STARK COUNTY CUSD #100 MISSION STATEMENT

Stark County CUSD #100’s mission is to equally address the educational needs of all students, within a safe and nurturing environment, with parental and community involvement, while promoting thinking skills, self esteem and self motivation for lifelong learning to become productive members of society.

STARK COUNTY CUSD #100 BOARD GOALS

1. To encourage the involvement and education of parents and the community.

1. To aggressively create and support a flexible, proactive curriculum in vocational, technological, health, art, and academic areas.

1. To commit to and maintain open communication with the community, staff, students, and their families.

1. To promote and maintain a standard of excellence, sportsmanship, and discipline in all educational and extracurricular programs.

1. To maintain financial stability based on prioritized needs in education, building, and transportation areas.

1. To actively pursue a current and dynamic school policy.

1. To cultivate the resources of the community.

STARK COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL VISION STATEMENT

The primary purpose of Stark County High School is to educate ALL individuals

so that they may have a successful life and make positive contributions to society.

Stark County High School believes that education is the development of the mind. Education aims to teach the child to think so that he/she may form judgements based upon reason and moral law. The school is progressive in that it is ever ready to change in order to improve the education for students.

The school believes that, along with mental growth, there should be fostered a sense of social responsibility, an appreciation of esthetic and ethical values, and the growth of proper physical development.

The Stark County High School philosophy is to assist each pupil in developing to the best of his/her ability the following objectives.

I.            Educational Objectives

Help the student:

1.            Prepare for college work;

2.            Prepare for a vocation;

3.            Prepare for lifelong learning; and

4.            Prepare to actively participate in local, state, and national government.

II.            Social Objectives

Help the student:

1.            Develop a skill for the use of leisure time;

2.            Develop knowledge of safety in everyday life;

3.            Develop citizenship in the following areas:  personal conduct, manners,

and morals;

4.            Develop participation in community life;

5.            Develop worthy home membership;

6.            Develop good health habits; and

7.            Develop the ability to understand, willingly accept, and to carry out                                                 responsibilities.

DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

Stark County CUSD #100, a consolidation in 1992-1993 of the unit districts of Toulon and Wyoming, is located in central Illinois approximately 40 miles north and west of Peoria. The name, Stark County, is somewhat misleading since not all children in Stark County are within District #100 boundaries and some children in Knox and Marshall Counties are.

Ten small towns ranging in sizes from 25 to 1400 comprise the 242 square mile district. These communities are joined by a common school, county governmental organizations, and many civic, fraternal, and social groups. Volunteerism and community involvement abound throughout the county.

The district serves Pre-Kindergarten through 12^th grade students in three buildings on two sites in Wyoming and Toulon. In 2006-2007, the high school served 268 students in grades 9 through 12. The high school population is fairly stable and has been hovering around 300 for several years. Bradford CUSD #1, a neighboring district, recently deactivated its high school and sends approximately 17 freshman students each year to SCHS.

There is only one high school in District #100. It is small enough to recognize the individual needs of all its students. But, it is also large enough to provide a variety of services to meet their diverse needs. The following agencies and organizations are among those that provide services to the students of the high school:

Henry/Stark Special Education Cooperative,

Henry County Youth Services Bureau

Bureau, Henry, Stark Regional Office of Education

Illinois Department of Children and Family Services

Black Hawk Community College-East Campus

The Stark County News

The Prairie Shopper

New Horizons

An active partnership exists between the school and the community. Parents, area business people, and other community members routinely support and generously contribute to the efforts of the school. All stakeholders realize that only working together will Stark County students be prepared for the technical and challenging workplace that waits for them outside the boundaries of Stark County.

School Population: In 2007, 99.3% of students were classified as Caucasian. .7% were classified as Asian/Pacific Islander.

Attendance: In 2007, the attendance rate for Stark County High School was 93.1%. This is statistically the same as the state rate of 93.7%. This is consistent with traditionally high attendance rates for the high school.

Chronic Truancy: In 2007, the chronic truancy rate for Stark County High School was 2.6%. This is statistically the same as the state rate of 2.5%. Historically, only a few students are chronically truant. However, the truancy of any student is a concern at Stark County, and appropriate steps are taken to attempt to keep these students in school.

Mobility: In 2007, the mobility rate of Stark County High School students was 13.1%. This is lower than the state rate of 15.2%. Student mobility raises certain educational concerns, and these are routinely addressed and met in a variety of ways.

High School Graduation: In 2007, the graduation rate for Stark County High School was 86.4%. This is higher than the 2007 state rate of 85.9% and is considerably higher that the AYP target of 72%.

High School Dropout: In 2007, the dropout rate for Stark County High School was 5.2%. This is higher than usual and higher than the state rate of 3.5%. All efforts are made at Stark County to identify students at risk for dropping out of school and to apply appropriate interventions to reinvest these students in their education.

Class Size: Class size at Stark County High School varies depending upon the class itself. Required classes are understandably larger than elective ones. In sequenced courses, advanced classes tend to be smaller than beginning ones. Average class size in 2007 was 21.9 as compared to the state average class size of 18.9.

Low Income: In 2007, the rate of low-income students for the entire district was 32.2%. The rate of low-income families for grade 9 through 12 students was lower at 19.4%. Traditionally, older students underreport low economic status. So, the actual rate at the high school is probably higher and closer to the district rate. Both rates, however, are considerably lower than the 2007 state rate of 40.9%.

State Assessment Data: 11^th grade students are tested each year using the Prairie State Achievement Exam (PSAE). The PSAE includes the ACT.

*Complete 2007 results and an analysis of trend data are attached.

THE PLANNING PROCESS

The administration and staff of Stark County High School are continually reviewing programs and the current plan for improvement. Progress toward goals is monitored and adjustments are made as necessary. Formal consideration of annual Internal Review documents and activities normally takes place in August by the school’s School Improvement Team.

In 2007-2008, Principal Mike Domico worked with his entire staff at the beginning and throughout the school year to determine areas of strength and deficiency.  Identified areas of deficiency became the targeted goals of this School Improvement Plan.

AREAS OF PLANNED IMPROVEMENT IN 2007-2008

The Stark County High School staff and Principal Domico considered the following data in developing the School Improvement Plan for 2007-2008.

1. 2007 ISAT and PSAE results combined with trend analysis of scores since 1999.
2. Recommendations from 2006-2007 content area curriculum articulation meetings.
3. March 2007 Professional Development Survey.
4. Surveys and meeting reports on a change from Block scheduling to a traditional schedule.
5. Building Safety Meetings

Targeted goals for improvement in the 2007-2008 school year are as follows:

GOAL 1: Improve student performance on the PSAE.

GOAL 2: Investigate a return to traditional scheduling in the High School.

GOAL 3: Update the Language Arts curriculum in the High School.