• Category 2

    Selected in 2020

  • Grades: pre k - 8
    School Setting: rural
    Town Population: 600
    Student Enrollment: 89
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 100%
    White/Caucasian: 0%
    Hispanic: 0%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
    Asian: 0%
    Native American: 0%
    Other: 0%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:5
    % Reduced Lunch: 100%
    % ELL Learners: 0%
    Founded: 1947
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Ms. Coquesa Dotson
  • CONTACT:
    3366 County Road 49
    Lower Peachtree, AL 36751
    334-636-2032
    cdotson@monroe.k12.al.us
Monroe Intermediate School
Lower Peachtree, AL
'Striving for Excellence' is our motto.
Describe specific programs in place to ensure that families are involved in the success of your school and students.
Quarterly CIP meetings
Parenting Nights
Open House
Annual Title I Parenting Meeting
PTO meetings
PTO Executive Board
Parent volunteers
Describe the most successful activity your school has initiated to strengthen ties to your community.
In 2017, Monroe Intermediate School (MIS) planned and executed its first annual school homecoming and alumni reunion. Current MIS students and former MIS students reunited for two days. Reunion activities included homecoming activities such as homecoming coronation, t-shirt designs, and tailgating.
Describe your philosophy of school change or improvement.
"Striving for Excellence" is our motto. In order to be excellent, MIS does not settle for mediocre. To begin with, a needs assessment is conducted and then we use the data to set goals. We get buy in from all stakeholders-students, parents, faculty, staff, teachers, and community members. We frequently revisit goals and consistently hold each other accountable. We implement strategies to meet those goals and celebrate along the way as we make progress towards those goals. If needed, we make changes in order to meet those goals. We strategically set goals and go for them! Failure and mediocrity is not an option at MIS!
What are your school’s top two goals for the next year?
Our goal is to continue to close the achievement gap!
What is the single most important factor in the success of your school that others could replicate?
Monthly data meetings
Describe the program or initiative that has had the greatest positive effect on student achievement, including closing achievement or opportunity gaps, if applicable.
Strategic teaching tiered instruction, data analysis, having high expectations, and accountability have had the greatest impact on closing the achievement gap.
Explain how ESEA federal funds are used to support your improvement efforts.
Federal funds are used to support improvement efforts based on the needs assessment to close the gap. Human and fiscal resources are purchased to provide additional instruction and individualized instruction for students who are behind their grade level.
Identify the critical professional development activities you use to improve teaching and student learning.
On-site and goal-specific PD is held at MIS. Teachers receive PD in coaching cycles. The need is established through instructional observation or the teacher's self assessment through Educator Effectiveness. The PD is provided which includes modeling, team teaching, and ongoing on-site support.
Describe how data is used to improve student achievement and inform decision making.
Data is used to drive instructional decisions. The principal, reading specialist, and teachers disaggregate data from universal screeners, progress monitoring tools, and formative assessments to set behavioral and academic goals. During grade level and school-wide data meetings, individual and school goals are set. Once goals are set, strategies are created to meet those goals. Progress monitoring through weekly and bi-weekly student data meetings are held to review student goals and discuss the progress.
Describe your school culture and explain changes you’ve taken to improve it.
MIS has implemented high expectations as a standard and non-negotiable. We hold students and parents accountable. We hold annual and quarterly parenting meetings to set, progress monitor, and review school goals. We hold monthly student data meetings to set, progress monitor, and review goals. In addition, students monthly mentoring opportunities are provided to all students.
Stats
  • Category 2

    Selected in 2020

  • Grades: pre k - 8
    School Setting: rural
    Town Population: 600
    Student Enrollment: 89
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 100%
    White/Caucasian: 0%
    Hispanic: 0%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
    Asian: 0%
    Native American: 0%
    Other: 0%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:5
    % Reduced Lunch: 100%
    % ELL Learners: 0%
    Founded: 1947
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Ms. Coquesa Dotson
  • CONTACT:
    3366 County Road 49
    Lower Peachtree, AL 36751
    334-636-2032
    cdotson@monroe.k12.al.us