***[2006 -- 2007 No Child Left Behind -- Blue Ribbon Schools
Program]{.underline}***

**U.S. Department of Education**

# Cover Sheet Type of School: High School

# 

# Name of Principal: Mr. Dennis M. Walsh

# 

# Official School Name: Mount Vernon Community High School

# 

# School Mailing Address: 731 Palisades Road SW

#  Mount Vernon, Iowa 52314-1798

# 

# County: Linn State School Code: 57-4554

# 

# Telephone: (319) 895-8843 Fax: (319) 895-6185

# 

# Website/URL: [http://www.mountvernon.k12.ia.us](http://www.mountvernon.k12.ia.us/)

# 

# E-mail: <dwalsh@mountvvernon.k12.ia.us>

# 

# 

# I have reviewed the information in this application, including the eligibility requirements on page 2, and certify that to the best of my knowledge all information is accurate.

# 

# \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Date: \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

# (Principal's Signature)

# 

# 

# Name of Superintendent: Mr. Jeffrey J. Schwiebert

# 

# District Name: Mount Vernon Community School District Phone: (319) 895-8845

# 

# I have reviewed the information in this application, including the eligibility requirements on page 2, and certify that to the best of my knowledge all information is accurate.

# 

# \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Date: \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

# (Superintendent's Signature)

# 

# 

# Name of School Board President: Mr. Thomas M. Wieseler 

# 

# I have reviewed the information in this application, including the eligibility requirements on page 2, and certify that to the best of my knowledge all information is accurate.

# 

# \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Date: \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

# (School Board President's Signature) 

# [PART 1 -- ELIGIBILITY CERTIFICATION]{.underline}

# 

# The signatures on the first page of this application certify that each of the statements below concerning the school's eligibility and compliance with U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR) requirements is true and correct.

# 

# The school has some configuration that includes grade K-12 schools. (Schools on the same campus with one principal, even K-12 schools, must apply as an entire school).

# The school has made adequate yearly progress each year for the past two years and has not been identified by the state as "persistently dangerous" within the last two years. To meet final eligibility, the school must meet the state's adequate yearly progress requirement in the 2006-2007 school year.

1.  If the school includes grades 7 or higher, it has foreign language
    as a part of its core curriculum.

2.  The school has been in existence for five full years, that is, from
    September 2001 and has not received the No Child Left Behind -- Blue
    Ribbon Schools award in the past five years.

3.  The nominated school or district is not refusing OCR access to
    information necessary to investigate a civil rights complaint or to
    conduct a district-wide compliance review.

4.  OCR has not issued a violation letter of findings to the school
    district concluding that the nominated school or the district as a
    whole has violated one or more of the civil rights statues. A
    violation letter of findings will not be considered outstanding if
    OCR has accepted a corrective action plan from the district to
    remedy the violation.

5.  The U.S. Department of Justice does not have a pending suit alleging
    that the nominated school or the school district as a whole has
    violated one or more of the civil rights statues or the
    Constitution's equal protection clause.

6.  There are no findings of violations of the Individual with
    Disabilities Education Act in a U.S Department of Education
    monitoring report that apply to the school or school district in
    question; or if there are such findings, the state or district has
    corrected, or agreed to correct, the findings.

# PART II -- DEMOGRAPHIC DATA

# 

# All data are the most recent year available.

**DISTRICT** (Questions 1-2 not applicable to private schools.)

1\. Number of schools in the district: 1 Elementary School

1 Middle School

0 Junior High School

1 High School

0 Other

3 TOTAL

2\. District Per Pupil Expenditure: \$7446.00

Average State Per Pupil Expenditure: \$7098.00

**SCHOOL**

3.  Category that best describes the area where the school is located:

> Small city or town in rural area

4\. 4 years - Number of years the principal has been in his position at
this school.

5.  Number of students as of October 1 enrolled at each grade level or
    its equivalent in applying school only:

+------------+----------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| >          | > **\# of      | > **\# of         | > **Grade Total** |
|  **Grade** | > Males**      | > Females**       |                   |
+------------+----------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| 9          | 54             | 41                | 95                |
+------------+----------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| 10         | 71             | 56                | 127               |
+------------+----------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| 11         | 47             | 39                | 86                |
+------------+----------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| 12         | 50             | 47                | 97                |
+------------+----------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| Total:     | 222            | 183               | 405               |
+------------+----------------+-------------------+-------------------+

6\. Racial/ethnic composition of the school: 99.9 % White

2.0 % Black/African American

1.0 % Hispanic / Latino

.2 % Asian / Pacific Islander

1.  \% American Indian / Alaskan Native

> 7\. Student turnover, mobility rate, during the past year: .5 %

+---+------------------------------------------------------+----------+
| 1 | Number of students who transferred to the school     | 1        |
| . |                                                      | student  |
| ) | after October 1 until the end of the year.           |          |
+---+------------------------------------------------------+----------+
| 2 | Number of students who transferred from the school   | 1        |
| . |                                                      | student  |
| ) | after October 1 until the end of the school year.    |          |
+---+------------------------------------------------------+----------+
| 3 | Total of all transferred students (sum of rows 1 and | 2        |
| . | 2).                                                  | students |
| ) |                                                      |          |
+---+------------------------------------------------------+----------+
| 4 | Total number of students in the school as of October | 405      |
| . | 1                                                    |          |
| ) |                                                      |          |
+---+------------------------------------------------------+----------+
| 5 | Total transferred students in row 3 divided by total | .005     |
| . |                                                      |          |
| ) | Students in row 4                                    |          |
+---+------------------------------------------------------+----------+
| 6 | Amount in row 5 multiplied by 100                    | .5       |
| . |                                                      |          |
| ) |                                                      |          |
+---+------------------------------------------------------+----------+

