Frank Wright Introduction

Frank Wright Middle School: Introduction

Principal: Chuck Bush
Community: Small city
Enrollment: 772
Grade Levels: 6-7-8
School Schedule: Five 50-minute periods and one 105-minute period
Student Demographics: 71% Hispanic; 24% White; 2% African American; 1% Filipino; 1% Asian; 0% Pacific Islander; 44% Free/Reduced Lunch; 24% English Learners
Achievement Data: 2005 API Base: 762; 2006 API Growth: 793 (up 163 points since 2000); 2006 AYP: Met 21 of 21 criteria

Distinctive Characteristics

Academic Excellence

The school was recently recognized by Standard and Poor's report for being in the top 2% of schools in California in closing the achievement gap in language arts and mathematics.
The school schedule is built on a seven-period day:
o Sixth-grade students receive 155 minutes of language arts daily.
o Seventh- and eighth-grade students receive 105 minutes of language arts and English language
development daily.
Every teacher is responsible for student literacy and the development of vocabulary in their subject.
A collaborative teacher-designed rubric describes what an engaged, performance-based classroom should look like.
All math and language arts teachers receive AB 466 coaching followed by a year of coaching.
Math, reading and writing interventions are available throughout the school day.
English language arts development and mathematics placements are not grade-level specific, they are course-specific and determined by teacher input, work samples, and California Standards Test data.
The art program and technology classes use innovative interdisciplinary activities.
The use of portfolios to demonstrate student learning is widespread across the school.

Developmental Responsiveness

All students have an adult advocate.
A strong teaming structure provides opportunities for teachers to connect with students daily.
Students actively participate in parent-teacher conferences.
Students are offered an array of electives (art, band, music theory, music appreciation, computers, computer graphics, publications, and Advancement Via Individual Determination [AVID]).
Parents are partners in the school's educational process.
After-school activities include:
o Seasonal sports for both boys and girls, and
o A variety of clubs.

Social Equity

There are multiple opportunities for all students to achieve grade-level standards.
Every student has a team "study buddy" to call when he or she needs to clarify notes.
There is one full-time counselor and one full-time student-assistance representative who works with students on a referral basis.
Parents are involved in the school's positive discipline policies, which have significantly reduced suspensions.

Organizational Support

The school has created a culture of common vision and shared decision-making.
Each team of teachers has a common prep time to facilitate planning, communication, and coordination.
Teams collaborate and use assessment data to develop intervention programs.
Coaching (both formal and informal) is a school-wide norm.
The school schedules interventions daily both during and after school.
The leadership team members act as instructional coaches for the other members of the staff.
A distributed leadership team meets two times per month, trains one day per month, and coaches other staff members as needed.
Grades are updated in student planners every two weeks.

Focus for the Future-Continuing Improvement

Develop critical thinking skills in all academic areas.
Continue the development of differentiated instructional strategies.
Expand the sixth-grade collaboration model and instructional strategies to a cohesive middle school model.
Sixth grade is new to Frank Wright in 2006-07.
Use blocked instructional time more effectively with technology and lab facilities.
Improve the range of on-campus activities for all students to enhance the social, academic, and creative aspects of their lives.

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