Medea Creek Introduction

Medea Creek Middle School: Introduction

Principal: Laurel Ford
Enrollment: 900
Grade Configuration: 6-8
Daily Schedule: Seven-Period Day

“Students learn best when there is no fear of failure, embarrassment, or worry of peer rejection.”
- From Medea Creek Middle School’s application

Distinctive Characteristics

Academic Excellence

Differentiation of instruction has become a major focus of whole school; every teacher creates opportunities for differentiated instruction.
High standards for student work and expectations are conveyed clearly to parents and students.
Academic excellence is celebrated in every classroom.
Writing-across-the-curriculum is embedded in instruction.
Many intervention options are available to students.
Teachers and students often communicate by e-mail from their own homes.

Developmental Responsiveness

There is a school-wide emphasis on supporting the whole child.
Counselors serve families to better understand family dynamics, supporting each of their designated family’s children through their middle level years.
Interdisciplinary planning and teacher coordination are common.
There is no tracking; all teachers differentiate their instruction to meet the needs of all students.
Technology is frequently used to support student learning.
Students feel safe and connected to their school.
Parents have many opportunities to connect with and support the school.

Social Equity

All student subgroups reach the school’s high academic expectations.
All students are heterogeneously grouped and not tracked.
Instruction is designed to meet students’ current skill level.
A positive school environment makes all students feel welcomed and respected.

Organizational Support

The district delegates all budget decisions to the site; there is considerable teacher and principal buy-in to the school’s program.
The mature staff is well grounded in middle grades philosophy.
The school receives strong community support, and the district is very responsive to the school’s needs.

Future Work Includes

Creating a more personalized environment for students
Exploring ways in which facility usage can be enhanced
Creating a culture of teaming across the whole school

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