Achieving Our Goals by MVCSD

Achieving Our Goals... Transformation Ongoing

Dear Families, Our school district too has changed, for the better. Today, our schools are vastly different than they were only a few years ago. Over the last four years, our teachers and administrators have embraced our commitment to change, to improve outcomes for ALL students and to ensure that our students graduate high school, college and career ready. We have seen a marked increase in our students’ performances on state assessments, while simultaneously witnessing a dramatic decrease in school suspensions and an increase in community confidence in our schools. Our recent successes are positive proof that our work is credible and effective. To that end, we are pleased to announce that the strategic goals that have guided our efforts since the 2013-2014 school year have been met. It is an extraordinary moment in our profession to be able to retire these goals to make way for even more ambitious goals. As educators, though, our work is never complete. It is an ongoing process that builds upon previous successes and continuously changes to meet the ever changing needs of our children, our schools and our community. On November 7, 2017, the Board of Education adopted new strategic goals, designed to expand our efforts and build on our success; to raise the bar for students, staff, parents and our community and, most importantly, to preserve the momentum we have achieved. The creation of these goals included an open opportunity for input from all community stakeholders. Over the next phase of our transformation, all of our efforts will be directed toward not only meeting, but exceeding the expectations set forth in the following goals: 1. Ensure the successful implementation of the 20/20 educational vision, which includes district reconfiguration to a PreK-8 model and creation of three high schools of excellence to promote student achievement through an innovative whole school reform initiative. 2. Assess and evaluate existing systems designed to measure student progress for all students. 3. Ensure the successful implementation of the 2016 Bond referendum designed to improve buildings, grounds, facilities and infrastructure to enhance technology. 4. Improve communication and engagement among all stakeholders in an effort to enhance partnerships towards building a stronger school community. We hope that these goals will guide our work as we continue to implement the 20/20 Vision. They will be used to ensure our work is on target and focused on our collective efforts to build a stronger, more distinguished school district. In closing, we thank you for your continued support and confidence in our leadership and our school system. We know that together we can continue our upward momentum and ensure that our students have ALL the tools and support necessary to be successful and continue our transformation. Sincerely,

Dr. Kenneth R. Hamilton Superintendent Mount Vernon City School District

Adriane G. Saunders President Mount Vernon City School District Board of Education

GOAL: Develop and implement a multiyear plan for improving buildings, grounds and facilities, including the exploration of private and public partnerships. 2016 Bond Referendum and 20/20 Vision In March 2016, the voters of Mount Vernon approved a $108 million bond referendum that would fundamentally change education in Mount Vernon for years to come. While not just about brick and mortar projects, the bond supports an academic vision that promotes innovation and student achievement: 1. State-of-the-art science labs in each elementary school to support new Pre-K through 8th grade configuration. 2. Enhanced recreational facilities, including a renovated gymnasium at Mount Vernon High School, new auditorium at Graham Elementary School, new playgrounds at Williams and Pennington elementary schools, thanks in part to a grant from State Sen. Jeffrey Klein. 3. Work has begun on an extension to Pennington School to implement a districtwide transition to universal full day Pre-K- 8th grade schools. 4. Implemented a $44 million Energy Performance Contract (EPC) that will make ALL buildings energy efficient - including new boilers, lights and controls - saving taxpayers millions of dollars in energy costs over the next 20 years. 5. After laying dormant for nearly 10 years and two years of rehabilitation, the pool at Mount Vernon High School officially reopened on Dec. 4, 2017. This was made possible through the work of State Assemblyman J. Gary Pretlow - securing a $1 million grant for this important project.

GOAL: Create systems to promote student achievement and increase outcomes, paying particular attention to subgroups in order to close the achievement gap. Since 2014, the Mount Vernon City School District has renewed its commitment to closing the achievement gap and ensuring that all students receive a rigorous, high quality education that will ensure they graduate college and career ready.

2015-2016 2016-2017 2017-2018

Schools in Good Standing

Focus Schools

Priority Schools

As a result of our efforts, we have seen across-the-board increases in student test scores, proficiency rates and high school graduation rates. While more still needs to be done, the needle is moving in the right direction. We are confident the systems that are in place will result in continued increases in achievement and reductions in achievement gaps among all of our students.

