2014-2015 Cornelius ElementarySchool Improvement Plan Report
School Improvement Plan
2014-2015
2013-2014through 2014-2015
School Improvement Plans remain in effect for two years, but a School Leadership Team may amend as often as necessary or appropriate.
Draft Due: September 26, 2014 / Final Copy Due: October 24, 2014Cornelius Elementary
School: / Cornelius Elementary / Courier Number: / 346
Address: / 21126 Catawba Avenue
Cornelius, NC 28031 / Phone Number: / 980.343.3905
Fax Number: / 980.343.3907
Learning Community / North Learning Community / School Website: /
Principal: / Jessica Holbrook
Learning Community Superintendent: / Dr. Matthew Hayes
Cornelius ElementarySchool Improvement Team Membership
From GS §115C-105.27: “The principal of each school, representatives of the assistant principals, instructional personnel, instructional support personnel, and teacher assistants assigned to the school building, and parents of children enrolled in the school shall constitute a school improvement team to develop a school improvement plan to improve student performance. Representatives of the assistant principals, instructional personnel, instructional support personnel, and teacher assistants shall be elected by their respective groups by secret ballot....Parents serving on school improvement teams shall reflect the racial and socioeconomic composition of the students enrolled in that school and shall not be members of the building-level staff.”
Committee Position / Name / Email Address / Date Elected
Principal / Jessica Holbrook / / 9/2013
Assistant Principal Representative / Elizabeth Brammer / / 8/2009
Teacher Representative / Pat Amato / / 8/2013
Inst. Support Representative / Ginger Fitch / / 8/2014
Teacher Assistant Representative / Anitra Freeman / / 9/2014
Parent Representative / Heather Carlock / / 9/2014
Parent Representative / Lindsey Long / / 9/2012
Parent Representative / Joan Baker / / 9/2013
Parent Representative / Gina Wells / / 9/2013
Parent Representative / Brandon Whiteside / / 9/2014
Parent Representative / Kelly Osborne / / 9/2014
Vision Statement
District: CMS provides all students the best education available anywhere, preparing every child to lead a rich and productive life.
School: Cornelius Elementary School will be a collaborative community of excellence that fosters creative, self-directed, critical thinkers who are lifelong learners and community contributors.
Mission Statement
District: The mission of CMS is to maximize academic achievement by every student in every school.
School:To inspire students to reach their potential as lifelong learners through a variety of experiences, where responsibility for teaching and learning is respectfully shared among students, parents, staff, and community.
Cornelius Elementary Shared Beliefs
2014-2015 Cornelius ElementarySchool Improvement Plan Report
We, the Cornelius Elementary School Learning Community, believe in…
- Establishing a safe, respectful, nurturing, and clean environment for all students and staff
- A rigorous, standards-based curriculum
- Assessing academic growth through the mastery of North Carolina grade level standards and Common Core Standards using common assessments and multiple measures
- Working as a professional learning community
- Differentiating instruction to maximize every student’s academic potential
- Teaching our students personal responsibility and character traits of success
- Creating a strong parent-teacher partnership in each child’s education
- Developing effective communication within our school, between school and home, and with our community
- Regardless of students’ background, race or ethnicity, all students can be successful and reach their full potential as learners
2014-2015 Cornelius ElementarySchool Improvement Plan Report
Cornelius Elementary SMART Goals
Smart Goal 1: Provide a duty-free lunch period for every teacher on a daily basis.
Smart Goal 2: Provide duty-free instructional planning time for every teacher under G.S. 115C-105.27 and -301.1, with the goal of proving an average of at least five hours of planning time per week, to the maximum extent that the safety and proper supervision of students may allow during regular student contact hours.
Smart Goal 3: Provide a positive school climate, under CMS regulation JICK-R, by promoting a safe learning environment free of bullying and harassing behaviors.
Smart Goal 4: Decrease the achievement gap in proficiency between the lowest performing subgroups, students with disabilities, Black, and Hispanic (SWD/BLCK/HISP) and the highest performing subgroup White (W) with a focus on reading, as measured by the Reading EOG tests. African American students will increase career and college readiness from 32.3% in SY 2013-2014 to 50% in SY 2014-2015 to 70% in SY 2015-2016. Students with disabilities will increase career and college readiness from 27.8% in SY 2013-2014 to 45% in SY 2014-2015 to 70% in SY 2015-2016. Hispanic students will increase career and college readiness from 18.9% in SY 2013-2014 to 40% in SY 2014-2015 to 70% in SY 2015-2016.
