Mr. David Woolly, Superintendent P. 0. Box 2359 Alma, AR 72921 Document Generated On October 22, 2012
TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction 1 Description of the School System 2 System's Purpose 3 Notable Achievements and Areas of Improvement 4 Additional Information 5
Introduction Every school system has its own story to tell. The context in which teaching and learning takes place influences the processes and procedures by which the school system makes decisions around curriculum, instruction, and assessment. The context also impacts the way a school system 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 system, and the kinds of programs and services that a school system implements to support student learning. The purpose of the Executive Summary (ES) is to provide a school system with an opportunity to describe in narrative form the strengths and challenges it encounters. By doing so, the public and members of the community will have a more complete picture of how the school system perceives itself and the process of self-reflection for continuous improvement. This summary is structured for the school system to reflect on how it provides teaching and learning on a day to day basis. Page 1
Description of the School System Describe the school system'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 system serves? System Executive Summary The is located in Alma, Arkansas, fifteen miles east of Fort Smith and the Oklahoma state line. The area's population continues to grow at a rate higher than the average in the state and according to the latest census the population of the city of Alma is 5,419. The population of Alma has increased 30.3% since the last census. The per capita income individuals living in the city of Alma is $15,828($20,977-state) with the median household income being $30,170($38,542-state). The latest census statistics also report that the city's "people of all ages in poverty" is 27.4% as compared to the state rate of 17.7%. The district consists of Alma Primary School(K-2), Alma Intermediate School(3-5), Alma Middle School(6-8) and Alma High School(9-12). In addition, the Alma Opportunity School, an alternative school setting, is located on a different site from the other school buildings. A steady increase in student population had been the norm for the up until the 2010-11 school year, when the district began to experience and leveling or small reduction in the number of students enrolled. This pattern is reflected below: 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 1011-12 2012-13 Enrollment 3140 3276 3310 3415 3387 3451 3437 3398 3379 Other demographics of interest may be found in the representations below: DISTRICT ETHNICITY Asian.4% African American 2.5% Hispanic 3% Native American 1.5% Caucasian 92.6% LUNCH STATUS Free/Reduced Lunch 53.4% Paid Lunch 46.6% The increase in the number of students qualifying for free and reduced lunches during the past few years presents a challenge to the district as it strives to meet the needs of students because of their low income levels. Page 2
System's Purpose Provide the school system's purpose statement and ancillary content such as mission, vision, values, and/or beliefs. Describe how the school system embodies its purpose through its program offerings and expectations for students. The revised its purpose statement during the past school year through a process involving various stakeholders in an effort to receive necessary input in developing a statement that would reflect the needs and wishes of the community. This statement is included below: MISSION STATEMENT FOR ALMA SCHOOL DISTRICT Preparing students to be lifelong learners who positively contribute to society is the mission of the. VISION STATEMENT FOR ALMA SCHOOL DISTRICT The vision of is to see each student reach his/her highest potential. Students will feel safe and cared for in every building as they participate in a rigorous and relevant curriculum. Students will use innovative technology and other educational resources to meet high expectations while having the opportunity to succeed academically and in extracurricular activities. Staff members will also meet high expectations and be highly qualified professionals in both content and pedagogy. Parents and community members will be involved and act as contributing members of the school system. With the support of all stakeholders, students will be productive members of society. This mission and vision statement reflects the philosophy of the as it works diligently to provide the appropriate learning experiences for all students regardless of their background and demographics. The staff is continuously looking for ways to improve the instructional program at the building level and seeking resources that will assist in meeting the needs of each student enrolled in the district. In addition to the excellent instructional program in core content areas, this desire is reflected in the many programs employed in the district that meet the needs of individuals such as through programs for students with disabilities, extended day tutoring/instructional programs, extracurricular activities, arts and sports programs and instructional intervention systems. A variety of interesting activities are available to all students to encourage them in developing their interests and talents that will enable them to be productive citizens. Page 3
Notable Achievements and Areas of Improvement Describe the school system's notable achievements and areas of improvement in the last three years. Additionally, describe areas for improvement that the school system is striving to achieve in the next three years. During the past three years, with the assistance of the International Center for Leadership in Education's consultants, the district has been able to involve more individuals in the needs assessment and planning for improvement than in the past. With this valuable input, the district's improvement planning process has been more reflective of the needs of the community and the students. The incorporation of the Common Core State Standards in the curriculum and instructional programs, the attention has focused upon the learning needs of all students. As a result the state required testing results reflects an increase in learning in most areas of the curriculum and student population. The district continues to outpace the state in the average ACT scores for its students. Many of the students compete and are recognized in state and national competitions in academic, as well as extracurricular areas. The district has been able to update its technology program through the addition of such items as Promethean boards, additional computer hardware and software programs that assists in the delivery of an effective instructional program. 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. It is the intent of the to continue its goal of providing the best possible learning experiences for all students and it will continue to seek additional funding and other resources that will enable it to improve its programs. Technology improvements will continue to be strong goal of the district with an even greater emphasis placed upon the appropriate training for the staff in using the technology in a more effective manner to benefit the students. Professional development opportunities that are designed to meet the needs of staff and students will be a major emphasis in the near future. Needs assessments, test data and results of surveys will be used to develop professional development plans and opportunities for staff to receive the necessary training and experiences needed to provide for students with multiple needs. Page 5