Plattsburg High School

School Information

School Name: Plattsburg High School
School Address: P.O. Box 287 Plattsburg, MO 64477
School Phone: 816.539.2184
School Fax: 816.539.3315
Principal: Kenneth J. Tongue
Principal E-Mail: ktongue@ccr3.k12.mo.us
Web Address: http://ccr3.k12.mo.us/cchs/

Demographics

Number of Students: 241
Number eligible for Free and Reduced Lunch: 24%
Percent of Limited English Proficient: 0%
Percent of Special Education: 10.63%
Racial/Ethnic Percentages:

• White:  90.3%
• Black:  5.9%
• Hispanic: 2.8%
• Asian/Pacific Island:  0%
• Other:  1%

 

Student Achievement Data

 

 

 

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

The above data is the result of three assessments administered to the students at varying grade levels at Plattsburg High School;   the ACT (a national college test) and two Missouri assessments (Missouri Assessment Program – MAP and End-of-Course - EOC).  The ACT is a voluntary test given to juniors and seniors.  The MAP test was administered up to 2008 to specific grade levels, while the EOC replaced the MAP and has been implemented the past two years to those students successfully completing Algebra I, English II, and Biology I.  Since the EOC was also given to ENG I and Geometry for the first time this past spring, there is no longitudinal data. 

The data shows that PHS has been above the state targets in both Math and Communication Arts for all reported years but two and one respectively.  In 2008, we fell almost 11% below the target in communication arts and 24% below in Math in 2009.  The average ACT composite scores reflected only slight changes the past five years and are currently under the state average by .5 pts.

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

Starting the PLC process at Plattsburg High School has created positive change in our district. Over the past 8years, we as a staff have made great improvements in student learning. Through collaboration and handling issues as a team, we have been able to direct our focus on what’s important and create a plan bound by data to reach our goals. This PLC process has produced a K-12 Professional Learning Community within our district that works together, not only vertically, but horizontally as well. By bringing all 3 of our buildings on board, we have created an Instructional Leadership Team, (ILT), which incorporates team leaders from each building for the purpose of overseeing district goals and professional development. The ILT insures a K-12 common focus in student learning, and communicates that focus district wide.

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

1. Monitoring student learning on a timely basis.

We are a small rural high school in Missouri, and through our PLC, we have established a Fine & Practical Arts collaborative team, and 4 core collaborative teams.” Each team works on analyzing test data and determines what process standards need improvement. Core teams then come together and share their findings, look for similarities and weaknesses that are common to all teams and content areas, and develop a plan of action for improvement. Student progress is then monitored throughout the year. We have also implemented 3 other collaborative teams we call “Focus Groups.”  These Focus groups are teams that promote building climate, student achievement, and plan other activities for student growth. 

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

Collaboration through our PLC Teams has led us in a very positive direction when it comes to intervention and student support. One of the best student support systems and interventions we have started in our high school is our freshman mentoring program; “Tiger Fly.” In-coming freshman are placed in groups with other freshman and a junior and senior mentor. These junior and senior mentors work with their freshman groups for the entire school in a very organized and structured program that is designed to promote student success.

Advisory time has also been implemented into the school day as an intervention for student learning. A 28 minute period per day is structured to allow students to get extra help with their class work, read AR books, do homework assignments, and work on class projects that need to be completed. We have also added “Core RTI” classes within this Advisory period.  Students that fall below 70% on benchmark tests are assigned to RTI classes for additional help to master the standards they are missing. This Advisory period allows students to get the extra help needed to be successful during the school day.

3. Building the capacity of teachers to work as members of high performing collaborative teams who focus the efforts of their team on improved learning for students.

This is an area that we continue to improve in from year to year. We have a building Leadership Team that meets 2 times a month. Members of the Leadership Team are made up from representatives of each of the Core Collaborative Teams. Collaborative Teams work on identified SMART Goals and other items for student learning. The building administration oversees the Leadership Team and agendas and minutes of each meeting is kept in team manuals. The Leadership team and Collaborative Teams meet together every month to share progress on identified goals.

As mentioned above, we have added an “Instructional Leadership Team”, (ILT), made up of Leadership Team Members from each building in our district K-12.  This team oversees the district focus and professional development so that all teams work collaboratively together to reach and implement district goals. 

List awards and recognitions your school has achieved

In 2006, Plattsburg High School was awarded a Most-Improved Schools Award in Missouri. This award is for schools that have a high number of students moving into the “Proficient” and “Advanced” levels. (Percentage increase from 2001 administration to 2005). Plattsburg High School’s percentage change was 17.1 while the state average was 3.9. This award was for Grade 10 Math. The Clinton County R-III School District has also received the highest accreditation in the state of Missouri, that being “Accredited with Distinction “in 2007, 2009, and 2010.