EQUITY EXPRESS FAST FACT: Middle Schools Show How All Students Can Succeed
Effective practices shape student outcomes—regardless of race.
What separates higher performing from lower performing schools? A schoolwide focus on improving academic outcomes for all students, suggests a new study by EdSource, "Gaining Ground in the Middle Grades: Why Some Schools Do Better." Other practices distinguishing these California middle schools include the following:
- preparing all students for a rigorous high school education and beyond;
- setting measurable goals for gains on standards-based assessment;
- holding superintendents, administrators, and teachers accountable for student gains;
- identifying and intervening early with struggling students; and
- using data to monitor student progress and improve teacher practice.
Similarly, educators at Port Chester Middle School in New York have built a culture of achievement. Their results show it. In 2008, a higher percentage of the school's eighth-grade Latino students (83 percent) met state math standards than their counterparts statewide (55 percent). The lesson: When adults improve practice, instruction, and expectations, students rise to high levels of achievement.
Check out "How It's Being Done: Urgent Lessons from Unexpected Schools" for powerful examples of schools providing strong academic opportunities for all students.