85 percent of the Elementary and Middle Schools increased in ELA proficiency (Levels 3 & 4) ELA PERFORMANCE INDEX ELA Performance Index [District] All Students - Grades 3-8 120 100 80

100

89 71

2013-14

2014-15

60 40 20 2015-16

2016-17

ELA PROFICIENCY RATE BY SCHOOL SCHOOL YEAR 2015 TO SCHOOL YEAR 2017

Name Edward Willams School AB Davis Middle School Benjamin Turner Middle School Holmes School Lincoln School Cecil H Parker School Traphagen School Grimes School Columbus School Hamilton School Rebecca Turner Elementary School Pennington School Graham School

ELA 2015

ELA 2016

ELA 2017

% Level 3&4

6% 11% 14% 10% 16% 26% 9% 18% 25% 26% 34% 38% 24% 41% 46% 12% 17% 28% 25% 32% 34% 10% 21% 20% 10% 19% 19% 12% 21% 28% 8% 26% 47% 23% 36% 32% 11% 14% 16%

Superintendent’s Reading Challenge

8,000 students in the District read more than

156,000 books before the

end of the 2016-17 school year —

6,000 more than the goal set by Superintendent Kenneth R. Hamilton.

Since the reading challenge began, students tested in grades 3-8 were considered proficient — earning a 3 or 4 — on state exams. This has nearly doubled since 2014.

100 percent of the Elementary & Middle Schools increased in Math Proficiency MATH PROFICIENCY RATE Math Proficiency Rate Grades 3-8

23%

25 20 15

Steady Growth of 64%

15%

14%

16%

10 5 2013-14

2014-15 2015-16 Levels 3 & 4

2016-17

MATH PROFICIENCY BY SCHOOL

SCHOOL YEAR 2015 TO SCHOOL YEAR 2017 Name Edward Willams School AB Davis Middle School Benjamin Turner Middle School Holmes School Lincoln School Cecil H Parker School Traphagen School Grimes School Columbus School Hamilton School Rebecca Turner Elementary School Pennington School Graham School

MATH 2015

MATH 2016

MATH 2017

% Level 3&4

3% 1% 5% 23% 27% 12% 36% 14% 10% 20% 14% 24% 10%

2% 3% 8% 19% 40% 15% 31% 19% 14% 22% 26% 22% 7%

8% 9% 9% 21% 44% 27% 32% 23% 25% 39% 40% 26% 11%

We are also seeing steady growth in our English proficiency rate in 3rd through 9th grade. ELA PROFICIENCY RATE Steady Growth of 107%

English Proficiency Rate Grades 3-8 30

27%

23%

20 15

14%

12%

10 5 2013-14

2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 ELA Proficiency Levels 3 & 4

Graduation Rates Since 2014 the Mount Vernon City School District has recommitted itself to ensuring that our students not only graduate high school, but graduate college and career ready. We have seen a steady, consistent increase in graduation rates.

DISTRICT GRADUATION RATE District Graduation Rate [August Accountability Measure] 100 80 60

60.38%

57.65%

2013-14

2014-15

Growth of 18.72%

64.27%

68.44%

2015-16

2016-17

40 20

ENHANCEMENTS TO HIGH SCHOOL GUIDANCE SERVICES 2014 VS. 2017 2013-2014

2016-2017

• 12th-grade students invited to a meeting with their school counselor. • Evening parent information sessions held. • Counselors printed transcripts. • Counselors asked and sought after teachers for letters of recommendation. • Counselors photocopied all supporting documents for each application a student completed.

• 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th grade students and their parents invited to a meeting with their school counselor annually. • Morning and evening parent information sessions were held. • Counselors, teachers and students have Naviance accounts. • Transcripts were available through eSchool 24 hours a day/7 days a week. • Students requested letters of recommendation from their teachers electronically. Teachers uploaded letters of recommendation on Naviance. • Counselors addressed envelopes and mailed out documents. • Counselors, submitted all supporting documents electronically via Naviance for approximately 90 percent of the colleges the students apply to. • Counselors lobbied for fee waivers for student applications. • Fee waivers were available electronically on Naviance for • Nellie Thornton HS hosted a college fair. participating colleges and universities. • No onsite recruitment visits. • Mount Vernon HS and Nellie Thornton HS hosted college fairs. • All three high schools invited colleges in for Application Week (17 colleges offered on-the-spot admissions, over 400 • Counselors attended local college and university applications were completed). information sessions. • Counselors attended local college and university information sessions. • Counselors visited college campuses. • Counselors have desktop computers and Surface Pros.

