2008 Winner Bookcliff Middle School Grand Junction |
Bookcliff Middle School
enrolls 502 students in grades 6-8 in Grand Junction,
Mesa County Valley School District #51. It has a free and reduced population of 53%, and has a 30% mobility rate. Bookcliff's schoolwide reform efforts have resulted in increased student achievement recognition by the Colorado Department of improving status. Their faculty engages in regularly embedded, teacher-led, inquiry-based professional learning centered on student learning, assessment literacy, and research-based instructional strategies. The school has developed unique scheduling to provide time for these embedded learning opportunities as well as flexible time for targeted academic interventions, community service activities, and project-based learning initiatives. Bookcliff has developed a strong parent support system and has worked diligently to create a welcoming and positive learning environment. Their staff is led by their principal, Marty Bassett. |
Russell Middle School, located in Colorado Springs, is a school serving 814 students in grades six through eight. The staff faces distinct challenges with 38% of its families living below the poverty level but through rigorous reflection and creation of a comprehensive academic interventions, this school has seen significant student achievement across the board. Just this year Russell Middle moved from an Average to a High designation on the Colorado School Accountability Report card. Russell has created a dynamic learning environment where each member of the staff has a strong understanding of what students know and are able to do. They have created a well structured system to monitor the progress of each individual student, apply research-based interventions, and work collegially to address student learning needs. Russell has also successfully implemented the elements of Positive Behavior Support mechanisms which has motivated their students and staff to achieve. The staff of Russell is led by Jeanice Swift-Kerr. |
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2007 Winner Mead Middle School Mead |
Mead Middle School, located in Mead, Colorado is part of the St. Vrain School District and enrolls 321 students in grades 6-8. It has a free and reduced population of 11% and was noted by the Colorado Department of Education as making significant achievement gains in the 2005-2006 school year. Mead Middle School boasts a high level of student involvement where 95% of their students participate in extra-curricular activities. A highly active parent community supports the school by volunteering thousands of hours annually. Literacy permeates the building as noted by a successful Accelerated Reader program that creates incentives for student reading - students read on average 20 books each per year at Mead Middle School. A standards-based report grading system helps teachers keep track of student progress in essential learning goals. Students have multiple opportunities to achieve mastery, and staff works diligently to ensure individual student success. Josh Barnett leads the staff at Mead Middle School. |
Holmes Middle School enrolls 696 students in grades 6-8 in Colorado Springs, District 11. It has a free and reduced population of 31%, and 80% of their total student population is proficient or advanced on Reading CSAPs. Their data-driven faculty maintains a student data folder for each student. Students create their own learning goals and monitor their own progress throughout the school year. Quarterly common assessments help students and staff focus in on specific learning targets. A comprehensive pyramid of interventions provides a continuum of services that ensure that every child finds success. Holmes has successfully implemented a Response to Intervention model to support their special education and regular education population. A "can do" attitude permeates the school, and this is always modeled by their principal, Rob Utter. |
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2005 Winner & 2008 Redesignated Conrad Ball Middle School Loveland |
Conrad Ball Middle School is a school 789 students in grades six through eight. Located in Loveland, it serves the city's most diverse population. Approximately 43% of the students qualify for free or reduced lunch and 14% are English Language Learners. Conrad Ball has seen a dramatic drop in disciplinary referrals and a significant increase in achievement scores. Critical thinking strategies, data-driven instruction, and character education are their school's three main goals. Conrad Ball has created a powerful staff development structure where teachers work in professional learning communities attending to their own action research questions. They also have created an in-house lab classroom program where peer observations provide opportunities for reflection and collaboration. Sheila Pottorff leads the staff at Conrad Ball. |
| 2005 Programs to Watch Angevine Middle School Lafayette |
Angevine Middle School is a neighborhood school in Lafayette. They serve 616 students in grades six, seven and eight by offering a challenging and rigorous academic curriculum that is supported comprehensively throughout the school. Angevine was selected as a "Programs to Watch" school for its creative and effective approach to meeting the literacy and math needs of its most at risk students. Faced with the challenge of a large English as a Second Language population which serves between 15 and 20 percent of the student body and other students at risk, Angevine has succeeded in gathering resources and organizing a program that is worthy of replication. Mike Medina leads the staff at Angevine. |
| 2004
Winner & 2007 Redesignated Praire Middle School Aurora |
Prairie Middle School is a school of 1559 students in grades six through eight with a mobility rate of almost 30%. Located in Aurora, it faces tremendous challenges given its large and diverse population. Approximately 55% of the students qualify for free or reduced lunch. Over 57 different languages are spoken and 76 countries represented by their students. Prairie has created an environment that maximized academic growth and respect for all. They provide a wide range of opportunities to meet the needs of all students and ensure a high level of challenge while emphasizing academic achievement, cultural diversity, state and district standard implementation, College Board Standards, instructional excellence, and integration of technology. Dr. Kandy Cassaday leads the faculty at Prairie. |
| 2004
Winner & 2007 Redesignated Casey Middle School Boulder |
Casey Middle School is a school of 321 students in grades six through eight. They face unique challenges with 65% of its student population being second language learners and over half of its families living below the poverty level. Small class sizes coupled with powerful support structures help the school meet individual needs with ease. The school’s diversity is reflected in the faces of many of its staff members, with a significant number of staff being fluent Spanish speakers. Standardized scores from the Colorado Student Assessment Program (CSAP) reveal significant progress in student achievement while addressing increasing challenges. Notable programs include a bilingual immersion program for both English and Spanish speaking students, collaborative staff development, community outreach programs (after school activities, a community liaison, bilingual parent meetings and publications), and partnerships with the University of Colorado. The staff of Casey is led by Alison Boggs. |