Escambia County Board of Education Mr. James D. Fuqua, Principal 1215 South Presley Street Atmore, AL 36502-3299 Document Generated On October 6, 2014
TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction 1 Description of the School 2 School's Purpose 3 Notable Achievements and Areas of Improvement 4 Additional Information 5
Introduction Every school has its own story to tell. The context in which teaching and learning takes place influences the processes and procedures by which the school makes decisions around curriculum, instruction, and assessment. The context also impacts the way a school stays faithful to its vision. Many factors contribute to the overall narrative such as an identification of stakeholders, a description of stakeholder engagement, the trends and issues affecting the school, and the kinds of programs and services that a school implements to support student learning. <br><br> The purpose of the (ES) is to provide a school with an opportunity to describe in narrative form the strengths and challenges it encounters. By doing so, the public and members of the school community will have a more complete picture of how the school perceives itself and the process of self-reflection for continuous improvement. This summary is structured for the school to reflect on how it provides teaching and learning on a day to day basis. Page 1
Description of the School Describe the school's size, community/communities, location, and changes it has experienced in the last three years. Include demographic information about the students, staff, and community at large. What unique features and challenges are associated with the community/communities the school serves? is located within the city limits of Atmore, Alabama. We are part of the Escambia County Public School System, and are classified as a 5A, Title I school. Our current enrollment for the 2014-15 school year stands at 515 students. Of that number, 47 students (9%) are American Indian, 382 students (74%) are Black, 78 students (15%) are White, 3 students (.5%) are Hispanic, 3 students (.5%) are Asian, and 2 students (.3%) classified themselves as Multi-Racial. 83% of the students at ECHS are on Free or Reduced Lunch, qualifying us for Title I funds. ECHS is proud to hold the title of the first public high school in the state of Alabama. There are five public schools located in Atmore, all part of the Escambia County School District. Rachel Patterson Elementary, Huxford Elementary, AC Moore Elementary, and Escambia County Middle School all feed in to. Atmore is a small city (population 10,147 (2011-US Census Bureau) surrounded by a large area of rural communities with their own identities. Atmore is a city in Escambia County, Alabama, United States. The city has a culture similar to its neighboring metropolitan of Mobile, Alabama. Atmore is in the planning stages to increase its economic base with additions in its new Rivercane development along the I-65 corridor. The federally recognized Poarch Band of Creek Indians is also headquartered in Atmore. The Holman Correctional Facility of the Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) is in unincorporated southwestern Escambia County, 9 miles (14 km) north of Atmore. Holman has a male death row and the State of Alabama execution chamber. In addition Fountain Correctional Facility is about 7 miles (11 km) north of Atmore, in an unincorporated area. Atmore is governed by a mayor and members of a city council elected from five districts within the city. Page 2
School's Purpose Provide the school's purpose statement and ancillary content such as mission, vision, values, and/or beliefs. Describe how the school embodies its purpose through its program offerings and expectations for students. The Mission of is to develop students who are literate, self-disciplined, tolerant, and productive members of society. Academic, vocational, and technological experiences are provided to all students within a safe learning environment Page 3
Notable Achievements and Areas of Improvement Describe the school's notable achievements and areas of improvement in the last three years. Additionally, describe areas for improvement that the school is striving to achieve in the next three years. has seen its shares of ups and downs over the last three years, with improvement on the Graduation rate between the 2010-11 and 2011-12 school years. Though the numbers declined in the 2012-13 and 2013-14 school years, they were still higher than they had been in the previous years. Attendance prospects are anticipated to improve in the upcoming year, as ECHS will continue utilize the School Cast system to notify parents if a student is absent from or tardy to school. This, along with the use of the truancy diversion program, is designed to discourage absenteeism. Additionally, the implementation of a school-wide discipline plan should improve overall climate. A fully integrated technology initiative is also being planned over the next three years to improve all students learning experience. With the new End of Course Assessments, ACT requirements, and the CCRS, ECHS looks ahead to the new year with high hopes for the students to again make significant academic gains through 2017. Page 4
Additional Information Provide any additional information you would like to share with the public and community that were not prompted in the previous sections. boasts an abundance of athletic, academic, and artistic opportunities for all students: ECHS is the only high school in Escambia County with its own Career Technical school. Business Technology, Hospitality and Tourism, Welding, Cosmetology, Health Science, and Carpentry are all offered to the students right on campus. The Atmore Rotary Club has started a new program, the Interact program, made up of 20 upperclassmen who are identified as students who will make a positive difference in the community. Dual Enrollment opportunities are abundant for students, both on and off campus. The newest program is Industrial Maintenance Technology through Jefferson Davis Community College. These services are free, and transportation is provided. Our marching band continuously receives high ratings in competitions. At the Andalusia contest, they received all "Superior" ratings, as well as "Best in Class" Drum Major and "Best in Class" Drumline. This is the second consecutive contest that these ratings have been received. The Lady Devils Volleyball team has a winning record this year, placing second in the County Tournament and second in a tournament in Excel. They are undefeated in Area 2, and are expected to finish in first place. Our PTO works side-by-side with school officials to support the staff and students of ECHS. Many fundraising opportunities are sponsored by the PTO for this purpose. Page 5