8\. Limited English proficient students in the school: 0.4 %

2 students = Total \# Limited English Proficient

Number of languages represented: 2

Specify languages: Spanish, Amharic

9\. Students eligible for free/reduced-priced lunch: 18%

Total number of students who qualify: 75 students

10\. Students receiving special education services: 13 %

> 53 students

Indicate the number of students with disabilities according to
conditions designated in the Individuals with Disabilities Education
Act. Do not add additional categories.

0 Autism 0 Orthopedic Impairment

0 Deafness 0 Other Health Impaired

0 Deaf-Blindness 50 Specific Learning Disability

0 Emotional Disturbance 0 Speech or Language Impairment

0 Hearing Impairment 0 Traumatic Brain Injury

3 Mental Retardation 0 Visual Impairment Including Blindness

1 Multiple Disabilities

11\. Indicate the number of full-time and part-time staff members in
each of the categories below:

> **Number of Staff**

**[Full-time]{.underline} [Part-time]{.underline}**

Administrators : 1 2

Classroom teachers: 25 8

Special resource teachers: 2 1

Paraprofessionals: 5 0

Support staff: 6 5

Total Number: 39 16

12. Average school student-classroom teacher ratio, that is, the number
    of students in the school divided by the FTE of classroom teachers,
    e.g. 22:1

> 17:1

13. Show the attendance patterns of teachers and students as a
    percentage. The student drop-out rate is defined by the state. The
    student drop-out rate is the difference between the number of
    entering students and the number of exiting students from the same
    cohort. (From the same cohort, subtract the number of exiting
    students from the number of entering students; divide that number by
    the number of entering students; multiply by 100 to get the
    percentage drop-off rate.) Briefly explain in 100 words or fewer any
    major discrepancy between the dropout rate and the drop-off rate.
    Only middle and high schools need to supply dropout rates, and only
    high schools need to supply drop-off rates. Also explain a high
    teacher turnover rate.

  --------------------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
                        2005-2006   2004-2005   2003-2004   2002-2003   2001-2002

  Daily student         NA%         96 %        96 %        96 %        96 %
  attendance:                                                           

  Daily teacher         99 %        99 %        99 %        99 %        99 %
  attendance:                                                           

  Teacher turnover      18 %        24 %        11 %        3 %         13 %
  rate:                                                                 

  Student dropout rate: 0 %         0 %         1 %         0 %         1 %

  Student drop-off      0 %         0 %         1 %         0 %         1 %
  rate:                                                                 
  --------------------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------

14. Show what the students who graduated in spring 2006 are doing as of
    September, 2007.

> Graduating class size: 85 students
>
> Enrolled in a 4-year college or university 45 %
>
> Enrolled in a community college 49 %
>
> Enrolled in vocational training 2 %
>
> Found employment 2 %
>
> Military service 2 %
>
> Other (travel, staying home, etc.) 0 %
>
> Unknown 0 %

**Total 100 %**

**Part III -- Summary**

This fall, Mount Vernon Community High School (MVCHS) opened its doors
to a brand new \$11.6 million high school building. Our new facility
serves 405 students in grades 9-12 from communities throughout eastern
Linn county, southern Jones county, and northern Johnson county. Over 30
classrooms, state-of-the-art library, three 30-station computer labs, a
spacious gymnasium, separate vocal/instrumental rooms, four special
education centers, and two industrial art classrooms make our building
"the talk of the town" and the envy of many neighboring districts. Our
high school's motto "Striving for Excellence in Academics, Athletics,
and the Arts" summarizes our staff's commitment to providing a
well-rounded educational experience to every MVCHS student. This motto
guides every decision made within our building.

[Striving for Excellence in Academics]{.underline}:

Thirty high school instructors teach over 115 courses ranging from art
to world language topics. All students must earn the state of Iowa's
recommended CORE subject area credits AND additional elective credits in
order to receive a MVCHS diploma. Elective course offerings in music
(i.e. vocal, orchestra, and band), industrial technology (i.e. metals,
woods, drafting, building construction), and foreign languages (i.e.
German, Spanish) attract many "open-enrolled" students annually to our
campus. Students are guided through their numerous course choices
through periodic assessments and bi-monthly advisement meetings with a
caring educator. Interest inventories are given as a part of each
student's curriculum, analyzed, and action plans written through
advisor/advisee sessions. Students meet every other week with the same
faculty advisor throughout their high school career to plan their
personalized educational plan. Opportunities for advanced placement (AP)
coursework, job explorations/internships, post secondary education
option (PSEO) courses at area colleges are planned during these
advisement sessions. Using the foundation set by our MVCHS educational
program, over 95 percent of our graduates attend post secondary
educational programs with over 70 percent graduating within five years.