Smart Goal 5: Increase the percentage of students at or above grade level in Reading in grades 3-5 from 64.69% in SY 2013-2014 to 70% at the end of SY 2014-2015 and 75% by end of SY 2015-2016 as measured by the North Carolina End of Grade Test.
Cornelius ElementaryAssessment Data Snapshot
Paste desired SIP data reports from Principal Portal here. Please note that 2012-13 data is currently not available.
Insert other related data points pertinent to your school.
Assessment / Subgroup / 2013-2014 / 2012-2013 / 2011-2012% GLP / % CCR / % GLP / % CCR / % GLP / % CCR
Grade 03 EOG Composite / All / 88.8 / 79.6 / 67.7 / 80.2
Grade 03 EOG Math / All / 93.2 / 87.4 / 73.3 / 86.1
Grade 03 EOG Reading / All / 84.5 / 71.8 / 62.1 / 82.2
Grade 04 EOG Composite / All / 77.7 / 69.8 / 66.5 / 86.9
Grade 04 EOG Math / All / 80.2 / 73.3 / 70.8 / 98.0
Grade 04 EOG Reading / All / 75.2 / 66.3 / 62.3 / 86.9
Grade 05 EOG Composite / All / 75.1 / 64.6 / 68.0 / 86.0
Grade 05 EOG Math / All / 75.8 / 71.7 / 74.2 / 96.5
Grade 05 EOG Reading / All / 72.7 / 55.6 / 59.8 / 86.8
Grade 05 EOG Science / All / 76.8 / 66.7 / 70.1 / 93.9
School EOG Reading Composite / All / 77.6 / 64.7 / 61.4 / 85.4
School EOG Math Composite / All / 83.2 / 77.6 / 72.7 / 93.6
School EOG Science Composite / All / 76.8 / 66.7 / 70.1 / 93.9
EOG Composite / All / 79.9 / 70.5 / 67.5 / 84.4
School Composite / All / 79.9 / 70.5 / 67.5 / 90.2
Reading / ALL / AMIN / ASIA / BLCK / HISP / MULT / WHTE / EDS / LEP / SWD / AIG
Participation Denominator / 304 / 1 / 11 / 31 / 37 / 9 / 215 / 90 / 19 / 18 / 61
Participation Percent / 100 / 0 / 0 / 100 / 100 / 0 / 100 / 100 / 0 / 0 / 100
Participation Status / Met / Insuf. / Insuf. / Met / Met / Insuf. / Met / Met / Insuf. / Insuf. / Met
Proficiency Denominator / 286 / 0 / 11 / 31 / 37 / 9 / 198 / 88 / 18 / 15 / 61
Proficiency Percent / 65.4 / 0 / 0 / 32.3 / 18.9 / 0 / 79.3 / 38.6 / 0 / 0 / 96.7
Goal Percent / 49.5 / 0 / 65.4 / 33.0 / 35.9 / 51.1 / 60.9 / 35.8 / 18.5 / 21.6 / 91.6
Proficiency Status / Met / ~ / Insuf. / Met/CI / Not Met / Insuf. / Met / Met / Insuf. / Insuf. / Met
Math / ALL / AMIN / ASIA / BLCK / HISP / MULT / WHTE / EDS / LEP / SWD / AIG
Participation Denominator / 304 / 1 / 11 / 31 / 37 / 9 / 215 / 90 / 19 / 18 / 61
Participation Percent / 100 / 0 / 0 / 100 / 100 / 0 / 100 / 100 / 0 / 0 / 100
Participation Status / Met / Insuf. / Insuf. / Met / Met / Insuf. / Met / Met / Insuf. / Insuf. / Met
Proficiency Denominator / 286 / 0 / 11 / 31 / 37 / 9 / 198 / 88 / 18 / 15 / 61
Proficiency Percent / 77.3 / 0 / 0 / 32.3 / 56.8 / 0 / 87.9 / 56.8 / 0 / 0 / 100.0
Goal Percent / 48.1 / 0 / 74.1 / 30.0 / 39.4 / 47.8 / 58.4 / 34.9 / 25.7 / 21.2 / 92.5
Proficiency Status / Met / ~ / Insuf. / Met / Met / Insuf. / Met / Met / Insuf. / Insuf. / Met
Science / ALL / AMIN / ASIA / BLCK / HISP / MULT / WHTE / EDS / LEP / SWD / AIG
Participation Denominator / 99 / 0 / 3 / 12 / 9 / 4 / 71 / 33 / 4 / 11 / 14
Participation Percent / 100 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 100 / 100 / 0 / 0 / 0
Participation Status / Met / ~ / Insuf. / Insuf. / Insuf. / Insuf. / Met / Met / Insuf. / Insuf. / Insuf.
