Building on Success

Agenda  Welcome and Introductions: Cascade Elementary – Old Forge Elementary – Smithsburg Elementary - Smithsburg Middle – Smithsburg High –  Performance Profile  High School Scheduling Options  Questions and Answers

Performance Profile of Smithsburg Area Schools

 Sixteen percent of last year’s seniors passed at least one AP exam during high school.  Forty-four percent of the students taking AP exams scored a three or above.

 Ninety-four percent of the 2011 seniors passed the English, Algebra, and Government HSA; eighty-nine percent passed the Biology HSA.  Nearly eighty-three percent of the seniors met the HSA graduation requirement by passing all four required HSAs.

 Four year on-time graduation rate was ninety-three percent.  Annual drop-out rate is less than one percent.

 SAT participation rates are increasing.  SAT reading scores are currently six points higher than June (507)  SAT writing scores are currently three points higher than June (546)  SAT math is currently three points higher than June (500)

 Smithsburg Middle  Met AYP in 2011 in all nineteen subgroups in reading and math.  The percent of students proficient or advanced in grades seven and eight— in reading and math—increased.  2011 was the fourth consecutive year Smithsburg Middle was recognized for school performance by MSDE.

 Smithsburg Elementary  Met AYP in 2011 for all eleven measurable subgroups in reading and math.  The percent of students proficient or advanced in grades three and five increased in reading.

 Cascade Elementary  Met AYP in 2011 for all eleven measurable subgroups in reading, math, and attendance.  The percent of students proficient or advanced in grade three reading and in grade four math increased.  The percent of students proficient or advanced in grade five reading and math increased.

 Old Forge Elementary  Met AYP in 2011 for eight of nine measurable subgroups in reading, math, and attendance.  The percent of students proficient or advanced in grade five increased in math.

We should celebrate the strength of our students, their families and their teachers.

Three Immediate Challenges  Too few students taking or passing the most rigorous coursework  Middle School reading levels  Elementary reading levels

Building on Success In many ways, the success of the district and the schools in the Smithsburg area have given “birth” to a new set of challenges.

We must keep pace with more rapidly improving schools. We must close and eliminate achievement gaps.

We must improve on our graduation rates. We must improve the success rate of students taking Honors and AP courses and we must increase ACT and SAT participation and success.

We must expand Career and Technology Education program opportunities, updated to reflect the realities of the job market, while strengthening the belief that there is dignity in all work.

High School Scheduling Discussion  Rationale for our thinking –  Increased time for instruction.  Continuity of instruction.

High School Scheduling Discussion  Improved opportunities for inter- disciplinary studies.  To be “better positioned” for the changes necessitated by Maryland’s embrace of the Common Core.

ABC Lunch: 11: :23Class: 11:53 – 12:23Class: 11:53 – 12:53 Class: 12:23 – 1:23Lunch: 12:23 – 12:53Lunch: 12:53 – 1:23 Class: 12:53 – 1:23 Period 5: 1:27 – 2:26 (59 minutes) Period 6: 2:30 - 3:30 (60 minutes) SHS Transitional Six Period Day Schedule for 2012 – 2013 Class Schedule with Three Lunch Shifts Period 1: 8:42 – 9:43 (61 minutes) Period 2: 9:47 – 10:46 (59 minutes) Period 3: 10:50 – 11:49 (59 minutes) Period 4: Class (60 minutes) + Lunch: 11:53 – 1:23

Thank you. Questions … Dr. Clayton Wilcox Superintendent of Schools