Promoting Academic Success through Community Partnerships
Story posted June 6, 2008
Results:
• 79% of students improved their academic performance
• 87% of students increased state benchmark scores in reading
• 76% of students increased state benchmark scores in math
Historically, George Middle School (a very diverse school with 87% of students eligible for free or reduced lunch) has been known as one of the lower performing schools in the state. Now, after becoming a community school, the school is showing steady growth on academic indicators. In particular, student test scores are at or above the state average. Multnomah County's Schools Uniting Neighborhoods (SUN) initiative, together with the school's lead agency, Metropolitan Family Service (MFS), have been instrumental in providing the supports and resources necessary to make this happen.
Middle school is a particularly rough time for many young people, but George is using its community connections to make sure its students do not get discouraged. Teachers help their students understand abstract concepts by emphasizing how these concepts relate to students' lives. The school includes a strong focus on environmental education, integrating work in a garden with lessons in technology. Students take a scientific approach to gardening, gathering and analyzing data from the garden in Excel spread sheets to help them grow plants. Math and science classes incorporate data from the garden project.
George also provides daily activities before and after school, including an after-school meal through a partnership with the Federal Supper Club Program, intensive tutoring, SUN Power Hour Study Hall, keyboarding, and various sports and other fun activities such as drama, art, dance classes, martial arts, drumming, dodge ball, and cooking.
George offers a comprehensive family support services through a partnership with Touchstone, a county-funded program that provides case management for families. Touchstone and the school connect families to social services, skill-building workshops, and alcohol and drug treatment referrals. In addition, George SUN Community School has recently joined with the University of Oregon in establishing a family resource center at the school. Cascadia and Lifeworks Northwest provide free mental health services to students and families. Multnomah County School-Based Health Clinic provides free health care.
Not only can George offer all these services--due in large part to its relationship with SUN--it also has established policies and procedures to coordinate these services and guide the work of partners. Key coordination components include:
George SUN Community School is now known throughout the community as an access point for social services, and it can boast great success in providing those services. Ninety-six per cent of clients achieved permanent housing by the time they left case management services. Sixty-nine per cent completed a majority of their case plan goals before they left.
The program can also point to impressive academic results for George's students. Seventy-nine per cent have improved their academic performance, and 82% have improved in their attitude toward school. In addition, 87% of students increased their benchmark scores in reading, and 76% increased scores in math.
Before George was a community school, its students faced obstacles that some found insurmountable. Today, students have been given another option-a different place to go. The school has evolved into a caring community for students.
For additional information, please contact:
Todd Diskin
SUN Site Manager, George Middle School
toddd@metfamily.org
This story came to LFA's attention for after being honored with a 2006 Community Schools National Award for Excellence, presented by the Coalition for Community Schools.
Story reposted with permission from the Coalition for Community Schools
Photos courtesy of Coalition for Community Schools and George Middle School Brochure
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