[Striving for Excellence in Athletics:]{.underline}

As a member of the Eastern Iowa Hawkeye Conference (EIHC), MVCHS
displays numerous conference and state championship trophies inside our
"commons" display cases. As proud as we are of these athletic
accomplishments, we are more pleased with our 86 percent student
participation rate in at least one of the thirty-six activities programs
available to our students. MVCHS students seek active participation
within their school and community through a varied activities menu
including twenty non-athletic opportunities throughout the school year.

[Striving for Excellence in the Arts:]{.underline}

The Mount Vernon community has always supported the arts. Our town
proudly hosts seasonal art exhibits, sponsors area art shows, and
consistently fills the school auditorium for every school concert and/or
drama performance. MVCHS is an important part of this community-wide
commitment to the arts. Our music programs in vocal, band, and orchestra
are extraordinary. The expectation is that these programs will earn
state recognition annually. Our drama and speech programs are extremely
popular and are expanding yearly. Our newspaper and yearbook staff has
earned state awards in recent years in recognition of their outstanding
literary work. Our visual arts students regularly exhibit their work in
area art contests and rank well with their talented counterparts. It is
not unusual to find many MVCHS students staying at school late into the
night perfecting their craft in one of many arts options after finishing
an exhausting athletic practice or game. Over 50 percent of our students
perform in both an athletic and non-athletic program during the same
season.

MVCHS is a great place to learn and to grow into a well-rounded,
productive, and caring person. Our staff is honored to work with
individuals who will serve as our future leaders, problem solvers, and
humanitarians.

**Part IV -- Indicators of Academic Success**

1.  **Assessment Results:**

> Nine out of every ten MVCHS students are "proficient" readers and
> mathematicians according our high school's Iowa Test of Educational
> Development (ITED) assessment results. Proficient means that these
> students can usually apply their reading and mathematical skills to
> understand and successfully interpret written and numerical
> information.
>
> Within this category of proficient readers and mathematicians is
> another category of learners called "highly proficient" readers and
> mathematicians. At MVCHS, three out of every ten students are "highly
> proficient" readers and four of every ten students are "highly
> proficient" mathematicians. This classification of "highly proficient"
> means that these students can [always]{.underline} apply their reading
> and mathematical skills to understand and to interpret written and
> numerical information.
>
> Another category of students exists at MVCHS called the "non
> proficient" learners. One out of ten students at our high school
> cannot use their current reading and/or mathematical skills to
> comprehend and to interpret written or numerical information
> accurately. The majority of our "non proficient" students are
> identified as having specific learning disabilities in reading and/or
> mathematics and are receiving additional special education services
> due to these learning challenges. Currently, these special needs
> students cannot independently demonstrate proficiency on these formal
> reading and math assessments.
>
> In Iowa, the state uses the ITED assessments in grade 11 to determine
> an individual student's level of proficiency in reading comprehension,
> math concepts, and science concepts. Proficiency is designed as scores
> at or above the 40^th^ percentile on both the reading comprehension
> and math concepts ITED subtests. Currently, the state of Iowa requires
> all high schools to guarantee that 74 percent of its students reach
> the proficient level in 2006. By 2014, all high school students in
> Iowa will be expected to be proficient in reading and mathematics.
> MVCHS has exceeded the state of Iowa's reading and math achievement
> expectations by eighteen percentage points and we are working to
> reduce the number of special education students who score at the
> non-proficient level.
>
> A more complete description of the state of Iowa's assessment system
> and school achievement expectations may be found on the Iowa
> Department of Education's website:
> [www.iowa.gov/educate/](http://www.iowa.gov/educate/).
>
> Our school's Academic Decathlon program involves students from three
> ability levels in academic competition with other area schools. The
> MVCHS academic decathlon team has qualified for the regional and state
> champion for over twenty consecutive years. Twice within this time
> period, MVCHS teams qualified for the national competition!

2.  **Using Assessment Results:**

Subject area teams of teachers study the task analysis reports of each
ITED subtest within their content area to determine appropriate
additions and modifications within their department course offerings and
curricula. These content area teams recommend curricular areas to be
emphasized and determine which curricular topics should be removed from
our current course of studies. In the end, a list of "essential
learning" objectives is determined for each subject area taught at MVCHS
which is used to determine student mastery within each course.

> Individual student assessment results are compared from year to year
> using the ITED student profile summary reports. Individual student
> progress is charted with faculty advisors to determine growth and to
> recommend future course choices for each advisee.
>
> Finally, long-term achievement trends are analyzed by grade level
> teacher teams to determine whether or not our current course offerings
> and integration strategies are meeting the contemporary instructional
> needs of all of our students. The achievement of special education
> students who have been completely integrated into the general
> education curricula with co-teaching and staff collaborative
> strategies are being carefully tracked and analyzed using ITED data.