• Counselors had desktop computers.

Today, more than ever before in history, post-secondary education is critical to a student’s future success, employability and earning potential. Simply put, the more education you have, the more career opportunities will be presented to you. Today, our guidance staff is better equipped than ever before to help our students make the correct choices today to ensure their future success. We have dramatically increased the capacity of our guidance staff to be effective leaders, helping our students and their families navigate through the college admission process and gain acceptance to schools and universities that will best meet their individual needs and goals. Evidence of our efforts can be seen in the change in our college enrollment numbers. We have seen decreases in student enrollments in 2-year colleges, while simultaneously seeing double-digit enrollment increases at 4-year schools.

Post Secondary Plans 2014 vs. 2017

2013- 2016- Percent 2014 2017 Change

MVHS Percentage enrolled at 2 Year:

54.2%

45.6%

-8.6

MVHS Percentage enrolled at 4 Year:

23.3%

36.7%

+13.4

MVHS Percentage enrolled in college:

77.5%

82.3%

+4.8

NTHS Percentage enrolled at 2 Year:

58%

26.8%

-31.2

NTHS Percentage enrolled at 4 Year:

25.2%

63.4%

+37.9

NTHS Percentage enrolled in college:

83.2%

90.2%

MZHS Percentage enrolled in college:

83.4%

83.7%

+.3

Increased Early Enrollment in Living Environment Courses Since 2014-2015, enrollment in 8th grade Living Environment has increased fivefold from only 90 students in 2014-2015 to over 500 students today. This increases the rigor, relevance and motivation of 8th-grade students to take classes that count toward high school graduation. This is significant because it will allow students to complete key high school graduation requirements in 8th grade, clearing the way for more advanced course work and electives in high school.

Establishment of Gifted and Talented Program Nearly 300 students in grades 3-6 now take part in the district’s Gifted and Talented Program. Students from all 11 elementary schools now have the opportunity to take part in enrichment programs designed to expand their world view and provide exciting learning opportunities.

GOAL: Spearhead a rebranding of the District and improve public relations in an effort to restore community confidence in the MVCSD.

We have established and expanded our social media presence. This provides the parents and the community with up-to-the-minute updates and information about our schools, our students and our community. The District has adopted the use of Board Docs to streamline our Board of Education meetings and ensure transparency in our operations. Since its inception in the Fall 2014 we have uploaded almost 10 gigabytes of information, which amounts to nearly 5,500 documents! This means that our community has access to the same information that our trustees have access to (with the exception of documents deemed confidential or privileged by New York State Open Meetings Law).

GOAL: Develop a plan for the implementation of a dynamic music and arts program.

Beginning in 2014, the District re-established a Performing and Visual Arts Program, under the direction of Evelyn Collins. Since its inception, the program has grown to include 155 students in grades 6-8. The program has produced a number of exceptional programs including The Wiz, Dream Girls and Raisin. Additionally, the program has seen the reintroduction of band and orchestral music, African dance and tap dance to the District course catalog. Beginning in the Fall 2018, the Performing and Visual Arts program will make its permanent home at Thornton High School when it becomes the Thornton School for the Performing Arts. There, students will have access to state-of-the-art performance and practice space as well as a completely renovated and upgraded theatre - The Woods Theatre - to showcase the students’ talents and pay homage to the cultural epicenter of Westchester County that Mount Vernon once was known as.

Raisin, the third production of the Mount Vernon City School District Performing and Visual Arts Program, received six Metro Awards nominations, including best Actress in a Supporting Role, Featured Ensemble Member, Featured Ensemble Group, Acting Performance – Female, and Direction. In our first time at the Metro Awards we were delighted to take home the top prize for best Acting Performance-Female, for Mount Vernon High School student Dionysia Placide’s depiction of Mama Lena. The Metro Awards shine a spotlight on the exceptional musical theater productions, talented actors and actresses and devoted creative teams who take to the stage every spring in high schools in Rockland, Westchester, Putnam and Bergen counties. This year, 53 high schools competed for top honors.

