2008-09 School Year October 2009

Paul D. West Middle School

Dan A. Sims, Principal 2376 Headland Drive, East Point, GA 30344
Iris Moran, Area Superintendent 404-669-8130 y www.fultonschools.org/schools/westpauld

Key Results from 2008-09 School Improvement Plans

Improvement plans, which outline current and ongoing school goals, are developed by About this Report
each Fulton County school. These plans guide school administrators and teachers toward The Fulton County School
improving student achievement and the overall school success. System uses a framework –
called the Value-Added
Objective – Increase student achievement in English/language arts. Performance System – that
guides school leaders in raising
Results – For the seventh consecutive year, Paul D. West Middle School increased its student achievement by
overall performance on the CRCT (Criterion-Referenced Competency Test), where 86.5% measuring academic growth as
of our students achieved at or above grade level last school year. This was the highest well as performance and by
performance achieved in Paul D. West Middle School’s history. comparing or “benchmarking”
With a strong focus on collaboration and analyzing student data, staff spent a significant against similar schools
time discussing student academic performance while improving instructional strategies achieving excellent results.
throughout the year. Our plan is to continue the rich collaborative culture that contributed
to our success, focusing more on ongoing assessments to ensure that student learning is The system helps answer the
taking place equitably throughout the year. With this focus, we will surely exceed 90% for questions:
the 2009-10 school year. • How effective are our
schools?
Objective – Increase student achievement in writing. • How much difference do
our schools and teachers
Results – The school maintained last year’s performance with 73% of students make?
performing at or above grade level on the Georgia Middle Grades Writing Assessment.
Writing was a focus across the curriculum, allowing students to use writing throughout • How much added value do
their school day, thus building great comfort with writing. In our efforts to increase our schools offer over
performance, we plan to adopt a schoolwide writing focus so that all students will benefit other schools and school
from more meaningful writing instruction throughout middle school. systems?
• How can we improve in
Objective – Increase student achievement in mathematics. order to better help each
and every student reach
Results – For the past two years, the school has increased its overall performance on the his or her fullest potential?
CRCT, where 61% of students achieved at or above grade level in 2009 – a 4% increase
from last year. This upward trend is attributable to our increased schoolwide focus on The Value-Added Performance
mathematics and improved emphasis on a conceptual understanding of mathematics for System uses analytical tools to
students. Students began each day with a grade-appropriate mathematics word problem, isolate data that reflects the
enhancing their ability to recognize and successfully solve problems of different types. To school’s impact on student
complement this effort, math teachers aligned rich word problems with their daily lessons, learning. It enables the school
assisting students in making connections between the standards and the tasks embedded in to focus on factors over which
the problems. they have control to better
focus improvement initiatives.
To continue this trend, we will focus more on teacher content knowledge so that students
will develop a deep conceptual understanding of mathematics. In addition, we will
continue with the “Math Problem of the Day” program so that students will receive
ongoing exposure to rich problems outside of the classroom.

Paul D. West Middle School y October 2009 2008-09 Annual Performance Report y Page 1
2008-09 Academic Achievement
Georgia Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests
The Georgia Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests (CRCT) are given in grades one through eight. The test measures
specific skills included in the Georgia core curriculum that are considered essential for continued academic progress.

CRCT scores are reported as levels. Level I indicates students do not yet meet expectations. Students scoring at Level 2
meet the state’s expectations of being on grade level, and students at Level 3 exceed expectations, or are above grade
level. Scores are reported by the percent of students in a school scoring at or above grade level.

Paul D. West Middle School

Reading Achievement – CRCT Reading
100%
Our School vs. 6.3%
90% 14.4% 17.4%
Fulton County Averages 27.4%
80% 42.0%
46.4%
70%

60%
75.2%
50% 69.7%
76.9%
40% 65.8%
30% 47.2% 55.5%
20%

10% 18.5%
15.9% 5.7%
0%
6.3% 6.7% 2.5%
Our School Fulton Our School Fulton Our School Fulton

6th Grade 7th Grade 8th Grade

Does Not Meet Meets Exceeds

Math Achievement – Paul D. West Middle School

CRCT Math
100%
Our School vs. 5.3% 5.6% 5.7%
Fulton County Averages 90%
28.2% 31.1%
80% 34.6%
70%
53.8% 49.7%
56.7%
60%

50%
51.9%
40% 49.9% 52.7%
30%

20% 40.9% 44.7%

37.6%
10% 19.9% 15.5% 16.1%
0%
Our School Fulton Our School Fulton Our School Fulton

6th Grade 7th Grade 8th Grade

Does Not Meet Meets Exceeds

Paul D. West Middle School y October 2009 2008-09 Annual Performance Report y Page 2
 Reading Achievement – Paul D. West Middle School
CRCT Reading
Separated by Our School’s 100%

