• Category 3

    Selected in 2018

  • Grades: pre k - 7
    School Setting: urban
    Town Population: 30
    Student Enrollment: 370
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 62.7%
    White/Caucasian: 0%
    Hispanic: 37%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
    Asian: 0%
    Native American: 0%
    Other: 0.3%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:12
    % Reduced Lunch: 72%
    % ELL Learners: 9%
    Founded: 1894
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Dr. Yancisca Loften Cooke
  • CONTACT:
    651 Forest Street
    Orange, NJ 07050
    973-677-4120
    cookeyan@mail.orange.k12.nj.us
Forest Street Community School
Orange, NJ
Forest Street School takes pride in providing a nurturing and supportive culture and climate for students, parents and staff.
Describe the most successful activity your school has initiated to strengthen ties to your community.
For the past two years Forest Street School has successfully performed Disney Kids Productions: Jungle Book and Cinderella. There were three presentations of each production and all shows were sold out as the community overwhelmingly supported our students.
What are your school’s top two goals for the next year?
Forest Street School would like to continue to close the achievement gap amongst our sub gropus by providing all students with an instructional program that meets their individual needs. In addition, as we grow as a community school it is our goal to strengthen our community partnerships to support our families.
Describe the program or initiative that has had the greatest positive effect on student achievement, including closing achievement or opportunity gaps, if applicable.
At Forest Street School we currently implement several academic intervention programs to support all sub groups: Morning Intervention which provides focused instructional support utilizing technology and our MicroSociety Extended school day program which provides the students with opportunities to apply "real world" life skills with a math and civics focus. Additionally, we have assisted our ESL students by providing them with tablets for home use where they can access programs language acquisition.
Identify the critical professional development activities you use to improve teaching and student learning.
Forest Street School instructional staff conducts "Collegial Walk-throughs"where a team of teachers are provided with an opportunity to visit and observe their colleagues during the instructional period with a specifc focus in mind. This practice is solely for the instructional staff as administration has no role. As a result of the walk-through findings the teaching staff develops and facilitates peer professional development where appliciable.
Describe how data is used to improve student achievement and inform decision making.
Data outcomes from various academic sources are gathered throughout the course of the school year for all grade levels to support individualized instruction. Horizontal and vertical articulation is an ongoing practice which supports the academic program. Additional data has been collected to identify focused professional development to enhance instructional practices.
Describe your school culture and explain changes you’ve taken to improve it.
Forest Street School takes pride in providing a nurturing and supportive culture and climate for students, parents and staff. There is an observable committement from all stakeholders as collaboration is ongoing. Most recently we have been identified as a community school where we are now in the position to serve as a resource for the Orange Community.
Stats
  • Category 3

    Selected in 2018

  • Grades: pre k - 7
    School Setting: urban
    Town Population: 30
    Student Enrollment: 370
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 62.7%
    White/Caucasian: 0%
    Hispanic: 37%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
    Asian: 0%
    Native American: 0%
    Other: 0.3%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:12
    % Reduced Lunch: 72%
    % ELL Learners: 9%
    Founded: 1894
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Dr. Yancisca Loften Cooke
  • CONTACT:
    651 Forest Street
    Orange, NJ 07050
    973-677-4120
    cookeyan@mail.orange.k12.nj.us