STARK COUNTY JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL

402 S. Franklin

Toulon, Illinois 61483

309-286-3451

STARK COUNTY CUSD #100 MISSION STATEMENT

Stark County CUSD #100’s mission is to equally address the educational needs of all students within a safe and nurturing environment, with parental and community involvement, while promoting thinking skills, self esteem and self motivation for lifelong learning to become productive members of society.

EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES

Help the student:

1. prepare for high school;
2. prepare for lifelong learning;
3. prepare to actively participate in local, state, and national government.

SOCIAL OBJECTIVES

Help the student:

1. develop a skill for the use of leisure time;
2. develop knowledge of safety in everyday life;
3. develop citizenship in the following areas: personal conduct, manners, and morals;
4. develop participation in community life;
5. develop good health habits;
6. develop the ability to understand, willingly accept, and carry out responsibility.

VISION STATEMENT

STARK COUNTY JUNIOR HIGH (Grades 6 – 8)

The junior high school is an integral part of grades K-12 but must maintain a separate identity. Administration and staff of the junior high realize and understand the constant physical and social changes of children in this age group and maintain, more importantly, that all children can learn. The junior high should:

1. Provide all students with the opportunity to learn in order to achieve their full potential.
2. Assist the individual child to begin assuming responsibility for his/her actions in becoming a contributing member of society.
3. Provide a broad-based curriculum offering both general education and elective courses. The experiences in these classes should incorporate practical skills for daily living as well as higher level thinking skills.
4. Reflect and reinforce the basic beliefs and values of the community.
5. Encourage an appreciation of aesthetic experiences.
6. Reflect an atmosphere of leadership that strengthens and perpetuates the fundamental democratic concepts.
7. Provide a comfortable and supportive environment for children.

The junior high should be responsible for educating the whole child. Certainly, the basic curriculum should be emphasized, but attention should also be given to co-curricular activities that will expose the student to additional and varied educational experiences.

DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

Stark County CUSD #100, a consolidation in 1992-1993 of the unit districts of Toulon and Wyoming, is located in central Illinois approximately 40 miles north and west of Peoria. The name, Stark County, is somewhat misleading since not all children in Stark County are within District #100 boundaries and some children in Knox and Marshall Counties are.

Ten small towns ranging in sizes from 25 to 1400 comprise the 242 square mile district. These communities are joined by a common school, county governmental organizations, and many civic, fraternal, and social groups. Volunteerism and community involvement abound throughout the county.

The district serves Pre-Kindergarten through 12^th grade students in three buildings on two sites in Wyoming and Toulon. In 2009-2010, the junior high school served 180 students in grades 6 through 8.

There is only one junior high school in District #100. It is small enough to recognize the individual needs of all its students. But, it is also large enough to provide a variety of services to meet their diverse needs. The following agencies and organizations are among those that provide services to the students of the junior high school:

Henry/Stark Special Education Cooperative,

Henry County Youth Services Bureau

Bureau, Henry, Stark Regional Office of Education

Illinois Department of Children and Family Services

Bridgeway

The Stark County News

The Prairie Shopper

The Stark County Education Foundation

Rural Mental Health Association

An active partnership exists between the school and the community. Parents, area business people, and other community members routinely support and generously contribute to the efforts of the school. All stakeholders realize that only working together will Stark County students be prepared for the technical and challenging workplace that waits for them outside the boundaries of Stark County.

School Population: In 2009, 100.0% of junior high students were classified as Caucasian.

Attendance: In 2009, the attendance rate for Stark County Junior High School was 95.1%. This is slightly higher than the state rate of 93.7%. This is consistent with traditionally high attendance rates for the junior high school.

Chronic Truancy: In 2009, the chronic truancy rate for Stark County Junior High School was 1.1%. This is lower than the state rate of 3.7%. Historically, only a few students are chronically truant. However, the truancy of any student is a concern at Stark County, and appropriate steps are taken to attempt to keep these students in school.

Mobility: In 2009, the mobility rate of Stark County Junior High School students was 7.4%. This is significantly lower than the state rate of 13.5%. Student mobility raises certain educational concerns, and these are routinely addressed and met in a variety of ways.

Class Size:

Low Income: In 2009, the rate of low-income students for the entire district was 32.3%. The rate of low-income families for grade 6 through 8 students was 31.6%. Both rates are lower than the 2009 state rate of 42.9%.

State Assessment Data: Each year students in junior high take the ISAT. All students are tested in Reading and Math. 7^th grade students are also tested in Science. 6^th and 8^th grade students are also tested in Writing.

2009 STUDENTS MEETING OR EXCEEDING STATE STANDARDS*	READING	MATH	SCIENCE	WRITING
6th grade	72.7%	80.0%		74.5%
STATE	79.9%	82.4%
7th grade	82.5%	94.7%	94.7%
STATE	77.5%	82.8%	79.5%
8th grade	81.5%	86.2%		50.8%
STATE	83.6%	81.7%

*Complete 2009 results and an analysis of trend data are attached.

THE PLANNING PROCESS

The administration and staff of Stark County Junior High School are continually reviewing programs and the current plan for improvement. Progress toward goals is monitored and adjustments are made as necessary. Formal consideration of annual Internal Review documents and activities normally takes place in August and September by the school’s School Improvement Team. The Team identifies priority goals for the building and plans activities for the new year.

Beginning early in 2009-2010, Principal Mike Domico worked with his entire staff to determine areas of strength and deficiency. Identified areas of deficiency became the targeted goals of this School Improvement Plan.

AREAS OF PLANNED IMPROVEMENT IN 2009-2010

The Stark County Junior High School staff and Principal Domico considered the following data in developing the School Improvement Plan for 2009-2010.

1. 2009 ISAT and PSAE results combined with trend analysis of scores since 1999.

2. 2009 School Report Card data.

3. March 2009 Professional Development Survey.

4. Results of departmental meetings to evaluate programs.

5. Planning for RtI implementation.

Targeted goals for improvement in the 2009-2010 school year are as follows:

GOAL 1: Improve student performance in grades 6 through 8 Reading.

GOAL 2: Improve student performance in grades 6 through 8 Writing.

Planned activities to achieve these goals are attached.