3.  **Communicating Assessment Results:**

Student achievement data is shared with individual students primarily
through their advisor/advisee meetings. Each student receives an
individual assessment profile approximately two months following the
administration of the ITED tests. Student strengths and weaknesses are
analyzed and compared to past academic achievement scores. Advisors
counsel students regarding appropriate future course selection based
upon these assessment profiles.

> Parents are mailed a copy of their student's assessment profile after
> these student/advisor sessions are completed. Parents are encouraged
> to meet with advisors and/or our school counselor prior to finalizing
> any course selections. Parents and students may register for high
> school courses online 24 hours a day at home or at school.
>
> Finally, school assessment results are shared with local media and our
> community through an annual school district report card. This report
> compares the academic performance of MVCHS students with the
> performance of students from other area high schools.

4.  **Sharing Success:**

MVCHS administrators and teachers participate in a variety of
educational forums and workshops where high school reform efforts are
discussed and shared with other high school staff and students. MVCHS
and Clear Creek Amana High School are involved in a three-year "systems
thinking" study on school governance funded by the Wallace Foundation.
This joint venture with a district with similar needs as MVCHS promises
to lead to several significant structural changes for our district and
school in the years to come. Year-round school, extended high school
hours, mid-year J-term, staff learning teams, and new summer school
designs are just a few of the high school reforms currently being
discussed. Our school's progress through this grant required that we
regularly share results with our colleagues throughout the state.

> High school principals from our conference meet monthly to share ideas
> about promising high school innovation. At least one-half of each
> month's agenda is devoted to instructional reform issues. Our
> advisor/advisee program is modeled after a successful program
> initiated at another conference school. We first learned of this
> program at one of these monthly principal meetings.
>
> Our school district website contains up-to-date information about a
> variety of school topics. Our student information software
> (Centerpoint) allows parents to access their student's grades and
> assignments at anytime of the day or night. Our Booster Clubs, Fine
> Arts Association, Alumni Association, and Mount Vernon Foundation
> spend student success stories throughout our community and area.
>
> Finally, MVCHS staff regularly participates in workshops sponsored by
> local colleges and Grant Wood Area Education Agency. These workshops
> provide new opportunities for staff to share ideas that MVCHS has
> tried while learning about the innovative efforts of several other
> school districts within our area.

**Part V -- Curriculum and Instruction**

1.  **Curriculum:**

Over 115 courses are offered MVCHS students throughout the school year.
Our classes meet daily for 50 minutes with the exception of PE and music
courses that meet three days/week.

MVCHS graduation requirements guide students to pursue a well-rounded
education that includes:

-   3.5 years of English (beginning with the Class of 2011, 4 years will
    be required)

-   3 years of Math, Science, and Social Studies

-   4 years of Physical Education

-   1 year of Fine Arts, Practical Arts, and/or Vocational Education

-   20 additional elective courses in the following content areas: Art,
    Business Education, Family and Consumer Science, Foreign Language,
    Health Education, Industrial Technology, Music Education.

A typical MVCHS student enrolls in seven courses per semester including
courses in English, mathematics, science, social studies, PE, foreign
language (Spanish or German), Music (vocal, band, and/or orchestra).
Students enroll in many elective courses, internships, job shadows, and
college classes during their junior and senior years.

> Over the past three years, MVCHS students have consistently enrolled
> in coursework that exceeds our school's minimum graduation
> requirements. Approximately 75 percent of our students successfully
> complete four years of English coursework. Fifty (50) percent of our
> students complete four years of mathematics, science, and foreign
> language instruction. About 40 percent of our students master four
> years of music classes prior to graduation.
>
> Eighteen (18) advanced courses are included within the 115 courses
> offered our students. These courses are available to all students who
> seek the challenge of accelerated learning. No placement testing is
> required for student admission into these honors level classes. Our
> remaining 100 high school courses are non-leveled. Students from all
> ability groups (including special needs students) are enrolled within
> any of these classes. Additional classroom services including
> co-teachers, classroom aides, differentiated instructional methods,
> and peer tutors support all learners within these classes.
>
> Finally, MVCHS serves approximately 30 students from Lisbon Community
> Schools in a variety of industrial technology, foreign language, and
> honors level courses. The Lisbon students attend MVCHS as a part of a
> shared enrollment arrangement so that they may benefit from our high
> school's broader curricular options. In addition, MVCHS serves
> approximately 100 middle students through exploratory course offerings
> in foreign language, family and consumer science, industrial
> technology, and in selected advanced mathematics classes.