GOAL: Create a 21st Century environment of learning that embraces technology, promotes inspiration, motivation, exploration and innovation. Re-establishment of Career and Technical Education (CTE) Program The Mount Vernon City School District is committed to providing our students with multiple pathways to graduation. Our revitalized CTE program provides students with the training and skills necessary to successfully enter the job market after graduation. Courses currently offered include: Automotive Technology Cisco Networking Cosmetology Culinary Arts Information Technology

Graphic Arts Nurse Assisting Photography Television Production

Additionally, courses in Dental Hygiene are in the development phase. As the program has grown, too to has student interest. Course requests have grown from a low of 816 in 2014-2015 to nearly 1,400 in 2016-2017. Implementation of enVisionmath2.0 This problem-based learning and visual learning initiative provides students with interactive learning aids and video tutorials with personalized practice and immediate feedback. Students, teachers and parents no longer need to wait until formal assessments take place to identify where a child is struggling. Real-time data allows teachers and parents to quickly identify where a student is succeeding or struggling and provide immediate remediation so a student does not fall behind or enrichment to advance their progress.

RESULTS: 20/20 vision results in theme-based high schools

Quality instructional transformation continues to take place in the Mount Vernon City School District with the recent announcement of the creation of three, theme-based high schools. The new high school structure will begin this fall and is a direct result of the district’s 20/20 Vision Program initiatives and are based on best practices from national models that will ensure students are well prepared for college and the workforce. The three, themed-based high schools of choice are: STEAM (Science—Technology— Engineering--Arts--Mathematics) High School, Thornton School for the Performing and Visual Arts and The Mount Vernon High School. Regardless of what school students choose, they will have unparalleled academic preparation for college and opportunities to be successful members of the 21st Century workforce. STEAM High School, which is currently A.B. Davis Middle School, will provide an approach to teaching and learning that integrates the content and skills of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics. STEAM High School will actively engage students in a collaborative, learning environment while infusing an integrated STEAM-centered curriculum in their studies through project-based learning. These behaviors include engagement in inquiry, logical reasoning, collaboration, and investigation. STEAM High School students will be participants in the coveted and nationally recognized Project Lead The Way (https://www.pltw.org) in addition to having course opportunities in robotics, coding and programming and gaming. They will use Discovery Education Partnership Continued on back cover

Techbooks (http://www.discoveryeducation.com/what-weoffer/techbook-digital-textbooks) and other digital devices to consume and create content.

The Mount Vernon High School will provide a rigorous and comprehensive high school curriculum featuring a heavy emphasis on humanities, career and technical programs.

This challenging curriculum will demonstrate and reinforce the practical applications and real-world connections that science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics have in everyday life.

Because of its commitment to student achievement, a wide range of honors and Advanced Placement (AP) coursework is also offered, giving students an opportunity to earn 30 college credits from a wide range of demanding math, science, social studies and English AP offerings. (https://apstudent. collegeboard.org)

Thornton School for the Performing and Visual Arts, which is currently Nellie Thornton High School, will build on its existing success in the arts field. Students will transfer their creative skills to the classrooms to build and support the cognitive framework and affective mindset necessary to nurture strong readers, mathematicians, thinkers and learners. The program provides focused instruction in instrumental music, dance, theater, vocal music and visual arts, similar to that of a college program, in addition to a rigorous academic program. Admitted students complete intensive theoretical, historical and practical study in a specified art field, in addition to their general education requirements of New York State. To be admitted, students must apply, audition and participate in a family interview.

Additionally, students can also participate in the Syracuse University Project Advance (SUPA) program (http://supa.syr.edu) The high school will also offer a strong Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) (http://www.avid.org) presence to further ensure students are fully career and college ready. In addition, the district is preparing an application to join the International Baccalaureate program (http://www.ibo.org) Also, a career technical education (CTE) program is also available with specializations in cosmetics, automotive technology, barbering, CISCO networking, culinary, nursing, TV production, photography, dental, animation and print production.

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