We, at Focused Schools, are proud to share the achievements of the amazing schools, districts and educators that take on this incredible work with us. In recent news one of our clients, Mammoth Middle in the Mammoth Unified district, was awarded the designation of a 2019 California Distinguished School.
Taken from the February 25 California Department of Education News Release:
“Located in the rural Eastern Sierra Nevada mountain range, Mammoth Middle school serves just 306 students, 58 percent of whom are classified as socioeconomically disadvantaged, with 12 percent also classified as English Learners. Using a Focused Schools program that began three years ago, the school studied CAASPP and district benchmark data to identify the gaps and had staff create an instructional focus statement. One main goal in the first year was for students to show growth in their ability to read actively and think critically. Students created their kid-friendly version of the focus, which was called “Read Actively, Think Critically, and Strive to Grow.” The school had poster contests, and student winners had their displays in all the classrooms and in the main office. In a later year, the school focused on parent and community engagement. Last year in CAASPP, English Language Arts results increased by 25.1 points, which is seven points above standard. In mathematics results, the school increased overall by 16.4 points but is still 16.1 points below standard. According to the California School Dashboard, the school is still steadily closing the achievement gap and raising performance levels for all students.”
The staff at Mammoth Middle have demonstrated a strong commitment to what truly matters: student success. With this focus, they have been able to transform the way they are educating their student population and the results are easily seen.
State superintendent, Tony Thurmond, had the following to say about the schools included in this year’s list in the news release:
“I would like to commend these schools for fighting for a better future for our students, closing achievement gaps, and improving academic performance,” Thurmond said. “Thanks to teachers, administrators, classified employees, and parents working together, these schools meet the needs of all of their students, provide high-quality educational experiences, and put kids on a pathway to great careers.”
We couldn’t have stated it better.
Check out their website to learn more about Mammoth Middle.
