Canaan Middle School

School Information

School Name: Canaan Middle School
District Name: Jonathan Alder Local School District
School Address:  7055 US Route 42, Plain City, OH 43064
School Phone: 614.733.3975
School Fax: 614.733.3972
Principal: Christopher Piper
Principal E-Mail: piperch@alder.k12.oh.us
Web Address: http://www.alder.k12.oh.us/metadot/index.pl?id=1751

Demographics

Number of Students:  315
Number eligible for Free and Reduced Lunch: 21%
Percent of Limited English Proficient: <1%
Percent of Special Education:  10%
Racial/Ethnic Percentages:

• White: 97%
• Black: 1.5%
• Hispanic: 1.5%
• Asian/Pacific Island: <1%
• Other: <1%

 

Student Achievement Data:

 

	% Students Passing (School/State)
Grade 6	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08	2008-09	Value Added
Math	84.7/68.4	93.4/74	95.5/76.6	93.3/75	Composite Above Years Growth
Reading	89/83.6	89.8/77.7	90.3/79.7	88.7/82	Composite Above Years Growth

 

	% Students Passing (School/State)
Grade 5	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08	2008-09	Value Added
Math	81.1/62.7	83.5/61.2	85.5/61.8	76.9/62	Composite Above Years Growth
Reading	82.5/75.3	83.5/80	89/72.7	76.9/72	Composite Above Years Growth
Science		85/68	86.2/66.4	81.8/70	Composite Above Years Growth
Social Studies		82/57.9	84.1/64.8	82.5/61	Composite Above Years Growth

 

Please comment on any aspect of the data that you believe is particularly significant.

We have made great strides with our special education population by implementing a full inclusion model and collaboration. Even though most of our students with disabilities are also our students on Free and Reduce Lunch, our high expectations, full inclusion, additional intervention time and systematic monitoring of student learning has helped our student learn at higher levels.

		Reading % Passing	Math % Passing
05-06	5th	23.1	0
	6th	27.3	0
06-07	5th	41.2	58.8
	6th	61.5	61.5
07-08	5th	66.7	58.3
	6th	71.4	85.7
08-09	5th	50.0	44.4
	6th	50.0	80.0

Although our school ranks among the lowest in per pupil expenditure, our achievement scores at 5th and 6th grade and value added data rank among the best in Central Ohio. We have also focused our efforts on increasing the number of students who score advanced and/or accelerated on the Ohio Achievement Assessments. The last three years we have had over 70% of our 6th grade Math students scored advanced or accelerated and our Performance Index (formula for scoring students Basic, Limited, Proficient, Accelerated and Advance) has remained at over 100 each year.

 

Please present additional information that indicates your efforts to build a professional learning community have had a positive impact on students and/or teachers.

When we started in 2005 our school ranked 601 out of the 612 schools in Ohio in per pupil expenditure. “A lack of resources is not an excuse for lack of rigor,” Jim Collins. We have had over 30 districts and schools visit our school the last two years. We have only three priorities for our building that we monitor: 1. High student learning for all students, 2. Effective and timely intervention, and 3. Productive collaboration and team growth. Each priority has specific goals that we measure.

We monitor student learning with common assessments, short cycle assessments, OAT results, value added data and other formative assessments.

We monitor effective and timely intervention with formative assessments, common assessments, student surveys (was intervention meaningful and engaging?) and OAT/Value Added results.

We monitor team collaboration and team growth with surveys several times during the year (Norms, Time, Trust, etc.)

 

Please elaborate strategies you have found to be effective in the following areas:

1. Monitoring student learning on a timely basis.

We use a Diamond of Intervention to focus on all students, especially students on “watch list.” Every three weeks we meet to discuss students’ progress. We have common and short cycle assessments (Teacher created) in every subject. After an assessment, teachers are released the next day from teaching responsibilities for collaborative scoring and reviewing student work. Teachers discuss what students have mastered or not for possible re-teaching and/or intervention strategies.

2. Creating systems of intervention to provide students with additional time and support for learning.

A. We have two intervention periods per week, which are dynamic. Every 2-3 weeks, students struggling will be assigned intervention based on new data.

B. We have five “No New Instruction” periods per week where students are assigned extra Math, Reading or enrichment.

3. Building teacher capacity to work as members of high performing collaborative teams that focus efforts on improved learning for all students.

Principal has attended two sessions from Adaptive Schools (Bob Garmston). Teachers have developed collaborative norms, individual and team goals, and have 8 collaborative planning periods per week. We have 1 hour of professional development per week as negotiated by the teacher contract with 4 early releases during the year.

 

List awards and recognitions your school has achieved:

• 2009 Ohio Hall of Fame School
  One of eight schools recognized by the Ohio Association of Elementary School Administrators.
• 2009 Featured School in Columbus Monthly March 2009 Issue
  School was one of three public schools in Central Ohio chosen for a personal article.
• 2009 National and Ohio Schools to Watch Canaan Middle School, Plain City, Ohio
  Recognized in 2007 and 2008.
• 2009 & 2008 Battelle for Kids High Progress Award
  Ranked in the top 3% of the schools in Ohio (top 20 out of 672 eligible) for high value added data.
• 2009 Excellent with Distinction Canaan Middle School, Plain City, Ohio
  Only 4% of school buildings in Ohio received such a distinction. Received top rating (Excellent) in 2006, 2007 and 2008 as well.