• Category 1

    Selected in 2021

  • Grades: 6 - 8
    School Setting: urban
    Town Population: 22
    Student Enrollment: 478
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 0.6%
    White/Caucasian: 73.6%
    Hispanic: 12.2%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0.4%
    Asian: 4.9%
    Native American: 0.2%
    Other: 8.1%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:28
    % Reduced Lunch: 10%
    % ELL Learners: 5%
    Founded: 1959
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Toni Brown
  • CONTACT:
    200 Doherty Drive
    Larkspur, CA 94939
    415-927-6978
    tbrown@lcmschools.org
Hall Middle School
Larkspur, CA
We are committed to recognizing student work ethic, improvement over time, and collaboration within the classroom."
1. Tell us about your school’s success.
Hall Middle school is a unique site where a shared vision for high student achievement outcomes while supporting student needs are a priority. Our staff is committed to creating an equitable student-centered learning environment where all students have access to high-yield instructional practices. Teachers at Hall are committed to standards-based reporting to provide nuanced feedback on learning targets and collaborate regularly to calibrate expected student outcomes and gather data using common assessments tools to measure student progress.

As a district, our efforts to focus on equity and wellness are reflected in our day-to-day practices from dress code policy to mindfulness and restorative practices across our campus. This is truly a learning campus with educators using data to guide instruction and provide just the right instruction for each student. Our culture is defined and rooted in our school motto, We Are One, with the focus on every student every day. Ongoing professional development in the interest of providing each student with culturally responsive teaching practices in a safe and inclusive learning environment has supported our student-centered focus on one thing, learning.
2. Talk about the greatest contributing factor(s) that promoted positive change in your school.
The journey for Hall Middle School is one that is grounded in shared vision and input from all stakeholders. This campus worked to create the space that is now recognized as a 2021 ESEA National Distinguished School by coming together and engaging in the work to have equitable outcomes for all students. Our work is not done by any means, but our journey over the years has the vision and focus of an amazing group of educators.

Beginning with culture shifts in 2015, the staff worked to create and unify our campus with a new motto, the Cougar Code for student expectations, reinforcements to build on student strengths and student recognition that highlighted student growth, work ethic and collaboration with peers. From here the staff engaged in equitable grading practices with the transition to standards based reporting. This transition was a significant turning point in our academic practices that also brought to life a student reflection element to better understand their journey as a learner. It is this continued focus of looking at equitable practices for all students that have factored into the positive outcomes at Hall.
Hall Middle School has been committed to creating and implementing a viable and guaranteed curriculum. Staff have created curriculum maps, common assessments, and interventions are in place for students needing additional support. Standards and proficiency scales are continually being examined to support student learning.

During the pandemic, Hall Middle opened its doors on October 5, 2020 offering in-person instruction five days a week for every student. Hall Middle provided more in-person instructional minutes than any other secondary school in Marin and was a leader in the nation in providing safe in-person school.
3. How has ESEA funding supported the school's success?
ESEA funding in LCMSD has supported many of the initiatives shared here as well as so much more. This funding has offered students wifi access during the pandemic as well as the devices needed to engage in Distance Learning. Professional development shared here is another example of how these monies have encouraged our staff to put students first and ensure equitable practices are in place. Whether math or literacy development, or our continued work in Equity this funding supports our site and district mission.

Other examples of ESEA funding that has supported Hall is in staffing. With some monies available to Hall, we are proud to allocate some toward our Math and Language Arts teaching staff. Hall is fortunate to have highly qualified educators on staff and this monetary support brought innovative and teacher leaders to Hall staff.
4. What professional development activities were used to improve teaching and learning?
The idea of Every Student Every Day comes from the top and the Larkspur-Corte Madera School District has supported this from day one. Our superintendent brings a rich background in professional development for both English Language Arts and Math instruction. Grounded in research-based practices and what works best for student learning, our professional development over the years has included support for Reader’s and Writer’s Workshop, Cognitively Guided Instruction in Math, STEM, Mindfulness and Equity work to support the learner where they are and with the tools needed for success. Reflecting on our practices and using data to guide instruction and meet student needs is where we work to improve and grow. As a district we recognize this work is not static and requires us to reflect on our intended outcomes and data to allow for adjustments and redesign as student needs are presented. This is where knowing the learner is critical and a part of our daily mission.

In addition to this, Hall collaborated with Center X from UCLA to integrate social justice into math highlighting inequities with real life data. Examining our practices in math instruction to ensure student growth while connecting to real life data not only shed light on our systemic inequities but encouraged critical thinking skills for our students. Our equity focus continued with Marin County Office of Education and Courageous Conversations and has shifted to a district wide internally led year of reflection and unpacking our practices we can improve as a school district to meet the needs of our BIPOC families.

This year we will continue our work with Standards Based Reporting with the desire to continue to improve equitable grading practices focused on student outcomes. Collaborating with Marzano, we will be working to implement proficiency scales to strengthen common assessments and continue to make data driven decisions regarding our instructional practices.
5. Talk about the cultural shift leading up to your school's success.
The cultural shift at Hall began when the need for focused recalibration of student expectations was needed. Leadership at the time brought this staff together to create a shared vision for the Cougar Community and what it meant to be a part of Hall Middle School. It was the beginning of all stakeholders coming together and working to create our current Cougar Code, that defines what it means to be a Cougar. There are five tenets to the Cougar Code which includes, showing kindness and respect, caring for our environment, act with integrity, work hard and don’t give up, and pursue our passions. These are the tenets of our Cougar Community and they are reinforced with student celebrations such as Student of the Month and Excellence in Learning assemblies. We are committed to recognizing student work ethic, improvement over time and collaboration within the classroom as well as student achievement. It was from here the next transformation came about.

From student expectations behaviorally the focus became student academic outcomes and the inquiry into Standards Based Reporting began. The staff spent a year diving into the research, practices, and began to share the practices of this transition that aligned with our recent work with student behavior expectations. In the interest of providing students with nuanced feedback regarding their learning trajectory, teaching them the self-regulation skills they can shape pathway as a learner was paramount. The staff engaged in a two year process, meetings with stakeholders to share our work and how this transition would take place. Our work here is just beginning and we look forward to growing as learners in our practices and adjustments as we continue to improve student feedback.
6. How has community involvement strengthened your success?
We are fortunate in LCMSD to have a very supportive community that has given in time and resources to our programming. Our SPARK Foundation supports school counselors at every school site, enrichment programming such as Art, Music and PLTW courses. During the pandemic, this community showed up daily to support the return of full instructional days and lunch supervision in an effort to keep our students in school and safe during challenging times. Our athletics programs rely heavily on parent support and offer amazing community connections to Hall. The PTA looks for creative ways to support our students by funding elective classes and yearbook production. Our parent community is committed to success for all students and works collaboratively with school officials to make Hall the amazing place it is.
Stats
  • Category 1

    Selected in 2021

  • Grades: 6 - 8
    School Setting: urban
    Town Population: 22
    Student Enrollment: 478
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 0.6%
    White/Caucasian: 73.6%
    Hispanic: 12.2%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0.4%
    Asian: 4.9%
    Native American: 0.2%
    Other: 8.1%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:28
    % Reduced Lunch: 10%
    % ELL Learners: 5%
    Founded: 1959
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Toni Brown
  • CONTACT:
    200 Doherty Drive
    Larkspur, CA 94939
    415-927-6978
    tbrown@lcmschools.org