2.  **Secondary Schools -- English curriculum:**

> Currently, the MVCHS English graduation requirement is 3.5 years of
> English instruction. Beginning with the Class of 2011, 4 years of
> English coursework will be required of all MVCHS graduates.
>
> Our MVCHS English curriculum provided a strong foundation of reading,
> writing, and speaking instruction for freshmen and sophomores through
> a two-year required English course. Students progress through these
> first two years of English instruction with the assistance of special
> education trained teachers co-teaching within English 9 and 10
> courses. This extra assistance allows most students to master course
> content on pace with their peers. If additional help is required, a
> learning center provides tutoring, reading, and assignment completion
> assistance throughout the school day for any student who may need it.
>
> After two years of prescribed English instruction, MVCHS students may
> choose from a varied menu of 15 English elective courses in order to
> fulfill their English requirement. These courses appeal to students
> who want to extend their interest or skill in literature, composition,
> or speech through additional coursework.
>
> Four of our English elective courses offer challenging, advanced work
> for students who desire college level instruction. These courses are
> open to all students who desire an opportunity to challenge
> themselves. No additional grade and/or credit weighting are offered
> for successful completion of these "honor" classes.

3.  **Additional Curriculum Area - Mathematics:**

> MVCHS students must complete three years of mathematics instruction in
> order to earn a high school diploma. Students may enter our
> mathematics course pathways in a variety of ways according to their
> assessed math skills. Fifty (50) percent of our students enroll in our
> Algebra 1-Geometry-Algebra 2-Trigonometry sequence. Approximately
> twenty-five (25) percent choose our Advanced Geometry-Advanced Algebra
> II-Pre Calculus-Calculus sequence. The remainder of our students
> elects the following mathematics course sequence with some
> alternatives: Pre Algebra-Algebra 1- Consumer Math-Geometry. Math
> students may receive extra assistance through our learning center
> program, peer tutors, or after school from their instructors.
>
> A unique feature of our mathematics department is that all of our
> school's current math teachers also teach at least one science course.
> This cross-disciplinary advantage allows our mathematic curriculum to
> more easily blend with our science instruction. Our teachers often use
> real world examples across both content areas to apply mathematical
> and scientific information.
>
> Finally, an increasing number of MVCHS students are beginning their
> high school math instruction while they are in middle school. In the
> 2006-2007 school year, eight (8) middle students enrolled in Algebra 1
> and another middle student enrolled in Advanced Geometry. These
> students earned high school credit for successful completion of this
> coursework. If this trend continues, our high school mathematics
> curriculum will need to extend to include college level courses beyond
> Calculus. MVCHS looks forward to the challenges that this trend may
> create.

4.  **Instructional Methods:**

> All content area instructors are encouraged to promote active learning
> within their classrooms. This objective is achieved in a variety of
> ways by different departments. Common strategies include internet
> research, PowerPoint presentations, interactive group projects, group
> problem-solving sessions, peer tutoring opportunities, and co-teaching
> lesson planning. MVCHS teachers view themselves as learning
> facilitators rather than dispensers of knowledge. MVCHS students crave
> the opportunity to participate actively in their own learning and are
> enthusiastic about classroom participation. Three (3) 30-station
> computer labs and a state-of-the-art computerized library are
> essential tools for student use within this participatory educational
> design.
>
> Assessment of student progress is measured based upon student mastery
> of essential learning objectives within each course. Teachers
> continuously analyze their curricula and adjust course content to
> match their discipline's latest "best practice" wisdom regarding
> essential content. MVCHS's high school curriculum is not static. It is
> constantly weeding and seeding itself to keep up with our changing
> times.
>
> Finally, MVCHS staff believes in building strong relationships with
> every student. Every other Tuesday, staff spends one-half hour in
> advisor/advisee meetings with a small group of students. These
> students with their four-year advisor plan together for high school
> orientation, course selection, annual academic assessments, and post
> secondary education options. After four years together, staff and
> their advisees become very close. MVCHS staff is interested in the
> total student, not just their formal education.

5.  **Professional Development:**

> MVCHS professional development is centered around three themes this
> school year: staff collaboration on academic achievement/instruction,
> student relationships, and innovative school structures.
>
> Beginning with the 06/07 school year, high school staff meets as
> departmental teams every other Tuesday from 8-8:45 a.m. Department
> teams analyze student assessment data and recommend curricular
> improvement to enhance student learning at MVCHS. Departments are
> currently mapping their curricular areas and relating them to career
> pathways so that students may make more informed decisions about high
> school course selection. The inclusion of special education teachers
> as co-teachers within general education classrooms (rather than using
> pull-out resource room strategies) is one of the promising
> instructional innovations being tried this year. General education
> student achievement scores in reading, mathematics, and science have
> increased slightly since departments have been meeting regularly and
> analyzing student test scores. Special education student achievement
> scores have shown specific improvement since implementation of the
> collaborative general/special education teaching model.
>
> Maintaining and improving on student/staff relationships is a second
> focus of our school's staff development efforts. The development of
> every other mid-Tuesday morning advisor/advisee teams is a by-product
> of this objective. Every high school teacher is an advisor that meets
> with the same group of sixteen students throughout their high school
> careers. Advisor teams are just beginning to use collaborative time to
> design their own advisement lesson plans. Initial student feedback
> indicates that students view the advisor/advisee program as an
> opportunity to get advice and practical information from a teacher
> rather than just relying upon our counselor and main office personnel.
> Students trust their instructors to provide them with informed data
> about their academic/social strengths and weaknesses which assists
> students when making course selections and post high school program
> decisions. It is too early to assess the impact that the
> advisor/advisee program is having upon student achievement scores. A
> comparison of the results of the "2006" and the "2007" ITED
> assessments will provide advisor teams data to analyze regarding
> relationships between student achievement and advisor/advisee program.
> Our hypothesis is that students will perform better academically when
> they feel connected to a caring adult (faculty advisor) over an
> extended period of time (four years of high school with the same staff
> advisor). This annual ITED data comparison will test this theory.
>
> Innovative school structures are also explored during our year's
> professional development agenda. The addition of an interim term in
> January to our school calendar is currently being studied. If
> approved, this interim term may provide students with an opportunity
> to enroll in a variety of hands-on courses taught for an extended
> block period over consecutive days. The design of an effective
> "learning center" to help students who need extra assistance to master
> course objectives is also being debated. Two staff study groups are
> meeting twice per month to recommend system changes to our current
> school structures that will match our community's vision for Mount
> Vernon's "next generation" high school. Data from community
> stakeholders, students, alumni, staff, and business leaders are being
> analyzed as a part of the plan formulation process. Recommendations
> will be made by fall, 2007 for implementation during the "2008-2009"
> schoolyear.

