Lochburn Middle School's Staff Meeting Educational Challenges Head-On

Lochburn Middle School is a school with challenges – but its staff is ready to meet them head-on.

That is the message imparted by Helen Wilson in her “State of the School” report to the Clover Park School Board this week. Wilson is in her eighth year as Lochburn’s principal.

Lochburn is a “turnaround school” of 551 students, 85.9 percent of which receive free or reduced-price lunch. The student body is 39 percent Hispanic, 18 percent Caucasian and 13.4 percent black.

Its vision is to create a community that strives to promote an ongoing partnership between students, staff and parents, and to create an atmosphere of learning, growth and communication in order to ensure student success.

Lochburn’s main improvement goals are for all students in grades six through eight to meet reading goals at 82.5 percent and math goals at 53.2 percent – or exceed state standards in both – for the 2011-12 school year.

“We are not there yet,” Wilson said. “We have work to do. But we’re committed and we’re dedicated to improving our growth.”

While sixth-grade reading scores have declined, from 53.4 percent in 2007-08 to 44.5 percent in 2010-11, math scores have improved from 31.1 percent to 40.3 percent during the same time period.

In addressing the sixth-grade data, Wilson acknowledged the “challenging opportunities” for the staff.

“It’s absolutely our honor to meet those challenges,” she said. “We’re still not where the district and state.”

In seventh grade, reading scores were 37.3 percent for 2010-11, up from 32.1 percent the year before, and math is at its highest rate of passage since 2007, with 40.2 percent of students passing last year.

And while only 28.4 percent of Lochburn’s eighth-graders met standard for science in 2010-11, well below the state average of 61.6 percent, the number was at 18.3 percent in 2007-08.

“It’s really exciting that we’ve almost doubled,” Wilson said. “We also have to make sure we are providing learning that is appropriate for all grade levels.”

In doing that, the staff hopes to raise sixth-grade reading and math scores, seventh-grade reading, writing and math scores, all of which are below the district average and create more consistent growth in eighth-grade reading, math and science growth. Parental involvement is also a source of concern.

To do that, the school has implemented family math nights, an accelerated learning program and intervention programs.

There are also some scores to celebrate: Among continuously enrolled eighth-graders, 46 percent passed the reading MSP (Measurement of Student Progress) test in 2011, and 33 percent in math.

And scores for the school’s English Language Learners (ELL) students are above both the district and state average. In 2010-11, 39 percent passed the state assessment, compared with 24.9 percent in CPSD and 18.8 percent across the state.

Wilson acknowledged the demographics of ELL students have changed.

“In the eight years I have been principal of Lochburn, our demographics have changed, but our mission and our vision do not change,” she said. “Our kids want to do well and we have a dedicated and committed staff. That makes the difference.”

School board Vice President Marty Schafer noted the challenges such demographics create.

“You have socioeconomic and transitory issues,” he said, “so you have to be very creative and dedicated in (educating students).”

He added, “Your goal of meeting or exceeding state average is the right goal. I applaud you for your high goals.”

But board member Paul Wagemann said that while Wilson and her staff clearly have empathy for their students, “the numbers concern me.”

Wagemann asked Wilson what change she would make – and she said the staff is already working on it.

“I think we’re in the process,” she said. “We’re always looking at data.”

Board president Carole Jacobs lauded Wilson’s enthusiasm, adding that when she took over as principal, Lochburn had a high rate of staff turnaround. Now, the school has some consistency.

“If enthusiasm can will you,” she said, “I have faith.”