Proficiency Denominator / 92 / 0 / 3 / 12 / 9 / 4 / 64 / 32 / 4 / 9 / 14
Proficiency Percent / 65.2 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 81.3 / 34.4 / 0 / 0 / 0
Goal Percent / 57.0 / 0 / 73.5 / 39.3 / 45.6 / 58.7 / 68.2 / 43.8 / 24.8 / 28.5 / 93.7
Proficiency Status / Met / ~ / Insuf. / Insuf. / Insuf. / Insuf. / Met / Met/CI / Insuf. / Insuf. / Insuf.
Attendance / ALL / AMIN / ASIA / BLCK / HISP / MULT / WHTE / EDS / LEP / SWD / AIG
Rate / 97.4 / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~
Status / Met / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~ / ~
Cornelius ElementaryProfile
Cornelius Elementary School has a long tradition of educational excellence. In 2005-2006, Cornelius Elementary School was selected as one of ten National Schools of Character in the entire United States. In 2006-2007, Cornelius Elementary School EOG results showed that the third, fourth, and fifth grade students had made the 34th highest growth out of all (1,400+) elementary schools in the State of North Carolina. In the 2013-2014 school year, we had the highest MAP growth of all schools in the North Learning Community. We met our expected growth as measured by the NC EOG scores for the 2012-2013 school year and the 2013-2014 school year. In the 2013-2014 we were the recipient of several grants, but most notably the Belk Bowl grant that enabled us to buy 30 Chrome Books and 5 Apple TVs mainly for our fifth grade students. We have a current enrollment of 593 students. The student body ethnicity breakdown is: 12.24% African/American, 67.17% White, 2.72% Asian, 15.13% Hispanic, 1% American Indian, and 1.24% Multi Racial. The student body gender breakdown is: 48% male and 52% female. Our students have a combined 30.73% free and reduced lunch population. We have 66 students identified as gifted (AIG). 6.63% of our student body is LEP. We have 96 students enrolled in four Kindergarten classes, 109 students enrolled in five first grade classes, 95 students enrolled in four second grade classes, 88 students enrolled in our four third grade classes, 108 students enrolled in our four fourth grade classes, and 97 students enrolled in our four fifth grade classes. We have 25 classrooms with 92% Highly Qualified Teachers leading them. We have 7 teacher assistants, a full time counselor, a full time ESL teacher, one literacy facilitator and a full time TD teacher. We have 1.5 EC teachers and a 0.50 Speech Language Therapist. Cornelius Elementary School has a very active and supportive PTO. They have set a goal to raise $80,000 in school year 2014-2015 through an “Investing in Excellence” campaign. Plans include supplementing classroom libraries, assisting with professional development costs, and meeting the needs various teacher requests through funding PTO grants. We have varied community partnerships that help provide book bags, school supplies for students and assistance with food and snacks for our students who have been identified in need.
