Culver City Middle School

Introduction to Culver City Middle School

Academic Excellence | Developmental Responsiveness | Social Equity | Organizational Support

Principal: Jerry Kosch
Enrollment: 1,748
Grade Configuration: 6-8
Daily Schedule: 6 period day on Mondays and 3, 2-hour block periods Tuesday-Friday

Culver City Middle School has a diverse ethnic, linguistic, and socio-economic population. The school strives to address the variety of needs and experiences each student brings to school. All students have access to a number of on-campus support groups, a health clinic and peer mediation programs. The staff of Culver City also works diligently to address the variety of needs, learning experiences and styles, skill levels and personalities of each student. Grade level teams and coalitions enable teachers to teach the same students and have a common preparation period to discuss student achievement and meet with parents. This also provides time for cross-curricular articulation of key concepts. All textbooks are aligned with state content standards and provide a continuum of learning from one grade level to another. Criterion referenced tests as well as alternative assessments are used in each class. In its quest for building a high performance learning community, Culver City promotes first-class standards, high caliber teaching, and the tools that learners need to be successful and productive members of society.

Distinctive Characteristics

Academic Excellence

Teachers meet regularly to align curriculum to state content standards and share successful instructional strategies.
Block scheduling provides time for extended, multi-modality learning opportunities four days a week.
Literacy (writing and reading) are expressed across the content areas and in elective classes.
Intervention and proficiency courses are provided for at-risk reading and mathematics students.
Innovative curriculum used in CORE subject areas to enhance standards-based instruction.
Interdisciplinary units taught across CORE subject areas in all grade levels.

Developmental Responsiveness

96% of students on student survey indicated a culture in which students feel safe and secure.
Counselor for each grade-level loops with the class.
Grade-levels physically clustered for access to classrooms.
Each grade-level organized into three teams for smaller learning communities to recognize student achievement, effort, character, citizenship and to create immediate interventions for struggling students.
Extensive before and after school programs, including a model athletic program.
Character Development programs implemented in all grade levels.

Social Equity

Student body election enacted through a constitutional convention simulation that models the election process.
Heterogeneous classes with supported clusters of resource students.
Culver City Youth Health Center and Adult School located on campus.

Organizational Support

Close working relationship with district office.
Strong articulation with elementary and high school, monthly vertical articulation.
Strong communication among staff, students, and parents.
Teacher/leader culture developed through 20-member leadership team.
Active site council, English Language Advisory Council, Parent Teacher Student Association and Gifted and Talented Education Advisory Council.
Implementation of a comprehensive, innovative staff development program

California League of Middle Schools
6615 East Pacific Coast Highway, Suite 120, Long Beach, California 90803
Voice: 562/430-3136 or 800/326-1880 . . . FAX: 562/430-5607. . . E-Mail: info@clms.net