Part 1:  Profile

Part 1:  Profile

A.     Executive Summary

Introduction: 

In this section of our school improvement plan an overview of student performance data, student and community demographic data, school characteristics, and stakeholder perspectives on the quality of education is provided in Section A.  A summary of the major sets of data within each of these categories is outlined in Section B  (Tables 1-5).

Careful consideration has been given to select data which provides useful and comprehensive information for all stakeholders.  This baseline data should be beneficial as McBride works toward school improvement for this year and in the coming years.

1.      Student Performance Data

The student performance data collected for the Profile is summarized in Tables 3 and 4 including performance on state, district, and school level assessments.

State Measures:  State-wide assessments of student learning on SAT-9 in Reading, Language, Mathematics, Science and Social Science were initiated during the 2000-2002 academic years.  All students in grades 3-5 are required to participate in the state assessment.  The percentage of our students meeting the national standards is greater than the state’s average in every area, including the Alabama Direct Assessment of Writing.

State-wide assessments of student learning on SAT-10 in Reading, Language, and Mathematics were initiated during the 2003-2004 academic year.  All students in grades 3-5 are required to participate in the state assessment.  The percentage of McBride students meeting the national standards is greater than the state’s average in every area, including the Alabama Direct Assessment of Writing.  The fourth grade students participated in the ARMT pilot program in April of 2004.  These students were not tested in science and social science on the 2004 SAT-10.

The most recent SAT and ARMT data (2003-2004) indicates the following:  The third grade students tested at the 49th percentile in ability with a Stanine of 5.  Their lowest individual percentile as a class was in Word Study Skills, 51st percentile with a Stanine of 5.  However, total reading was at the 63rd percentile with a Stanine of 6.  As a group, the National Individual Percentile ranged from a low of 51 to a high of 69.  This indicates very good progress for third grade with a need for continued emphasis on Word Study Skills.

The fourth grade students tested at the 52nd percentile in ability with a Stanine of 5.  The lowest National Individual Percentile was in the area of Mathematics Problem Solving with a Stanine of 6.  However, total math was at the 72nd percentile which is 20 percentile points above ability.  National Individual Percentile for fourth grade ranged from a low of 68 with a Stanine of 6 to a high of 78 in Language with a Stanine of 7.  These scores seem to indicate excellent progress for fourth grade with a need for continued emphasis on Math Problem Solving strategies which should correlate well with ARMT preparation.

In the fifth grade, students tested at the 62nd percentile in ability with a Stanine of 6.  Their lowest National Individual Percentile was in the area of Mathematics Problem Solving with a National Individual Percentile of 67 with a Stanine of 6.  Total Mathematics was only slightly better with scoring in the 69th Percentile with a Stanine of 6.  National Individual Percentile for fifth grade ranged from a low of 67 with a Stanine of 6 to a high of 74 in Reading Comprehension with a Stanine of 6.  While these scores indicate good progress for fifth grade, there seems to be a need for continued emphasis in Mathematics.  This year’s implementation of a new math series may aid in achieving a greater degree of success in this area.

The Alabama Reading and Mathematics Test was administered to fourth graders in 2003-04.  A total of 224 fourth graders participated in the reading portion of the ARMT test.  Of the fourth graders taking the ARMT, only one student (0%), scored at Level I, 16 students (7%) scored at Level II, 83 students (37%) scored at Level III, and 124 students (55%) scored at Level IV.  With only 7% of students scoring at Level II, the fourth grade is making excellent progress in developing good readers with a basic knowledge of tested reading elements and skills.  This may be a reflection of the results of ARI implementation for these students since first grade and solid reading instruction for grade 4.

On the Math portion of the ARMT test a total of 225 fourth graders participated.  Of the fourth graders taking the ARMT, 7 students (3%) scored at Level I, 23 students (10%) scored at Level II, 65 students (29%) scored at Level III, and 130 students (58%) scored at Level IV. 

Open-ended questions that required students to represent categorical and numerical data using tables and graphs seemed to represent the greatest difficulty for students.  Fourth grade students may have relatively little experience in writing to answer problems or analyze data in mathematics.

2.      Student and Community Demographic Data

The current total enrollment of McBride Elementary School is 648, which is a 13.9% increase from 2000.  In addition to this increase in enrollment, the percentage of low income students (i.e., students eligible for the free and reduced lunch program) has shown an increase of more than 6% over the past five years.  This data is found in Table 1.  Students are required to attend school 160 days per year in order to be promoted to the next grade unless special circumstances prevent their attendance and pending a decision from the attendance committee.  McBride Elementary School has an active participation of parents in the PTO. 

The city of Muscle Shoals has a population of 11,924 according to the 2000 census.  Muscle Shoals city is the largest of three cities located in Colbert County, each with its own city school system.  All other towns are part of the Colbert County School System.  The per capita income for Muscle Shoals city is $21,113.  About 85% of the population has a high school diploma or higher. 

The community is 83.9% white and 14. 2% black with all other major races under 1%.  The community has a mix of service industry, manufacturing, and retail businesses.  The religious orientation of the community is varied, including the following houses of worship:  Baptist, Methodist, Church of Christ, Presbyterian, and First Assembly of God.

