Dr. K. David Smith, Superintendent 35 Eagle Drive Farmville, VA 23901 Document Generated On March 14, 2013
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? operates one elementary school, one middle school and one high school, which includes a Career Technical Education Center, and one alternative school (New Horizon Academy) that serves at risk students in Prince Edward Middle and High Schools. Prince Edward Elementary and Prince Edward Middle are School Wide Title I schools. Over the past decade, the school division enrollment has declined: approximately 500 students between fall 2002 and fall 2011 (VDOE Fall Membership Reports online). A review of live birth rates for Prince Edward County from 1999-2010 shows a consistent rate of 195 to 211 live births per year with the exception of two years (Source: Live Births by Planning District; VA Department of Health on line). Using a birthcohort-to-kindergarten model to estimate numbers of children born who enter pre-school and kindergarten at the appropriate age, shows percentages between 85 percent and 100 percent of children born in the county enrolling in the public schools for the pre-school/early elementary years. There are other excellent private and public educational institutions in Prince Edward, in addition to. Prospect Christian Academy (private K-12 grade); Tri-County Life Learners (non-profit literacy organization); Fuqua Schools (pre-k through 12 grade independent school); Southside Virginias Community College (public, co-ed college); Longwood University (public, co-ed university); Hampden-Sydney College (private liberal arts college for men). After the elementary school years, factors that are perceived to affect enrollment loss in the county's schools are related to: 1) student attendance at private schools in the area, 2) increased homeschooling, and, 3) student attendance at public schools outside the county. The County is the primary commerce center for seven counties with a service area of over 150,000. As the home of two outstanding institutions of higher education, Hampden-Sydney College and Longwood University, the community is rich with cultural, commercial and entrepreneurial opportunities. Prince Edward County has a 2,085-acre Enterprise Zone that is poised for business and industry successes (Virginia Economic Development Partnership). Prince Edward County is located near the geographic center of Virginia, known as the Heart of Virginia. The Appomattox River, a tributary of the James River, forms most of the county's northern boundary. Amelia, Lunenburg, Charlotte, and Appomattox Counties form the other boundaries. Sixty two percent of the population in Prince Edward County is White, and 32.3 percent is Black, compared to 71.8 percent White and 20.6 percent Black in Virginia. However, in the student population 57.8 percent is Black and 37.6 percent is White. 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. Mission Our mission is to enable each student to achieve full intellectual, personal, and vocational potential. Vision will be high performing schools of choice that educate a diverse population to be informed, responsible, and 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. In the last 4 years, all schools (elementary, middle and high school) in have been fully accredited by the State of Virginia, with the exception of Prince Edward High School which was Provisionally Accredited in 2011-2012 due to the graduation rate. For 2012-2013 school-year Prince Edward County Public School met Annual Measurable Objectives in mathematics for all sub-groups and achievement gap groups. Students with Disabilities met the FAMO target in mathematics with its 3-year average. In school year 2011-2012 (and Prince Edward High School) did not meet the State's Graduation Completion Index, and was provisionally accredited. In 2012-2013 the school division met (88%) the State's GCI benchmark (85%). 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. revised and updated its Comprehensive Five Year Strategic Plan with the participation of all school division stakeholders. A variety of methods was utilized to ensure that Prince Edward County citizens were knowledgeable of the comprehensive plan update process and had the opportunity to contribute ideas throughout the process. First, Prince Edward Public Schools, with the assistance of the Virginia Association of School Superintendents, conducted a needs assessment. Second, a series of public forums were conducted in strategic locations throughout the county to provide opportunity for all citizens to participate. Third, six working groups representing parents, teachers, business people, leaders of the community, members of the local school board, division- and school-level administrators were assembled to work on strategies to implement the six goals previously identified. Fourth, members of the community were informed using a variety of means prior to discussions held concerning the goals, objectives and strategies in a School Board Meeting. Members of the community were given opportunity to express their opinions in the Public Participation section of the School Board Meeting. Fifth, the goals, objectives and strategies were approved by the School Board. In addition, the school division revised its mission and vision. The six strategic goals that were identified as a result of the above mentioned process are the following: Goal # 1 - To improve academic achievement for all students while closing the achievement gap Goal # 2 - To strengthen home, school, business, and community engagement to advance staff and student achievement Goal # 3 - To ensure that schools are safe, orderly, nurturing and supportive of quality teaching Goal # 4 - To promote a positive, healthy, and inviting school culture conducive to learning Goal # 5 - To optimize effective use and management of operational resources that support teaching and learning Goal # 6 - To hire, support and retain highly qualified teachers and staff Prince Edward County has a rich history. Many sites in the county can be identified to attest to this heritage. A survey done by the Virginia Historic Landmarks Commission listed over 60 historic places. Of these, the following are only but a few: Briery Church - built in 1760 and was the first structure in the county to be listed on the Virginia Historic Register; Hampden-Sydney College - founded in 1776 by Virginia Presbyterians; R. R. Moton School - constructed in 1939 and served as the school for the county's African-American children. In April 1951, the students at the school conducted a "strike" to protest the condition of the school. This walkout was one of the five test cases the U.S. Supreme Court used in its Brown vs. Board of Education case, in which the court ruled separate but equal was not an acceptable method of educating the nation's youth. In response to this decision, the Prince Edward County Board of Supervisors, instead of integrating the schools, closed the schools from 1959 to 1964; Old Prince Edward County Clerk's Office - this building served as the first clerk's office at Prince Edward Courthouse, now known as Worsham. It was built in 1855. It was later used as a public school. Page 5