Each of our schools’ leadership teams analyzed the factors that impact their students’ ability to engage deeply and achieve academic success. They shared stories of their students and families, some of whom are facing serious challenges associated with physical wellness, social-emotional stability, unique learning needs, family security, mental health, violence, and food/housing uncertainties. They discussed the obstacles that their students face daily when preparing to come to school on time, ready to learn.

The High Point staff takes pride in the manner in which we love children. As one staff member recently stated, “We need to love children into success!” Children have many needs, and we endeavor to help every child overcome any issue confronting them. Every day, teachers and staff can be seen cultivating caring relationships with our students and with each other. When we say, “All means all,” we mean it! We strive to learn as much as we can about each and every member of our High Point Family! Our current students, former students, parents, and community members have such positive things to say about the relationships we have forged with them over the years. Students remember that High Point is “where their bright future began.”

Our School Improvement Plan has been crafted to target the needs of our students in an effort to eliminate all gaps in the areas of reading and math. The High Point staff has worked strategically over the past three years to accelerate student achievement in reading. Teachers have executed guided reading groups daily to instruct students at their respective reading level and move them forward. The majority of students have improved drastically, but much work is still needed to elevate all students to benchmark and beyond. In the area of mathematics, intense efforts have included collaborative planning with teachers to identify high-leverage standards, such as basic fact fluency, to plan targeted instruction. Students are encouraged to use manipulatives daily to demonstrate their understanding and their thinking. 

The leadership team in each AACPS school reviewed all of the factors that may influence their students’ engagement and achievement in school; these challenges include academic data elements, community history, and socio-economic aspects of each community. The school’s leadership team identified the following elements as impactful for their students.

READ MORE