TJHS Improvement Plan 2006
by Bill Fritcher
July 16, 2007
Teutopolis Junior High School
2006-2007School Improvement Plan
Presently, there are 198 students in grades 7 and 8 at Teutopolis Jr. High. This is a decrease of about 10 students from last school year.
Instruction is provided in all the core subject areas, with additional courses taught in art, study skills, band, health, and computer technology. Teachers in learning disabilities and speech therapy provide supportive services.
Extra curricular opportunities are available in basketball, baseball, track, softball, yearbook, student council, drama, scholar bowl, bulletin board committee, intramural cross country, USTA Team Tennis, and cheerleading. There is one administrator (principal) who also serves as athletic director of the school, as well as principal of Bishop Creek School. One full-time and one part-time secretary, one custodian, and one full-time and one-part time cook provide support services.
Standardized Test Results:
The Illinois Standards Achievement Test (ISAT) and Terra Nova test are the two standardized tests administered at Teutopolis Unit 50 schools.
The following are the ISAT test scores for Teutopolis Junior High School for the 2005-2006 school year:
Grade 8: Reading 93.8% of students meet or exceed state standards.
Mathematics 95.5% of students meet or exceed state standards.
Grade 7:
Reading 89.4% of students meet or exceed state standards.
Mathematics 92.6% of students meet or exceed state standards.
Science 96.8% of students meet or exceed state standards.
The Terra Nova test is administered in March, and tests students’ abilities in a number of subtests dealing with language arts, mathematics, science, and social science. This battery compares our students to other students throughout the nation. The scores reported compare the average percentile score for TJH students against all students nationally who have taken this test with fifty percent (50%) being the exact median score for all students. The numbers in the table below indicate the percentage of TJHS students scoring above the 50th percentile.
|
Grade |
Reading |
Language |
Math |
Science |
Social Science |
|
7th |
64% |
70% |
87% |
64% |
67% |
|
8th |
72% |
80% |
86% |
79% |
74% |
The school has set the following goals for the 2006-2007school year:
Based upon examination of the curriculum and student achievement on past local, state, and national tests, the administration and staff at Teutopolis Junior High School believe the following steps will further improve student achievement and the learning atmosphere at TJH.
1.) The administration and staff will strive to improve student achievement in the area of reading comprehension.
• Audiotapes and more discussion with all ability levels of reading students will be utilized.
• An effort will be made to promote reading through school-wide activities, incentives, and book talks by students, staff and administration.
• Keep class size in low-ability classes smaller than other classes.
• Provide time for students to read for pleasure while holding students accountable for proper use of the time.
• Add non-fiction materials to be read by students.
• Create a scope and sequence for skills taught in alignment with Illinois Learning Standards.
Measurement: Ninety percent of students will be in the Meets or Exceeds categories on the ISAT in the area of reading.
2.) The administration and staff will seek ways to create a unit wide writing curriculum.
• The district will form a committee consisting of one teacher per grade level.
• The writing committee will determine the terminology and format to be used throughout each grade level.
• A scope and sequence will be generated for grades 7 and 8 to state the writing expectations for each grade level.
• This committee will generate drafts and outlines for visual aids to be used within each classroom.
Measurement: All staff will be utilizing the terms and format established by the writing committee to establish unity. Students’ writing samples from each language arts class will be turned in to the building principal each semester. Visual aids will be present in each classroom outlining the format to be used at each grade level.
3.) The administration and staff will seek to better utilize technology throughout all subject areas.
• Throughout the school year, staff will determine what students should know and be able to do with our existing technology.
• Better communicate with all staff what students are taught in computer classes.
• Provide in-service for staff on effective uses of technology to deliver existing curriculum.
Measurement: All staff will utilize technology in their classes. If deemed necessary, a scope and sequence, or benchmarks, will be established for each grade level.