Strategic Plan 2018: For a Better Tomorrow
Goal 1: Maximize academic achievement in a personalized 21st-century learning environment for every child to graduate college- and career-readyFour focus areas:
- College- and career-readiness
- Academic growth/high academic achievement
- Access to rigor
- Closing achievement gaps
Five focus areas:
- Proactive recruitment
- Individualized professional development
- Retention/quality appraisals
- Multiple career pathways
- Leadership development
Goal 3: Cultivate partnerships with families, businesses,
faith-based groups and community organizations to provide a sustainable system of support and care for each child
Three focus areas:
- Family engagement
- Communication and outreach
- Partnership development
Five focus areas:
- Physical safety
- Social and emotional health
- High engagement
- Cultural competency
- Customer service
Goal 5: Optimize district performance and accountability by
strengthening data use, processes and systems
Four focus areas:
- Effective and efficient processes and systems
- Strategic use of district resources
- Data integrity and use
- School performance improvement
Four focus areas:
- Learning everywhere, all the time
- Innovation and entrepreneurship
- Strategic school redesign
- Innovative new schools
SMART Goal (1):
Duty Free Lunch for Teachers / Provide a duty-free lunch period for every teacher on a daily basis.
Strategic Plan Goal: / Goal 2: Recruit, develop, and retain a premier workforce.
Strategic Plan Focus Area: / Recruitment, Retention,
Navigator Pathway: / Enter Kindergarten ready / X Advanced Reading in K-2 / X At/Above Grade Level in Reading/Writing Grade 3 / At/Above Grade Level in Reading/Writing Grade 7
X At/Above Grade Level in Math Grades 3-5 / Successful completion of Math I in grade 9 / Take and pass at least 1 AP/IB/Post-Secondary class & exam / Score 1550 on SAT or 22 on ACT
Data Used: / Staff survey, FAC notes, Staff Retention Data
Strategies(determined by what data)
- Task
- Task
- Task (PD)
(title/name) / Evidence of Success
(Student Impact) / Funding
(estimated cost / source) / Personnel Involved / Timeline
(Start—End)
- Interim Dates
1. Hire qualified lunch monitors based on the allotted hours from the district. / AP/Brammer / Improved academic performance due to teachers’ having release time during the academic day. / Hourly wages/CMS / Lunch monitors
AP
Principal / September, 2014- June, 2015
2. Create a schedule that allows for coverage during the whole lunch time five days a week. / TD Teacher/Hanks
Principal/Holbrook / Improved academic performance due to teachers’ having release time during the academic day. / Hourly wages/CMS / Lunch monitors
TA
AP
Principal
TD Teacher / September, 2014- June, 2015
SMART Goal(2):
Duty Free Instructional Planning Time / Provide duty-free instructional planning time for every teacher under G.S. 115C-105.27 and -301.1, with the goal of proving an average of at least five hours of planning time per week, to the maximum extent that the safety and proper supervision of students may allow during regular student contact hours.
Strategic Plan Goal: / Goal 1: Maximize academic achievement in a personalized 21st century learning environment for every child to graduate career and college ready.
Strategic Plan Focus Area: / Academic Growth/High Academic Achievement, College and Career Readiness
Navigator Pathway: / Enter Kindergarten ready / X Advanced Reading in K-2 / X At/Above Grade Level in Reading/Writing Grade 3 / At/Above Grade Level in Reading/Writing Grade 7
X At/Above Grade Level in Math Grades 3-5 / Successful completion of Math I in grade 9 / Take and pass at least 1 AP/IB/Post-Secondary class & exam / Score 1550 on SAT or 22 on ACT
Data Used: / MAP, Reading 3D/TRC, Common Assessment Data
Strategies(determined by what data)
- Task
- Task
- Task (PD)
(title/name) / Evidence of Success
(Student Impact) / Funding
(estimated cost / source) / Personnel Involved / Timeline
(Start—End)
- Interim Dates
1. 180 Minute planning for each grade level on a five day rotation (A-E Days) while students participate in four Special Area classes / Principal/ Holbrook
AP/Brammer / Increase student performance on MAP, Reading 3D/TRC, Common Assessments, and EOGs / N/A / Classroom Teachers, Special Area Teachers / September, 2014- June, 2015
2. 45 Minute planning for each grade level two additional days each week / Principal/ Holbrook
AP/Brammer / Increase student performance on MAP, Reading 3D/TRC, Common Assessments, and EOGs / N/A / Classroom Teachers, Special Area Teachers,
Teacher Assistants / September, 2014- June, 2015
3. 15 Minutes before students arrive each day and 15 minutes after students leave each day / Principal/ Holbrook
AP/Brammer / Increase student performance on MAP, Reading 3D/TRC, Common Assessments, and EOGs / N/A / All Teachers / September, 2014- June, 2015
SMART Goal(3):
Anti-Bullying / Character Education / Provide a positive school climate, under CMS regulation JICK-R, by promoting a safe learning environment free of bullying and harassing behaviors.