**Part VII -- Assessment Results**

> **State Criterion-Referenced Tests**
>
> **Subject -- Reading Comprehension**
>
> **Grade 11 Iowa Tests of Educational Development (ITED)**
>
> **Riverside Publishing -- Houghton Mifflin Company**

  -------------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- ---------------
                       **2006-2007**   **2005-2006**   **2004-2005**   **2003-2004**   **2002-2003**   **2001-2002**

  **Testing Month**    **Nov.**        **Nov.**        **Nov.**        **Nov.**        **Nov.**        **Nov.**

  **SCHOOL SCORES\***                                                                                  

  **% of "Highly       **25**          **30**          **25**          **33**          **27**          **23**
  Proficient"                                                                                          
  Students**                                                                                           

  **% of "Proficient   **79**          **92**          **79**          **88**          **82**          **92**
  plus Highly                                                                                          
  Proficient"                                                                                          
  Students**                                                                                           

  **\# of Total        **85**          **96**          **87**          **110**         **97**          **100**
  Students Tested**                                                                                    

  **% of Total         **98**          **98**          **98**          **98**          **98**          **98**
  Students Tested**                                                                                    

  **\# of Students     **0**           **2**           **0**           **0**           **0**           **0**
  Alternatively                                                                                        
  Assessed**                                                                                           

  **% of Students      **0**           **2**           **0**           **0**           **0**           **0**
  Alternatively                                                                                        
  Assessed**                                                                                           

                                                                                                       

  **SUBGROUP SCORES**                                                                                  

  **1. Free/Reduced                                                                                    
  Lunch**                                                                                              

  **% of "Highly                       **23**                          **0**           **18**          
  Proficient"                                                                                          
  Students**                                                                                           

  **% of "Proficient                   **69**                          **67**          **45**          
  plus Highly                                                                                          
  Proficient"                                                                                          
  Students**                                                                                           

  **\# of Students                     **13**                          **15**          **11**          
  Tested**                                                                                             

                                                                                                       

  **2. Special                                                                                         
  Education (w/IEP)**                                                                                  

  **% of "Highly       **0**                           **0**           **0**                           
  Proficient"                                                                                          
  Students**                                                                                           

  **% of "Proficient   **10**                          **20**          **30**                          
  plus Highly                                                                                          
  Proficient"                                                                                          
  Students**                                                                                           

  **\# of Students     **11**                          **10**          **10**                          
  Tested**                                                                                             
  -------------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- ---------------

> **Subject -- Reading Comprehension**
>
> **Grade 10 Iowa Tests of Educational Development (ITED)**
>
> **Riverside Publishing -- Houghton Mifflin Company**

  -------------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- ---------------
                       **2006-2007**   **2005-2006**   **2004-2005**   **2003-2004**   **2002-2003**   **2001-2002**

  **Testing Month**    **Nov.**        **Nov.**        **Nov.**        **Nov.**        **Nov.**        **Nov.**

  **SCHOOL SCORES\***                                                                                  

  **% of "Highly       **19**          **23**          **23**          **19**          **13**          **21**
  Proficient"                                                                                          
  Students**                                                                                           

  **% of "Proficient   **83**          **85**          **83**          **77**          **84**          **72**
  plus Highly                                                                                          
  Proficient"                                                                                          
  Students**                                                                                           

  **\# of Total        **123**         **80**          **101**         **81**          **111**         **85**
  Students Tested**                                                                                    

  **% of Total         **98**          **99**          **98**          **98**          **98**          **97**
  Students Tested**                                                                                    

  **\# of Students     **0**           **0**           **0**           **0**           **0**           **0**
  Alternatively                                                                                        
  Assessed**                                                                                           

  **% of Students      **0**           **0**           **0**           **0**           **0**           **0**
  Alternatively                                                                                        
  Assessed**                                                                                           

                                                                                                       

