• PARCC Scores - English/Language Arts and Math (Elementary grades 3-5)

Key Challenge #2: Reading

Students in grades 3-5 need improvement on reading achievement as evidenced by the PARCC ELA/Literacy Assessment.  The percentage of third and fourth grade students who met or exceeded expectations on PARCC has decreased over the past three years. While the percentage of fifth grade students who met or exceeded expectations on PARCC increased from 2015-2016 to 2017-2018, there is still room for improvement. 

Despite our effort to build teachers’ capacity to implement a balanced reading program, an increase in student enrollment, changes in staffing, and novice teachers who are learning to teach reading skills are all factors that impact our students’ progress in reading. Additional factors include students entering school below grade level from other districts and students who speak languages other than English. As a result of the MSDE Comprehensive Literacy Grant, we will have a literacy intervention teacher on staff to help address this challenge.

Key Challenge #3:    Math

Students in grades 3-5 need improvement on math achievement as evidenced by the PARCC Mathematics Assessment. The percentage of students who met or exceeded expectations on PARCC has decreased at all grade levels since the 2015-2016 school year.

An increase in student enrollment, changes in staffing, and novice teachers are all factors that impact our students’ progress in mathematics. There is a need to focus on the Standard for Mathematical Practice 3: Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others.   In previous years, we have worked on students using manipulatives and modeling. As we move forward, there is a need for students to explain their thinking and to discuss how they solved problems. This will help students increase their understanding on why and how they are solving math problems.  (Indicators 1, 3).

• Socio-Economic Issues (employment, income levels, housing costs)
• Families in Crisis (mental, physical emotional, financial)

• Significant increase/reduction in student enrollment numbers

Key Challenge #1:  Significant increase in student enrollment

Over the past ten years, Overlook’s school enrollment has nearly doubled from 10 classroom teachers with 217 students in 2008-2009 to a projected 19 classroom teachers with 420 students in 2019-2020. Fortunately, as student enrollment has increased so has our staffing, but this has led us to have less space available for classrooms. Additionally, enrollment continues to fluctuate from year to year, which impacts the number of teaching positions at each grade level. For example, Overlook was allotted three Kindergarten classrooms in previous years; however, during the 2018-2019 school year, we had five Kindergarten classrooms due to a higher number of students at that grade level. Next year, depending on enrollment, some of those Kindergarten teachers may have to shift to teaching a different grade. While our teachers are dedicated to their craft and their students, it does take time for them to master all the content taught in different levels of the elementary classroom.

Another effect of the increase in student enrollment is an increase in the number of new teachers. During the 2018-2019 school year, we had 11 teachers who were new to Overlook and 12 teachers with less than five years of teaching experience. During the 2019-2020 school year, we will have 11 teachers who are new to Overlook, two of whom are beginning teachers, and 10 teachers who have less than five years of teaching experience. (Indicators 1, 2, 3). To help address this challenge, our new teachers will meet regularly with their district-based Right Start Advisors, as well as participate in monthly beginning teacher meetings with our staff new teacher liaison as well as RSA’s.