100.0%
Student Demographics 90%

92.3%
87.5%

86.5%
86.3%
86.1%

85.0%
80%

84.0%

78.2%

78.1%
70%
If there are fewer than ten students in

71.7%
65.5%
64.3%

64.3%
60%

63.2%
a group, data is not shown for that

60.2%

59.0%
58.0%
50%

52.3%
specific demographic
40%
30%
20%

0.0%
10%
0%

American Indian /
Students with
Disadvantaged

Multiracial

Asian / Pacific

All Students
Limited English

White

Hispanic

Black
Economically

Alaskan Native
Disabilities
Proficient

Islander
Our School Fulton

Math Achievement – Paul D. West Middle School

CRCT Math
Separated by Our School’s 100%

98.3%
90%
Student Demographics

89.1%
85.7%

84.6%
80%

83.2%
81.3%

78.2%
70%

72.3%
If there are fewer than ten students in
67.2%

65.8%
60%

63.6%
a group, data is not shown for that

59.2%

58.8%
58.1%
57.1%

56.3%
50%
specific demographic
49.3%
46.7%

45.5%

40%
30%
20%

0.0%
10%
0%
Students with
Disadvantaged

Limited English

White

Hispanic

Black

All Students
Asian / Pacific
Multiracial

American Indian /
Economically

Alaskan Native
Disabilities
Proficient

Islander
Our School Fulton

Grade Eight Writing Assessment Paul D. West Middle School

Part of the Statewide Testing Program, this 8th Grade Writing

writing assessment consists of an evaluation 100% 0.60% 1.80% 2.10%

of the student’s response to an assigned 90%
topic. The topic type may be narrative, 80%
persuasive, or expository.
70% 56.50%
60% 70.80% 71.30%
Similar to the CRCT, scores are reported as
Does Not Meet, Meets and Exceeds 50%
Standards. 40%
30%
20% 41.60%
27.10% 26.20%
10%
0%
2006-2007 2007-2008 2008-2009
Does Not Meet Meets Exceeds

Paul D. West Middle School y October 2009 2008-09 Annual Performance Report y Page 3
Paul D. West Middle School
Dan A. Sims, Principal 2376 Headland Drive, East Point, GA 30344
Iris Moran, Area Superintendent 404-669-8130 y www.fultonschools.org/schools/westpauld

2008-09 Highlights and Achievements

Academics and Activities Other Notable Achievements

• School made Adequate Yearly Progress in 2009 • Participated in the “Toys in da Hood”
• State Superintendent’s Award for Greatest Gains on the CRCT in Toy Drive during the holiday season
sixth grade science • Recorded over 11,325 volunteer hours
• Increase in advanced reading, English/language arts and math classes • Recipient of Golden Apple Award for
• Increase in Talented and Gifted (TAG) students and TAG certified volunteer efforts
teachers on staff • Partnered with ED3 (ED Cubed)
• PSAT offered to all students (70 students took the test) Program with East Point City
• Student placed second in the county Science Fair Councilwoman Earnestine Pittman to
• Students placed first in state and third in national SECME competitions track 40 students all the way to
(Southeastern Consortium for Minorities in Engineering) graduation
• Unique and diverse extracurricular exposure for students • Established rich relationship with
Senior Citizens at the Bowden Center
- Saturday ESP (Every Student Prepared) Club – focused on
• Participated in and raised funds for the
college preparation and financial management
American Cancer Society’s Relay for
- Japanese Language Club
Life
- Saturday S.W.A.G. Academy (Students Working to Achieve
• Conducted PASSport (Parents
Greatness)
Assuring Student Success) trainings
- Afterschool Performing Arts program
throughout the year in an effort to
- CHOICES program (encouraging students to make positive
increase parent empowerment and
choices)
involvement
- Good News faith-based club
• Successfully hosted over 60 sixth
- Recording and Production club
graders at Panther Camp 2009 over the
summer
• Superior ratings in the Georgia Music Educators Association band
• Recorded and (nationally) released first
and orchestra festivals
student-teacher-administration
• Ph. D. obtained by two teachers
collaboration CD – East Point
• Student selected to attend NASA Space Camp in Florida
Scholars, Vol. 1
• Academic partner with Junior Achievement through the Social
• Partnered with Kennesaw State
Studies Department
University to improve mathematics
achievement
• 18 faculty members represent the
school on the Cluster Vertical Team
(designed to increase student exposure
to Advanced Placement classes and
increase post-secondary readiness)
• Hosted over 200 parents for our
Reading/Language Arts Extravaganza
(designed to creatively educate parents
on the demanding curriculum in these
content areas)
• Contributed over 1,000 canned goods
to needy families during the holidays

This report was produced by the Fulton County School System Fulton County Board of Education
with the assistance of our school. Linda P. Bryant, President Julia C. Bernath, Vice President
Gail Dean y Catherine Maddox y Katie Reeves y Linda Schultz y Ashley Widener
Equal opportunity agency. Compliance Coordinator. 404-763-4585. TTY 1-800-255-0135 Cindy Loe, Ph.D., Superintendent

Paul D. West Middle School y October 2009 2008-09 Annual Performance Report y Page 4