  **SUBGROUP SCORES**                                                                                  

  **1. Free/Reduced                                                                                    
  Lunch**                                                                                              

  **% of "Highly       **0**           **0**           **29**                                          
  Proficient"                                                                                          
  Students**                                                                                           

  **% of "Proficient   **55**          **100**         **58**                                          
  plus Highly                                                                                          
  Proficient"                                                                                          
  Students**                                                                                           

  **\# of Students     **20**          **10**          **14**                                          
  Tested**                                                                                             

                                                                                                       

  **2. Special                                                                                         
  education (w/IEP)**                                                                                  

  **% of "Highly       **0**                                                                           
  Proficient"                                                                                          
  Students**                                                                                           

  **% of "Proficient   **18**                                                                          
  plus Highly                                                                                          
  Proficient"                                                                                          
  Students**                                                                                           

  **\# of Students     **11**                                                                          
  Tested**                                                                                             
  -------------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- ---------------

> **Subject -- Reading Comprehension**
>
> **Grade 9 Iowa Tests of Educational Development (ITED)**
>
> **Riverside Publishing -- Houghton Mifflin Company**

  -------------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- ---------------
                       **2006-2007**   **2005-2006**   **2004-2005**   **2003-2004**   **2002-2003**   **2001-2002**

  **Testing Month**    **Nov.**        **Nov.**        **Nov.**        **Nov.**        **Nov.**        **Nov.**

  **SCHOOL SCORES\***                                                                                  

  **% of "Highly       **22**          **21**          **15**          **26**          **14**          **28**
  Proficient"                                                                                          
  Students**                                                                                           

  **% of "Proficient   **83**          **79**          **79**          **78**          **80**          **85**
  plus Highly                                                                                          
  Proficient"                                                                                          
  Students**                                                                                           

  **\# of Total        **94**          **125**         **81**          **106**         **74**          **96**
  Students Tested**                                                                                    

  **% of Total         **99**          **99**          **98**          **98**          **98**          **97**
  Students Tested**                                                                                    

  **\# of Students     **0**           **0**           **0**           **0**           **0**           **0**
  Alternatively                                                                                        
  Assessed**                                                                                           

  **% of Students      **0**           **0**           **0**           **0**           **0**           **0**
  Alternatively                                                                                        
  Assessed**                                                                                           

                                                                                                       

  **SUBGROUP SCORES**                                                                                  

  **1. Free/Reduced                                                                                    
  Lunch**                                                                                              

  **% of "Highly       **11**          **15**          **0**           **7**                           **12**
  Proficient"                                                                                          
  Students**                                                                                           

  **% of "Proficient   **67**          **61**          **55**          **54**                          **77**
  plus Highly                                                                                          
  Proficient"                                                                                          
  Students**                                                                                           

  **\# of Students     **10**          **20**          **11**          **15**                          **17**
  Tested**                                                                                             

                                                                                                       

  **2. Special                                                                                         
  Education (w/IEP)**                                                                                  

  **% of "Highly       **0**           **0**                                                           
  Proficient"                                                                                          
  Students**                                                                                           

  **% of "Proficient   **38**          **25**                                                          
  plus Highly                                                                                          
  Proficient"                                                                                          
  Students**                                                                                           

  **\# of Students     **13**          **12**                                                          
  Tested**                                                                                             
  -------------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- ---------------

> **Subject -- Mathematics Grade 11 Iowa Tests of Educational
> Development (ITED)**
>
> **Riverside Publishing -- Houghton Mifflin Company**

  --------------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- ---------------
                        **2006-2007**   **2005-2006**   **2004-2005**   **2003-2004**   **2002-2003**   **2001-2002**

  **Testing Month**     **Nov.**        **Nov.**        **Nov.**        **Nov.**        **Nov.**        **Nov.**

  **SCHOOL SCORES\***                                                                                   

  **% of "Highly        **33**          **42**          **33**          **36**          **31**          **45**
  Proficient"                                                                                           
  Students**                                                                                            

  **% of "Proficient    **86**          **90**          **87**          **82**          **82**          **89**
  plus Highly                                                                                           
  Proficient"                                                                                           
  Students**                                                                                            

  **\# of Total         **85**          **96**          **87**          **110**         **97**          **100**
  Students Tested**                                                                                     

  **% of Total Students **98**          **98**          **99**          **99**          **99**          **99**
  Tested**                                                                                              

  **\# of Students      **0**           **2**           **1**           **0**           **0**           **0**
  Alternatively                                                                                         
  Assessed**                                                                                            

  **% of Students       **0**           **2**           **1**           **0**           **0**           **0**
  Alternatively                                                                                         
  Assessed**                                                                                            

                                                                                                        

  **SUBGROUP SCORES**                                                                                   

  **1. Free/Reduced                                                                                     
  Lunch**                                                                                               

  **% of "Highly                        **31**                          **0**           **9**           
  Proficient"                                                                                           
  Students**                                                                                            

  **% of "Proficient                    **62**                          **53**          **54**          
  plus Highly                                                                                           
  Proficient"                                                                                           
  Students**                                                                                            

  **\# of Students                      **13**                          **15**          **11**          
  Tested**                                                                                              

                                                                                                        

