• Attendance Rates
• Discipline Rates
• Numbers of 504 students
• Numbers of FARMS students
• LEP (Limited English Proficiency) students
• Special Education student enrollment
• Quarterly Assessments scores - Mathematics
• PARCC Scores - Mathematics (Elementary grades 3, 4, 5)
• PARCC Scores - English/Language Arts (Elementary grades 3, 4, 5)

Key Challenge #1:  PARCC Scores - English/Language Arts and Mathematics (Elementary grades 3-5)

We have been working to increase student reading comprehension. Continued progress monitoring throughout the school year, has helped our teachers track our student data more closely and to be responsive to their needs. Despite all of this, some of our students (e.g. special education, 504, FARMS, ELL) continue to struggle with reading on grade level text, and this impacts their ability to comprehend. Data analysis shows that students in grades 2-5 have difficulty progressing to the next level of text largely because they struggle with comprehension.  Data supports that students reading below grade level on the Benchmark Assessment System by Fountas and Pinnell score in the “did not meet expectations or partially meeting expectations” range on PARCC. We also discovered that despite our interventions, student subgroups continued to struggle on math assessments. We noted significant gaps in our African American, FARMS, English Learner and Special Education students PARCC scores for both English and Math assessments. Data analysis shows that our students struggle with problem solving, specifically complex tasks such as multi-step problems [Indicators 5, 6]

While there have been many strategies reviewed to address reading comprehension difficulties, we have seen success using anchor charts, conferencing tailored to individual student needs, interactive read aloud, explicit comprehension lessons, and writing across content areas. Improving student reading levels, building perseverance and stamina should encourage students to meet success on text-evidence based questions.  [Indicators 5, 6]

In math there have been many strategies reviewed to address problem solving difficulties, we have seen success using number sense routines, math fact fluency, manipulatives, anchor charts, explicit instruction, small group instruction, and active engagement strategies.  Building perseverance and stamina should help students demonstrate their understanding of the concept or justify their response. Students also need continued support in test-taking strategies to eliminate tricky answer choices and focus on the best answer. [Indicator 6]

• Families in Crisis (mental, physical emotional, financial)

• Significant changes over time in student/community demographics

Key Challenge #2:  Significant changes over time in student/community demographics

Over the past several years, the number of military families enrolling in our school has increased.  Four Seasons is sensitive to the needs and expectations of a transient military population, which has increased to almost 20%.   Many of these students have attended different schools within the same year or gone to numerous schools in their elementary career. Students who remain at the same school generally meet with greater success. Students who move frequently and switch between school systems may not receive consistent access to comprehensive, well-designed instructional programs making it difficult to maximize the benefits of such programs.

Additionally, we have had an increase in special education enrollment. Many of our special education students are reading significantly below grade level. While they make progress, many of these students continue to perform below grade level for standards in reading and math. [Indicators 5, 6]