RISING SUN MIDDLE SCHOOL

289 Pearl Street, P. O. Box 308, Rising Sun, Maryland 21911-0308

Phone 410 658-5535 or 410 398-3019

Fax 410 658-9173

Diana L. Rudolph, Principal

Paul Elwood                                                                                                                Linda Wade

Assistant Principal                                                                                                 Assistant Principal

 

 

 

September 15, 2008

 

 

Dear Parents:

 

We are delighted to report that our school achieved all the academic performance targets based upon the spring 2008 Maryland School Assessment (MSA) student scores in grades 6-8.   In addition, we achieved our all-time best student scores in the following areas:

 

~      In the area of reading, our total population was at an all-time best with 81.8% meeting proficiency.

~      Our Hispanic population had an all-time best in reading with a proficiency percentage of 42.9%.

~      Our overall special education population was at an all-time best with 51.6% meeting reading proficiency.

~      In math, our overall population had an all-time best with 79.9% meeting proficiency.

~      Our overall special education population was at an all-time best in mathematics with a proficiency percentage of 50.5%.

~      In math, our Hispanic population had an all-time best with 42.9% meeting proficiency.

 

For all the good news our school has reported, we also have to take a close look at the academic progress of each segment of our schoolÕs student population.  The federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) law requires that schools report the progress of all of their student segments/subgroups.

 

Our school has been identified as being in year one of improvement because, even though we achieved the academic growth needed for AYP, one of our student subgroups did not meet the attendance rate requirements for annual improvement in 2008.  If all our student subgroups meet the annual academic and attendance performance targets for this year and next year, we will exit the improvement status.

 

At our school, it is a challenge for some of our students who receive special education service to attain the MSA performance targets.  We will continue to provide targeted services and instructional programs for specific students so they can be successful in meeting the performance targets.  The Cecil County Public Schools also will provide support from the Central Office to assist us.

 

In summary, we need to achieve AYP for the next two consecutive years, 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 in order to be recognized by the Maryland State Department of Education as an achieving school.  Through your continued support and the hard work of our teachers and students, we are confident that this will happen.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

Diana Rudolph

Principal