Growth of Learning

Analysis and Synthesis:

Mundy’s Mill Middle School intentionally drives growth in learning through ongoing and deliberate implementation, analysis, and evaluation of programs and assessments that impact our students both academically and personally. Through integration and implementation of STEAM, our leaders and teachers aim to provide rigorous and relevant curricula that reflect state standards, the district mission and vision, and student needs. Students have had the opportunity to explore STEM across content areas. Argument Driven Inquiry (ADI)is utilized in all grade levels and students are able to experience interdisciplinary activities to allow the integration of standards and actively transition and prepare for the needs of the STEAM transition.

Findings and Interpretation

Students are beginning to show readiness to transition to the next phase in the STEAM process.  During the pandemic year, our Fall 2020 reading data from the Measures of Academic Progress Assessment (NWEA MAP) reflect 40% of our sixth grade students, 37% of our seventh grade students, and 35% of our eighth grade students reading on or above grade level. In Winter 2021, our sixth graders decreased to 30% and our eighth graders decreased to 32%, but our seventh graders increased to 42% for the amount of students reading on or above grade level.  There is a clear and high need in our school for effective measures to be implemented with fidelity by leaders and teachers in efforts to help our students resiliently achieve and grow. This data shows that students are beginning to show readiness to transition.  However we still have some academic needs that must be met.

Moreover, leaders routinely implement a documented process to determine the effectiveness of the institution’s  curriculum and instruction, including staffing and resources. Leaders use analyzed current and trend data and stakeholder input to make decisions about retaining, changing, or replacing programs and practices. 

Mundy’s Mill Middle School strongly supports career driven experiences both inside and outside of the regular academic setting. Students are encouraged to participate in multiple activities that further cultivate their skills cognitively, emotionally, socially, and competitively. Our students are pushed to compete with a scope of national and international competition. For each season our scholars engage in many different clubs and sports such as football, track, basketball, cheer, swim, etc. These scholars have placed and won recognition on the local, regional, and national level in many different disciplines. Our mission and vision is to show our scholars how what they learn inside of the classrooms also translates into real world experiences and careers.  A few of the competitions and clubs that our scholars have participated in include Clayton County Public Schools Hear our Voices Writing Competition, The Reading Bowl, The CCPS Spelling Bee, Regional and National Science and Social Studies Fairs, and other local/regional competitions. Here at our middle school we also offer classes and clubs that show vertical alignment with high school courses and career paths. Those courses and clubs would include “Girls and Boys Who Code”, “Kidadah”, “Media Arts for Music Technology” , and “High School Technology and Engineering”. Our scholars actively engage and compete on a wide skill range showcasing skills both academic and non-academic. We believe that our students are engaged and prepared for the next transition in our STEAM journey.   

Summary

Mundy’s Mill Middle School  Faculty and Staff will continue to strongly support career driven experiences both inside and outside of the regular academic setting. Students will be encouraged to participate in multiple activities that further cultivate the acquisition of the skills to integrate and execute STEAM standards and initiatives. Our students are pushed to compete with a scope of national and international competition. For each season our scholars engage in many different clubs and sports. Students will also have the opportunity to participate in the new Drama course to increase the ability for more students to transition into different areas. We want to show support to our scholars to help them reach their full potential, whether it is academically or recreationally while exposing them to connections to the real world.