  **2. Special                                                                                          
  Education (w/IEP)**                                                                                   

  **% of "Highly        **0**                           **0**           **0**                           
  Proficient"                                                                                           
  Students**                                                                                            

  **% of "Proficient    **20**                          **70**          **10**                          
  plus Highly                                                                                           
  Proficient"                                                                                           
  Students**                                                                                            

  **\# of Students      **10**                          **10**          **10**                          
  Tested**                                                                                              
  --------------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- ---------------

> **Subject -- Mathematics Grade 10 Iowa Tests of Educational
> Development (ITED)**
>
> **Riverside Publishing -- Houghton Mifflin Company**

  -------------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- ---------------
                       **2006-2007**   **2005-2006**   **2004-2005**   **2003-2004**   **2002-2003**   **2001-2002**

  **Testing Month**    **Nov.**        **Nov.**        **Nov.**        **Nov.**        **Nov.**        **Nov.**

  **SCHOOL SCORES\***                                                                                  

  **% of "Highly       **23**          **21**          **25**          **16**          **22**          **18**
  Proficient"                                                                                          
  Students**                                                                                           

  **% of "Proficient   **78**          **85**          **88**          **83**          **84**          **74**
  plus Highly                                                                                          
  Proficient"                                                                                          
  Students**                                                                                           

  **\# of Total        **123**         **80**          **101**         **81**          **111**         **85**
  Students Tested**                                                                                    

  **% of Total         **99**          **99**          **98**          **98**          **98**          **97**
  Students Tested**                                                                                    

  **\# of Students     **0**           **0**           **0**           **0**           **0**           **0**
  Alternatively                                                                                        
  Assessed**                                                                                           

  **% of Students      **0**           **0**           **0**           **0**           **0**           **0**
  Alternatively                                                                                        
  Assessed**                                                                                           

                                                                                                       

  **SUBGROUP SCORES**                                                                                  

  **1. Free/Reduced                                                                                    
  Lunch**                                                                                              

  **% of "Highly       **0**                           **21**                                          
  Proficient"                                                                                          
  Students**                                                                                           

  **% of "Proficient   **33**                          **85**                                          
  plus Highly                                                                                          
  Proficient"                                                                                          
  Students**                                                                                           

  **\# of Students     **21**                          **14**                                          
  Tested**                                                                                             

                                                                                                       

  **2. Special                                                                                         
  education (w/IEP)**                                                                                  

  **% of "Highly       **0**                                                                           
  Proficient"                                                                                          
  Students**                                                                                           

  **% of "Proficient   **8**                                                                           
  plus Highly                                                                                          
  Proficient"                                                                                          
  Students**                                                                                           

  **\# of Students     **12**                                                                          
  Tested**                                                                                             
  -------------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- ---------------

> **Subject -- Mathematics Grade 9 Iowa Tests of Educational Development
> (ITED)**
>
> **Riverside Publishing -- Houghton Mifflin Company**

  -------------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- ---------------
                       **2006-2007**   **2005-2006**   **2004-2005**   **2003-2004**   **2002-2003**   **2001-2002**

  **Testing Month**    **Nov.**        **Nov.**        **Nov.**        **Nov.**        **Nov.**        **Nov.**

  **SCHOOL SCORES\***                                                                                  

  **% of "Highly       **29**          **31**          **19**          **33**          **38**          **33**
  Proficient"                                                                                          
  Students**                                                                                           

  **% of "Proficient   **86**          **85**          **81**          **85**          **92**          **91**
  plus Highly                                                                                          
  Proficient"                                                                                          
  Students**                                                                                           

  **\# of Total        **94**          **125**         **81**          **106**         **74**          **97**
  Students Tested**                                                                                    

  **% of Total         **99**          **99**          **98**          **98**          **98**          **97**
  Students Tested**                                                                                    

  **\# of Students     **0**           **0**           **0**           **0**           **0**           **0**
  Alternatively                                                                                        
  Assessed**                                                                                           

  **% of Students      **0**           **0**           **0**           **0**           **0**           **0**
  Alternatively                                                                                        
  Assessed**                                                                                           

                                                                                                       

  **SUBGROUP SCORES**                                                                                  

  **1. Free/Reduced                                                                                    
  Lunch**                                                                                              

  **% of "Highly                       **15**          **0**           **13.3**                        **18**
  Proficient"                                                                                          
  Students**                                                                                           

  **% of "Proficient                   **55**          **55**          **66**                          **89**
  plus Highly                                                                                          
  Proficient"                                                                                          
  Students**                                                                                           

  **\# of Students                     **20**          **11**          **15**                          **17**
  Tested**                                                                                             

                                                                                                       

  **2. Special                                                                                         
  Education (w/IEP)**                                                                                  

  **% of "Highly       **0**           **0**                                                           
  Proficient"                                                                                          
  Students**                                                                                           

  **% of "Proficient   **38**          **33**                                                          
  plus Highly                                                                                          
  Proficient"                                                                                          
  Students**                                                                                           

  **\# of Students     **13**          **12**                                                          
  Tested**                                                                                             
  -------------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- ---------------