Summary of Educational strengths and challenges
Gill-Montague | Pioneer Valley | |
Strengths | - Enrollment seems to be steady through 8th grade, though drops off at 9th grade. - Low student to teacher ratio (10.6 students to 1 teacher) - High percentage of experienced teachers, 91% teachers - More teachers teaching in their field - More experienced administrators (90%) - Lower per pupil cost - Finances in better shape - More stable financial stream - More stable financial situation - More diverse population , - Turners already has a sixth grade middle school model - Community spirit around sports - Sports eligibility: no F policy -Parents are involved -Strong theater program -Facility and interest in band/music -More stable student population/retention | - MCAS scores meeting and/or exceeding expectations, especially High School scores. - Consistently low drop out rates, over the last 9 years (always below 3%, for the last 4 years below 1%) -Strong attendance - High graduation rates -Dual enrollment at GCC - Pioneer has made substantial progress towards meeting their Accountability Targets. -Accountability score higher - Strong eligibility - Community involvement, support for sports - Sports participation also tied to completion of academic requirements -High student participation in extracurricular activities - Future plans for graduates/plans for advancement in a field part of the culture?? -Strong band fed by elementary band -Stable middle income community |
Challenges | - Chronic Absenteeism seems to be a problem that needs to be addressed - Drop out rate has been inconsistent ranging from 1.2 to 7.9%. - Higher retention rate . - Higher percentage of students with Higher Needs (~ 45%) and that are Economically Disadvantaged (~ 45%) -More poverty in the community, - TFHS has been one of the lowest performing schools in the state, in 2017 ranked in the lowest 20% in the state, and is not NEASC accredited at this time -MCAS scores below the state average
| - Low percentage of experienced administrators only 56.3%. - Marked decrease in enrollment over the last ten years. -Enrollment drops even more at the HS level - Poor financial stability over the last few years,financial challenges - Higher student to teacher ratio - Not reflected in data, but small population makes it difficult to schedule around non-core courses - Lack of student diversity |
Potential Community Concerns:
- Transportation, the length of bus time for High and Middle school students.
- Community feeling lack of local control as district becomes larger.
- Both communities have strong ties to the physical location/building, strong affinity for their individual institution
-.Loss of local identity
- Perception that poverty means families don’t show up/ participate in their children’s education
- Lower income population of Gill Montague/less stable potentially
- Poverty and more students of color in G-M district; Fear of the "other"/racial bias/poverty
- More demands at GM with special ed, ELA, or suspension rates?
- Perception that PVRS is stronger academically
Other questions for the committee to consider:
How do the two schools support students who are struggling, with or without a diagnosis?
Number of students who go on to some advanced learning/ culture around advanced learning
Academic rigor and alignment with core standards
.