Edna Hill Introduction

Edna Hill Middle School: Introduction

Principal: Eric Prater
Enrollment: 828
Significant Subgroups: 48% White; 38% Hispanic/Latino; 35% eligible for free and reduced lunch; and 27% English Learners.
Grade Configuration: 6 th -8 th
Daily Schedule: Modified A/B Schedule, Looping, Advisory
Achievement Data: 2005 API of 767; 2006 API of 794; 2006 statewide rank of 9; 2006 similar schools rank 8.

Distinctive Characteristics

Academic Excellence

School has experienced consistent API growth throughout the past three years
Exited Program Improvement status and met AYP criteria for two consecutive years
School schedule built upon 8-period day; A/B block with 94 minutes of Language Arts and Social Studies twice per week with an additional 30 minutes on Wednesdays
Weekly common planning time allows teachers to review students individual learning plans and data
Students needing extended time are assigned to a double block of Algebra
Academic support classes for struggling readers during, before, and after school
Math Shadow – Accelerated Math and Academic support classes
Teachers develop and score common assessments aligned to standards and California Standard Test blueprints

Developmental Responsiveness

Welcome Every Body (WEB) program: Transitions new students to school and provides a mentor/peer for every sixth grader
Students are grouped into heterogeneous teams
Students loop with their teachers in English Language Arts, Social Studies, and Math
Students create a three-year Individual Learning Plan and conduct student-led conferences
Daily Advisory period includes a study of Seven Habits for Highly Effective Teens, which has reduced disciplinary referrals and enhanced acceptance and study skills
All students are in a three-year loop with the same Advisory teacher
Students are offered an array of electives; Music, drama, art, health, technology, cultural arts, industrial arts, foreign language, etc.
Lunchtime activities include lunch intramural sports and tournaments
After-school activities include wrestling, flag football, softball, volleyball, basketball, track, soccer, cross country, and more.
After the Bell curriculum explores the 40 developmental assets for adolescents

Social Equity

School Resource Officers conduct Reduce Adolescent Violence Education (RAVE)
Declining suspensions and referrals are attributed to alternative discipline methods
Home visits by the principal, vice principals and teachers reach out to English Learner families
Students are heterogeneously grouped across all teams
There is a walk-through coaching protocol for English Language Learner instructional practices
The school actively seeks to involve and connect with parents
Diversity curriculum is a part of Advisory classes
Students are rewarded and provided incentives on many levels including positive postcards home, PAWS (Positively Awesome Wonderful Students) awards, and student recognition of demonstrated good character traits

Organizational Support

Long-term systemic planning is routine for staff in their professional learning communities
School staff members actively gather and analyze data as the basis for the decision-making process
Collaborative learning times for teachers are scheduled weekly with established protocols and agendas
Most decisions are made through a collaborative decision-making process
The school holds itself accountable for the success of each and every student
The school enjoys strong connections and partnerships with parents, the greater community, and universities
The Student Center manages all attendance, discipline, counseling, and in school suspensions

Focus for the Future – Continuous Improvement

Continued development of more rigor, engagement, differentiation, and interventions for students
Continued development of formative assessments and informed instruction
Closing the achievement gap between statistically significant subgroups
Better articulation with feeder and destination schools

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