• Category 2

    Selected in 2013

  • Grades: 6 - 8
    School Setting: urban
    Town Population: 385,577
    Student Enrollment: 376
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 25%
    White/Caucasian: 18.1%
    Hispanic: 38.4%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0.6%
    Asian: 7%
    Native American: 0.9%
    Other: 9.9%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:15
    % Reduced Lunch: 92.5%
    % ELL Learners: 36%
    Founded: 1951
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Stephanie Wasko
  • CONTACT:
    1031 S. Edgemoor
    Wichita, KS 67218
    316-973-7353
    swasko@usd259.net
Curtis Middle School
Wichita, KS
In the past, staff, students, parents, and community held the belief that Curtis students were not capable of excellence because of their demography. However, Curtis students have proven that their demography does not have to equal their destiny.
Describe specific programs in place to ensure that families are involved in the success of your school and students.
Curtis Middle School supports and relies on a strong Family Engagement Program to ensure that parents and the community are continually involved in the success of the school and its' students.
Describe the most successful activity your school has initiated to strengthen ties to your community.
There are a number of activities that Curtis Middle School staff have initiated to strengthen ties to our community. Most significant of these efforts was development and delivery of adult literacy and GED instruction to parents of Curtis students.
Describe your philosophy of school change or improvement.
Curtis students come to middle school already at a disadvantage. It is my belief that it my responsibility, and the responsibility of my staff, to ensure that Curtis students are provided with the very best instruction every single day.
What are your school’s top two goals for the next year?
Two goals for Curtis Middle School for the 2014-15 school year will be to reduce the number of behavior office referrals and to increase student performance in literacy and numeracy.
What is the single most important factor in the success of your school that others could replicate?
The single most important factor to Curtis Middle School's success is its job-embedded, high-quality professional development program. The success of this program also requires quality instructional coaches who are able to support teachers as they move knowledge into practice.
Describe the program or initiative that has had the greatest positive effect on student achievement, including closing achievement or opportunity gaps, if applicable.
The program that has had the greatest positive effect on student achievement, inlcuding closing the achievement gap, is the development of high quality, job-embedded professional development designed to focus on moving teacher's new learning from knowledge to application.
Explain how Title I funds are used to support your improvement efforts.
Curtis Middle School continues to use Title I funds to provide full time math and reading instructional coaches who provide on-going high quality staff development for all teachers. Title I funds are also utilized to provide classroom supplies, technology, and academic intervention specialists.
Identify the critical professional development activities you use to improve teaching and student learning.
Curtis Middle School's building leadership team selected four high yield strategies as the focus for the building. These strategies focus on the following: increased student engagement and rigor, implementation of common core instruction, and development of strong and effective intervention strategies.
Describe how data is used to improve student achievement and inform decision making.
Curtis Middle School participates in SchoolStat, a routenized data-driven, inquiry-based performance management program. This program utilizes a data-drill-down model that guides deep data dives into Curtis academic and behavioral data. Curtis administration, leadership team, teachers, and support staff participate in monthly "Deep Data Dives".
Describe your school culture and explain changes you’ve taken to improve it.
In the past, staff, students, parents, and community held the belief that Curtis students were not capable of excellence because of their demography. However, Curtis students have proven that their demography does not have to equal their destiny. All students are provided with rigorous instruction and are provided with scaffolded supports so that each and every student meets high expectations set for them.
Stats
  • Category 2

    Selected in 2013

  • Grades: 6 - 8
    School Setting: urban
    Town Population: 385,577
    Student Enrollment: 376
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 25%
    White/Caucasian: 18.1%
    Hispanic: 38.4%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0.6%
    Asian: 7%
    Native American: 0.9%
    Other: 9.9%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:15
    % Reduced Lunch: 92.5%
    % ELL Learners: 36%
    Founded: 1951
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Stephanie Wasko
  • CONTACT:
    1031 S. Edgemoor
    Wichita, KS 67218
    316-973-7353
    swasko@usd259.net