Strategic Plan Goal: / Goal 4: Promote a system-wide culture of safety, high engagement, customer service, and cultural competence.
Strategic Plan Focus Area: / Physical Safety, Social and Emotional Health
Navigator Pathway: / Enter Kindergarten ready / X Advanced Reading in K-2 / X At/Above Grade Level in Reading/Writing Grade 3 / At/Above Grade Level in Reading/Writing Grade 7
X At/Above Grade Level in Math Grades 3-5 / Successful completion of Math I in grade 9 / Take and pass at least 1 AP/IB/Post-Secondary class & exam / Score 1550 on SAT or 22 on ACT
Data Used: / Referral data, suspension data, bullying lessons feedback/classwork, parent/staff surveys
Strategies(determined by what data)
- Task
- Task
- Task (PD)
(title/name) / Evidence of Success
(Student Impact) / Funding
(estimated cost / source) / Personnel Involved / Timeline
(Start—End)
- Interim Dates
1. Bully Liaison / Bully-prevention
- Bullying Lessons provided to all K-5 classrooms
- Behavior/Discipline Assemblies
Suspension Data
Incident Reports Data / N/A / Counselor
All Teachers / September, 2014- June, 2015
2. Character Education
- Character Education lessons taught monthly
- Character Education assemblies monthly
TA/ Wideman / Student Survey Results
Discipline Referral Data
Monthly Character Ed Recipients in Each Classroom
Parent attendance at assemblies / N/A / Character Education Committee
All Teachers / September, 2014- June, 2015
3. Healthy Active Child 30 min.
- Structured Physical Activity Daily for 30 minutes
PE Teacher / September, 2014- June, 2015
4.School Health Team
- Monthly Health Awareness Information
Nurse/Divelbiss / Information will be shared with students and families through classroom instruction, newsletters, school website, or Listserv / N/A / Classroom Teachers
PE Teacher
School Nurse
Health and Wellness Committee / September, 2014- June, 2015
SMART Goal(4): / Increase the overall percentage of CCR AA students from 32.3% in 2013-2014 to 50% in 2014-2015 and increase the overall percentage of CCR Hispanic students from 18.9% in 2013-2014 to 40% in 2014-2015 as measured by the End of Grade Reading tests.
Strategic Plan Goal: / Maximize academic achievement in a personalized 21st-century learning environment for every child to graduate college- and career-ready
Strategic Plan Focus Area: / College- and career-readiness, academic growth/high academic achievement, access to rigor, closing achievement gaps
Navigator Pathway: / Enter Kindergarten ready / X Advanced Reading in K-2 / X At/Above Grade Level in Reading/Writing Grade 3 / At/Above Grade Level in Reading/Writing Grade 7
At/Above Grade Level in Math Grades 3-5 / Successful completion of Math I in grade 9 / Take and pass at least 1 AP/IB/Post-Secondary class & exam / Score 1550 on SAT or 22 on ACT
Data Used: / MAP scores, Common Assessments, TRC/Reading 3D assessments, NC EOG Reading test
Strategies(determined by what data)
- Task
- Task
- Task (PD)
(title/name) / Evidence of Success
(Student Impact) / Funding
(estimated cost / source) / Personnel Involved / Timeline
(Start—End)
- Interim Dates
1. All teachers will differentiate content based on students’ individual instructional levels.
- Lesson plans will reflect differentiated Guided Reading lessons and strategy groups daily
- Grade level discussion of student needs will occur at each weekly planning session resulting in specific individualized interventions for each student
- A PEP will be developed and shared with parents
- Teachers will use various district supported interventions such as LLI groups and Making Meaning
- Supported Reading will be used to instruct students on grade level materials and expose students to new material in order to prepare them for end of grade expectations
- Classroom libraries will have varied levels of books to accommodate all students need as well as high interest books to motivate students
- Implement effective instructional approaches in writing using the Lucy Calkins Writers’ Workshop model.
- Engage students in daily writing tasks across content areas while using mentor texts