made amazing progress in moving students into the highest learning quartile (Advanced). In the last six years. In 2003, 9% of 8th graders were Advanced in math, 14% in reading. In 2008, 58% of 8th graders were Advanced in math, 67% in reading.

In 2003, SJHS ranked in the 29th percentile in 8th grade reading and math of over 900 middle schools in the Commonwealth. In 2007, the percentiles were 67 in reading and 82 in math.

 

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

1. Monitoring student learning on a timely basis.

One team meeting a week is devoted entirely to “student success.” The team and guidance counselor discuss student issues and appropriate interventions along the “pyramid” to help students be more successful.

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

• Have implemented many systems to support student learning:
• Twice weekly tutoring for core subjects during the school day.
• Four hours of after school tutoring in literacy and math for students identified as non-proficient learners.
• Weekly guided study sessions for struggling learners
• Academic support team created for struggling students to get support from guidance counselor in two 40 minute sessions per week.

3. Building the capacity of teachers to work as members of high performing collaborative teams who focus the efforts of their team on improved learning for students.

Teachers have transformed from a culture of no formal collaboration to one in which collaboration is the hallmark of who we are. Collaborative teaming has greatly enhanced our individual professional abilities far beyond the traditional model of teacher isolation.

 

List any Awards and Recognition Garnered by Your School

Recipient of Keystone Achievement Award from Pennsylvania Department of Education for making AYP in years 2003–2008.