community analysis: club boulevard humanities magnet elementary school

COMMUNITY ANALYSIS:CLUB BOULEVARD HUMANITIES MAGNET ELEMENTARY SCHOOLCreated by Tisha Woo for INLS 745

The Home of Club Boulevard:Durham County, North Carolina

Home to almost 275,000 residents and growing steadily

More racially diverse than North Carolina overall, About 22% of Durham County is under the age

of 18; the median age is 33 years.

29%

37%

30%4%

Population of Durham County by RaceCaucasian

African-AmericanLatinoMulti-Racial/Other

“The city of medicine” and hub of education and research – Duke University, NCCU, Research Triangle Park

The History of “Bull City” Settled between the

Revolutionary and Civil Wars by large plantations supplied by African slaves.

After the Civil War: the tobacco boom

Trinity College relocated to Durham in the 1860’s and renamed Duke University.

Civil Rights and Recent Growth in Durham The Civil Rights Movement:

the Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People figured prominently.

“Fill up the jails.” - Rev. Martin Luther King’s famous quote was first uttered during a speech in Durham.

Durham’s growth: Research Triangle Park, the healthcare industry in Durham, and revitalization downtown.

Club Boulevard’s Surrounding Neighborhood: Northgate Park Built in the 1940’s, 50’s and 60’s. The original

landowners sold or donated land to the city of Durham for a dog park, tennis courts and a recreational park.

Local park and Ellerbee Creek Revitalization Project, 2009-2010: Local residents were vocal with their input.

An active neighborhood association, with a website, listserv, community events and participation in Durham’s inter-neighborhood council.

Northgate Park: Demographics Northgate Park has a median

age in the mid-30’s and about 13% of the population are K-12.

The population of foreign-born residents is almost 15%, higher than that of Durham overall.

The median household income is about $38,000, lower than average for Durham.

Many residents are within the “walk zone” for Club; however, families throughout Durham County can attend the school if accepted through a lottery held each winter.

Durham Public Schools: “One Vision, One Durham”

The Board of Education consists of 7 elected members that serve 4-year staggered terms.

Members include a former instructor at NCCU, a founding member of Parents Across America, former director of Partners for Youth, a pastor/scholar, and a retired school media coordinator.

Three committees: Administrative Services, Instruction Services and Support Services.

Merged with Durham City Schools in 1992; prior to this school systems were divided among racial lines.

“Enhancing the Quality of Life Through Literature and the Arts.”

400 West Club Boulevard, Durham, North Carolina 27704

Club Boulevard Elementary School

Club Boulevard: History Club Boulevard was built in response to the baby

boom of World War II and opened in November 1950.

In the early 1990’s the Durham City and County school systems merged and Club Boulevard was shortly thereafter designated as a magnet school.

In 2004 and 2006, Club Boulevard was recognized as a “National Magnet Program of Excellence.”

Today, Club Boulevard serves a diverse population of 500 students.

Club Boulevard: Demographics

Approximately 61% of the student population was enrolled in free or reduced lunch during the 2011-2012 school year.

Students come from the surrounding Northgate Park neighborhood “walk zone” as well as throughout Durham County via the magnet school lottery system.

African American

Caucasian

Latino

Multi-racial/Other

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40%

37%

29%

30%

4%

Racial Diversity of Students at Club Boulevard (Total = 500

students)

Club Boulevard: Test Scores

Club Blvd District State0

102030405060708090

59.6 58.5

71.267.774.4

82.8

Reading

Math

Percentage of Students Scoring at or above Grade Level on End-of-Grade Tests

Club Boulevard: Faculty & Staff 27 Teachers Grades K-5, many with class websites; 7

Teacher Assistants Specialists: Music, Art, PE, Dance, Spanish, and Media Resource Personnel include 2 ESL teachers, 1

Accelerated/Gifted teacher, 3 teachers for Exceptional Children, and Interventionists in Speech, Literacy and Math. There is also a social worker, school psychologist and an occupational therapist.

1-3 Years46%

4-10 Years37%

10+ Years17%

Years of Teaching Experience

15 teachers are National Board certified, much higher than the state and district averages.

100% of Club Boulevard teachers are “Highly Qualified” as defined by federal law.

Club Boulevard Staff: Perceived Areas of Strength(Positive responses among 95% or more of respondents on a state survey).

Parent/community support and involvement School leadership’s support and trust of teachers Alignment of professional development with the

school improvement plan Use of student

assessment data to inform instruction.

Professional learning communities to develop and align instructional practices

Club Boulevard Staff: Areas of Concern(Positive responses in less than 50% of respondents on a state survey).

Amount of time available to collaborate with colleagues

Teachers having sufficient access to technology for instruction

Reliability and speed of Internet connections Trust/respect among school staff Evaluation of professional development

opportunities Whether state assessments accurately gauge

students’ understanding of standards.

Club Boulevard’s Successes and Assets

Named a NC School of Distinction, 2001-2002 and 2002-2003 Magnet Program of Excellence Recipient of multiple grants from the Durham Arts Council On-going involvement and collaboration with local artists Highly qualified teachers Integration of the arts and humanities into the curriculum Different cultures and their unique contributions

Significant Events at Club

Hispanic Heritage Month Black History Month Science Day Extended Day (after school

enrichment) program Frequent programs with local

artists Annual student art show Student dance troupes “Little Libraries” program for

the school and community Gardening Club

Club Boulevard’s Partnerships Durham YMCA Durham Literacy

Council UNC-TV First

Books Program Local churches

Child and parent support services

Durham Merchants Association

Smart Start

Club Boulevard’s Media Center: “21st Century Learning in Action!”

Special Projects:

Author Studies Battle of the

Books Birthday Book

Club Book Fairs Crochet Club Family Book

Club Night Class Research

projects using PebbleGo, Glogster

Open circulation at the beginning of the school day

Destiny Online catalog (can be accessed remotely 24 hours a day) with WebPath Express search engine

Technology integration – online research, online content creation

Contact me at twoo@live.unc.edu

Questions? Comments?

“I suppose it's a cliche to say that a good school's greatest strengths are its teachers and parent

volunteers.... but it's nevertheless true about Club…The teachers at Club respond to the diversity of

students and their different areas of giftedness by being MORE creative in their teaching, by coming up

with projects and activities that can engage students who are at all different levels and

who have various strengths.  They experiment with what works

best for addressing the needs of students.”

- Mandy R., parent of a 5th-grader, 4th grader and a Kindergarten student at Club Boulevard.