Muscle Shoals city provides a well stocked and modern library for the use of residents and students along with computer facilities available to the public.  The recreation center offers activities to our community such as basketball, baseball, soccer, softball, swimming, and tennis.  There is also a Pee Wee Football League for elementary age students, which includes cheerleaders.

3.      School Characteristics

McBride Elementary School is a public elementary school that houses grades 3-5.  The school, which was built in 1962, has previously housed a high school and a middle school.  A realignment of the grades within Muscle Shoals City Schools took place in the school year 1999-2000 with the completion of a new high school.  The middle school, which had been housed at what is now McBride Elementary, was moved to the former high school building and includes grades 6-8.  Grade five remained at McBride and grades 3 and 4 were moved from the two elementary schools (Highland Park and Webster).  This left grades 1-2 at each of the lower elementary schools.  We also have a Pre-school Center, Howell Graves, located directly behind the Central Office on Wilson Dam Highway.

Currently at McBride we have 648 students with 10 sections of grade 3, and 9 sections each of grades 4 and 5.  Students attend school 178 days per year, 3 days beyond what is required by the State of Alabama.  The length of the school day is 7:45 a.m. until 2:45 p.m.  The school offers breakfast for students beginning at 7:15 a.m. and also has available an extended day program after school.  Students are transported by parents to and from school. However, buses owned by the school are used for student transportation to school sponsored events and field trips.

The student/teacher ratios for McBride Elementary are as follows: Third Grade – 21:1, Fourth Grade – 24:1,

Fifth Grade 26:1.  There are two administrators, principal, Judy Freeze and assistant principal, Jenny Lawler.  There is one full-time counselor serving our entire student population at McBride.

Curriculum offerings include Reading, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Language, and Character Education.  In addition students participate in lessons in the following areas: counselor, art, music and library.  The percentage of students who are provided services in compensatory programs is 0.06% and we have 3 students who are identified for ESL services.  Thirty-six students participate in a language or math program with a certified full-time intervention aid.  This teacher reinforces skills and concepts taught in the classroom and works closely with classroom teachers to assess students’ progress.

Last year Children’s First Funds provided after-school tutoring and summer school for students who needed additional reinforcement in basic skills.

Seventy-four percent of teaching and administrative staff hold advanced degrees with a combined 607 years teaching experience.  Muscle Shoals City Schools receive $4,129.71 per pupil from the state.  Muscle Shoals City provides $1,763.79 per pupil.  In addition students who are nonresidents of Muscle Shoals City must apply and be accepted for admission.  Tuition for these students is $250 per semester.

Safety is a priority at McBride Elementary.  Each teacher has a designated folder (red) which contains emergency dismissal forms, student list and phone numbers, emergency evacuation procedures, and a map of areas for fire and tornado drills.  Students participate in fire and tornado drills periodically.  Teachers are familiar with levels of security outlined in a “Code” folder and there is also a Safety Manual easily accessible in the school office.  The Board of Education purchased a defibrillator for use in each school and provided training on its use.  In addition, medication training was provided for designated faculty to administer medications when necessary.  Annual medical awareness training is administered by the school nurse.

4.       Stakeholder Perspectives on the Quality of Education

McBride Elementary School utilized the National Study of School Evaulation Opinion Inventories to gather the opinions of students, teachers, parents and community members about the quality of education at our school.  A comparison of their opinions on seven common items in the Opinion Inventories is illustrated in Table 5.  The items common to the Opinion Inventories that include student, teacher, parent, and community surveys are listed below. 

1.  The educational program offered to students is of high quality.

2.  Students see a relationship between what they are studying and their lives.

3.  Our school is preparing students to deal with issues and problems they will face in the future.

4.  Teachers hold high expectations for student learning.

5.  The school’s facilities are adequate to support the instructional program.

6.  At our school students have access to a variety of resources to help them succeed in their learning, such as technology, media centers, and libraries.

7.  Our school provides students and teachers with a safe and orderly environment for learning.

The surveys revealed the following findings:

·       Students ranked all of the common survey items lower than parents, teacher, and community members.

·       Teachers ranked the first two common survey items and the fourth common survey item higher than students, parents, and community members.  However, teachers also ranked the fifth and sixth common items lower than parents and community members.

·       Two common survey items which were ranked highest by all groups were items number one and four.

Report of the Profile Data

The data collected for the profile is summarized in the following tables and figure:

Table 1                               Free and Reduced Lunch Data

Table 2                               Student Demographic Data

Table 3                               Student Performance Data (SAT)

Table 4                               Student Performance Data (Writing)

Table 5                               Comparison of McBride Elementary

                                           School’s Students, Teachers, Parents

                                           and Community Members’ Opinions

                                           Based on the NSSE’s Opinion

                                           Inventories

Table 5

Comparison of Student, Parent, Teacher, Community Opinions Based on the NSSE Opinion Inventories

*The data below is an average score of all responses

McBride Elementary School – 2004-2005